The ACP International Conference provides an unmatched opportunity for our members to learn from experts and leaders in paramedicine. ACPIC 2021 was delivered as a hybrid conference (online and face to face in the Sunshine Coast, QLD and Hobart, TAS) in November 2021.

Paramedics are frequently present around death and dying and are well positioned to provide grief support to those who are suddenly bereaved, but existing education and system resources have failed to provide paramedics with necessary tools. Although the literature emphasizes the importance of providing grief training from initial education, through clinical placements and into continuing professional development opportunities, the current state across health professions is a patchwork of elective, brief and siloed opportunities. Our discussion proposes a multi-faceted approach focusing on recruitment, initial and continuing education, and continued support in clinical practice. We suggest it is timely to address grief support competence across the full continuum of paramedic practice.

Biography: Cheryl Cameron

Cheryl Cameron is an Advanced Care Paramedic and the Director of Operations with Canadian Virtual Hospice. Across her career, she has held leadership, strategic policy, program development and education roles with post-secondary institutions, government and paramedic services. As faculty with Healthcare Excellence Canada, she is currently supporting numerous paramedic services across Canada to integrate palliative care into paramedicine. She is a fellow with the McNally Project for Paramedicine Research, and her research interests include mentoring, interprofessional/interdisciplinary education, quality and patient safety, female leadership advocacy and policy development.

Session moderator: Lauren Clothier