New course on death, dying and palliative care

It's a course that is bound to make your dinner conversation more interesting. It will take you back in history and into the future, touching on art, social media, science and language. It's free. And you don't have to do the homework if you don't want to.

The first massive open online course (MOOC) on death, dying and palliative care starts at the end of this month and it is open to anyone aged 18-100 who has a computer.

The four-week course is presented by online palliative care resource CareSearch, which is aiming to increase death literacy and engage people in conversations on the topic.

CareSearch research fellow Deb Rawlings said the course was not medical or instructive. Instead, it focussed on philosophical musings, posing questions and encouraging reflections while also providing information and resources.

"You can take it at your own pace and dip in and out."

"You can take it at your own pace and dip in and out," said Ms Rawlings, who is also a lecturer in Palliative and Supportive Services at Flinders University.

"You can also participate in discussions as much as you like. Some people will get in there and make comments, and comment on other people's comments. Others will just sit and read and not join in, and that's alright as well."

She said it was yet to be seen who would be attracted to the course, but she hoped it was adults of all ages with a range of personal and professional interests.

Ms Rawlings is presenting the first module, which will explore the language that is used when talking about death and the role and impact of euphemisms, and give insights into how funerals have changed over centuries.

Social media and the digital world will be covered in a digital dying module presented by CareSearch director Dr Jennifer Tieman.

Professor Deborah Parker, director of the Centre for Applied Nursing Research at Western Sydney University, will present a module on how death is represented in art, music and media.

To read the full article please visit http://palliativecare.org.au/palliative-matters/new-course-on-death-dying-and-palliative-care/

June 2016