May 3, 2023, from 6 to 7:30 a.m. ET

The Compassionate Connectors Program is a volunteer-led initiative designed to enhance the social networks of families living with chronic or life-limiting illnesses. Specially trained volunteers supported existing members of the families’ networks and also enlisted the support of community members, Caring Helpers, to address the social and practical needs of these families thus contributing to building the capacity of the community. This webinar will explore the research completed by The South West Compassionate Communities Network in Western Australia in partnership with the health service.

This session, co-hosted by Public Health Palliative Care International, will describe the development, implementation and evaluation of this distinct form of volunteering, the outcomes and effectiveness analysis, the feedback from Connectors, supported families and referring healthcare providers and the translation into practice and policy. We encourage you to review the open-access research papers linked below.

Compassionate community connectors: a distinct form of end-of-life volunteering

‘The more you give, the better it is for you. You know the reward is greater than the effort’: the Compassionate Communities Connectors’ experience

The Compassionate Communities Connectors model for end-of-life care: implementation and evaluation

Presenters:

Professor Samar Aoun

Perron institute Research Chair in Palliative Care, University of Western Australia and Perron Institute

Adjunct Professor La Trobe University

Chair, South West Compassionate Communities Network.

Adjunct Professor Bruce Rumbold

School of Psychology and Public Health at La Trobe University.