Paediatric education

Peter Mac is committed to ensuring healthcare professionals caring for children and their families keep up to date with paediatric oncology information and participate in regular education, training and professional development opportunities.

Short courses

The PICS coordinates a range of short courses for staff from the Royal Children's Hospital, Monash Health, Peter Mac and PICS Regional Shared Care Centres. These include:

• Introduction to Paediatric Oncology
• Paediatric Oncology Chemotherapy
• Haemopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Course.

e-learning for health professionals

The PICS, together with eviQ Education, has developed a range of free e-learning modules for the paediatric oncology community including the following:

Paediatric fever and neutropenia

Infection, frequently presenting as fever and neutropenia (FN), is the most common complication of the treatment of paediatric cancer and is the leading cause of emergency department presentations and unplanned hospital admissions. This evidence-based education resource reviews the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and management principles of paediatric FN. It is relevant for all medical and nursing staff involved in the care of children with cancer, especially those working in emergency, general paediatrics and haematology/oncology. *This module requires eviQ registration.

Managing a child with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

This module provides and overview on how to effectively manage a child with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It is relevant for clinical staff who have recently started working in paediatric oncology, as well as patients and families of children receiving chemotherapy.

Caring for a child with leukaemia

This module provides an overview of the principles involved when caring for a child with leukaemia. The module is relevant for clinical staff working in paediatric oncology as well as patients and families.

Procedural pain is everyone's responsibility

There are currently two modules available:

• Procedural pain is everyone's responsibility
• Procedural pain: being prepared.

These modules provide an overview of effective procedural pain management. The modules are relevant for clinical staff working in paediatric oncology, as well as staff working in general paediatrics where children undergo medical procedures.

Physical activity for children living with cancer

This module provides and overview of the importance of physical activity and describes the types of physical activity and the recommended amount of activity for children living with cancer. This module is relevant to clinical staff and families of children undergoing treatment for cancer.

The Centre for Adolescent Health, together with the ONTrac at Peter Mac Victorian Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Service, have developed two free online modules in adolescent and young adult cancer care.

Part 1: Cancer Care for Adolescents & Young Adults. This module provides a foundation of understanding around the developmental context of adolescence before exploring topics such as the common cancers affecting young people, how cancer differs in the AYA population and the importance of clinical trials.

Part 2: Cancer Care for Adolescents & Young Adults. This module explores the range of physical, emotional and psychosocial impacts of cancer and its treatment on young people, effective communication and engagement strategies, and key national AYA cancer care initiatives.

Useful websites

Cancer Australia is a national government agency working to reduce the impact of cancer on allAustralians. The Cancer Australia Children’s Cancer website is a trusted source of evidence-based information for children, families, carers clinicians and researchers.

The Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service (PICS) has been established as part of the Victorian Government's cancer reform strategy. Partnering with the Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Health, Peter Mac and regional health services, the PICS aims to improve Victorian paediatric cancer care, working with the paediatric cancer community to establish coordinated services that are consistent, evidence-based and family-centred.

The Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology and Oncology Group (ANZCHOG) is the leading body representing the interests of children and adolescents with blood diseases and cancer, and their families. ANZCHOG's mission is to improve outcomes for these children through advocacy, education and clinical and supportive care research.