Palliative care curriculum for speech–language pathology students

Abstract

This paper reports on the experience of undergraduate speech–language pathology students at one university chosen
for the implementation stage of the Palliative Care Curriculum for Undergraduates (PCC4U) Project. Funded by a
government department for health and ageing through a national palliative care programme, the project was
managed by a team of researchers from the discipline of nursing. The PCC4U project championed the inclusion of
palliative care education as an integral part of medical, nursing, and allied healthcare undergraduate training. Of the pilot sites chosen for the PCC4U project, only one site, reported here, included both speech–language pathology
and social work disciplines, providing an important opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration on novel
curriculum development in an area of mutual interest. This synergy served as an excellent foundation for ongoing
opportunities for interdisciplinary teaching and learning in the university. Speech–language pathology students
reported that the project was an invaluable addition to their education and preparation for clinical practice.