Background:   

Education is a key component to the work of specialist paediatric palliative care services. Including bereaved parents in education provides insightful and valuable perspectives to the provision of education and skill development within paediatic palliative care (Snaman et al, 2018).  

Engaging parents in education and resource development can be a daunting prospect for health professionals to consider given the complex and layered nature of parental grief and distress. The facilitators of this workshop (which comprises specialist paediatric palliative care health professionals and bereaved parents) will explore the strengths and challenges of partnering with parents in the provision of education and resource development, and promote a framework to assist fellow health professionals to consider the value of parent perspectives in education.  

Aims/objectives: Participants will increase their understanding and confidence in maximising engagement and utilisation of parents in educational opportunities/resource development and to integrate interaction with families lived experience. 

Methodology: The workshop will be an immersive experience involving a mix of breakout sessions, and a range of creative communication tools, run via an online platform (i.e., zoom). The workshop will be co-facilitated with bereaved parents who have participated in education and resource development, who can share their experiences and help guide participants. We will encourage participants to come to the workshop with a learning/education scenario to be able to develop throughout the course of the session. 
  

Key learnings: Participants will have the opportunity to explore the value and impact of parent's experiences and will be introduced to a framework to help guide and support utilisation of parents in education and resource development.  Core themes will include preparation and planning, timing and readiness for parent participation, support and follow up and honouring the story of their child and family. 

References 

Snaman, J.M, Kaye, E.C., Spraker-Perlman, H., Levine, D., Clark, L., Wilcox, R., Barnett, B., Sykes, A., Lu, Z., Cunningham, M.J., & Baker, J.N. (2018). ‘Incorporating Bereaved Parents as Faculty Facilitators and Educators in Teaching Principles of Palliative and End-of-Life Care’, American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, vol.35, No.12, Pop 1518-1525.