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Research, ethics and governance

Governance

PCOC Committees

Committee Membership

Membership for the Clinical Committee, Consumer Advisory Panel, Research Committee or Data Release Committee are through an Expression of Interest process, with consideration of an associated skills matrix. Membership is a 3-year fixed term. Members may be based in any location. There is no sitting fee for the committees. Members cannot serve on more than one committee simultaneously but can do so consecutively.

 

Membership commitment

Committees meet every four months with minimal out-of-session commitment time. Meetings will be hybrid to accommodate both virtual and in-person participation. The committees convened for the first time in September 2024.

 

Expression of interest for membership of PCOC Committees

PCOC has an Expression of Interest process to become a member of a PCOC Committee, which is currently closed for the remainder of 2025.

 

PCOC Governance Committees

Committee membership offers an opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals in contributing to the palliative care sector by identifying and promoting best practices in clinical care, quality improvement, and research.

The Clinical and Research Committees further strengthen the existing governance structures within PCOC and work alongside the Consumer Advisory Panel, the Data Release Committee and the Chief Investigators Group (ChIG).

Research Committee

Purpose

The Research Committee is tasked with identifying research priorities in palliative care by investigating the data held by PCOC and the ensuring that research undertaken using PCOC data is of value to the continuous improvement in patient outcomes in Australia, including access and utilisation of palliative care by vulnerable and underserved populations.

Objectives

The objectives are to:

  • Identify and establish the strategic research priorities for the PCOC program.
  • Maximise the value of research by overseeing the publication, dissemination of documents, translation, and implementation through the work of the committee.
  • Promote an ethical and conscientious research ethos within the PCOC program, that is underpinned by a culture of integrity.
  • Approve research projects for PCOC.

PCOC has an Expression of Interest process to become a member of a PCOC Committee, which is currently closed for the remainder of 2025.

Research Committee Members
Distinguished Professor Patsy Yates (CHAIR) Ms Sabina Clapham Professor David Currow
Mr Josh Fear Dr Brian Fernandes Ms Janeane Harlum
Mr David Holloway Associate Professor Annmarie Hosie Mr Howard Lance
Professor Brian Le Associate Professor Deidre Morgan Professor Jennifer Philip
Dr Lisa Redwood Ms Maxine Rose Dr Jessica Roydhouse
Ms Cora Shiroyama Professor Jennifer Tieman Associate Professor Leeroy William

 

Clinical Committee

Purpose

The Clinical Committee establishes the strategic clinical priorities of the PCOC program. The Clinical Committee is tasked with strategic decisions relating to the clinical relevance, quality improvement and clinical direction of PCOC. 

Objectives

  • Ensure the clinical relevance of the PCOC program is maintained.
  • Establish the strategic clinical priorities of the PCOC program.
  • Provide a mechanism for clinical input from member services, and a voice for consumers via committee membership.
  • Promote a culture in the PCOC program which values integrity, transparency, and collaboration.
  • Drive improvements in quality and safety in clinical practice.
  • Drive continuous enhancement in PCOC data quality, data analysis, reporting and quality improvement approaches.

PCOC has an Expression of Interest process to become a member of a PCOC Committee, which is currently closed for the remainder of 2025.

Clinical Committee Members
Professor Kirsten Auret (CHAIR) Ms Sabina Clapham Professor Katherine Clark
Mrs Andy Coe Professor David Currow Mr David Holloway
Miss Monique Johnson Dr Jade Jones Dr Anu Krishnan
Mrs Paris Phuong Le Ms Mercedes Marbach Professor Steve Pantilat
Dr Greg Parker Ms Camilla Rowland Ms Cora Shiroyama
Mrs Tess Symes Mrs Heather Wuillemin  

 

Data Release Committee

Purpose

The Data Release Committee is tasked with the timely review of all PCOC data applications.

Objectives

The objectives are to:

  • Balance the need for data availability with privacy protection and risks.
  • Oversee the release of data and adherence to privacy legislation and ethicqal requirements.

PCOC has an Expression of Interest process to become a member of a PCOC Committee, which is currently closed for the remainder of 2025.

Data Release Committee Members
Dr Lisa Redwood (CHAIR) Dr Animut Ayalew Ms Sabina Clapham
Dr Luise Lago Mr Jesse Rand  

 

Consumer Advisory Panel

Purpose

The purpose of the PCOC consumer panel is to establish a formal group consisting of members with diverse perspectives and lived experiences of palliative care, to enhance and sustain collaborative consumer engagement practice and processes.

This committee exists to provide palliative care consumers a pathway to collaborate with PCOC on:

  • Shared strategic priorities.
  • Advice and guidance concerning resource development, service delivery and design.
  • Consumer perspectives on quality palliative care delivery on behalf of their consumers.

PCOC has an Expression of Interest process to become a member of a PCOC Committee, which is currently closed for the remainder of 2025.

Consumer Advisory Panel
Mr Howard Lance Ms Kathryn Jenkins Mrs Heather Wuillemin
Mrs Imelda Gilmore Ms Kate Partington  

 

Chief Investigators Group

Purpose

The PCOC ChIG provides leadership to support the effective functioning of PCOC.  This will be achieved through collaboration and engagement with the PCOC Director and the extended PCOC team.

This is with the aim of ensuring that PCOC continues to provide high quality and innovative approaches that support Australian palliative care services.  

This group provides strategic direction to PCOC which includes ensuring oversight and monitoring of the quality of the organisation’s activities and outcomes; identification of potential risks to the organisation and ways to mitigate these; and to support the organisation to achieve its activity work plans and deliverables.

Chief Investigator Group Members
Professor Katherine Clark (CHAIR) Professor Kirsten Auret Ms Sabina Clapham
Mr David Holloway Distinguished Professor Patsy Yates