Palliative & Supportive Care Initiative — Led by Barwon Health, South West Healthcare Warnnambool, and the University of Melbourne
Regional palliative patients and those needing supportive care have additional challenges in the management of their care. The Palliative & Supportive Care initiative sets out to increase the number of palliative and supportive care patients participating in clinical trials in their regional areas. The initiative also aims to increase awareness and participation in clinical research across the palliative care workforce.
At its mid-way mark, the initiative has successfully increased community palliative care trial capability building, through collaboration and leveraging of the COMET program. The initiative has also leveraged the Victorian Palliative Care Clinical Trials Collaborative and enhanced clinical trial fellow activity.
In February 2025, Barwon Health was named the top-performing site in a global initiative led by the University of Technology Sydney’s IMPACCT (Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation). As part of the IMPACCT RAPID program, the Barwon Health Palliative Care unit, including ReViTALISE research fellow Miriam Ferres, achieved the highest patient recruitment numbers internationally in the latest quarter, earning the coveted “Champion Site” status.
Other achievements include increased site engagement, where palliative and supportive care approaches have been embedded as part of standard care.
