The Asia Pacific Region has the greatest number of people whom require palliative care and Australia is a founding member of the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN), formed in 2001. Australians have been key in the development of palliative care in the region with  significant involvement in APHN with contributions particularly in the area of education and training.

 

In 2013, the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network partnered with the Lien Foundation to develop the Lien Collaborative Program. This is designed as a long term capacity building program for the region, in countries needing assistance for Palliative Care development. It has made its presence felt in 8 sectors with Australian faculty contributing in some  of these. 

 

Over the years, several healthcare workers from the region have also enrolled in Australian academic institutions and collaborated in  research in palliative care. With the potential in greater growth for palliative care  in the Asia Pacific, there is significant potential for Australians to develop a collaborative framework in mutual development and this symposium hopes to highlight some of these shared opportunities.