This presentation will explore the use of digital technologies in the context of public health palliative care. In an increasingly digital society, there is a growing imperative to understand the benefits and limitations of the use of digital technologies within a social model of care. Through a dual lens of digital public health and thanatechnology, this presentation will provide an overview of the digital technologies used in palliative care, outlining their application to the growing field of public health palliative care.

Despite the inherent risks of technological developments in society, a broad range of public health palliative care benefits can be realized in both clinical and community settings. Key considerations including the need for co-design of digital health interventions, outcome evaluation, and awareness of social inequities are highlighted to guide practice, education, and research.

About Dr Jason Mills 

Dr Jason Mills is an Associate Professor at the Flinders University Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying. He holds fellowships with the Royal Society for Public Health, Higher Education Academy, and is Editor-in-Chief for the international journal Progress in Palliative Care.

His expertise spans the fields of health promotion, digital health, and public health approaches to palliative and end-of-life care. As a dual certified compassion educator with the Compassion Institute and Stanford Medical School’s Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), the cultivation and expression of compassion is central to Jason’s efforts in teaching and research.

About Adjunct Associate Professor Shyla Mills

Adjunct Associate Professor Shyla Mills is the CEO at Palliative Care South Australia (PCSA). Shyla’s role is responsible for effective management and achieving the strategic objectives of the organisation. Shyla has worked in palliative care for over 20 years across different settings including paediatrics, community and aged care throughout Australia, as well as internationally in India, Nepal, Mongolia and the UK.

Prior to her role at Palliative Care South Australia, She was the CEO at Palliative Care Queensland, and before that a National Program Manager at Palliative Care Australia. Shyla is board member for the international charity Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom for over 10 years and was the former Vice-President of Palliative Care Nurses Australia.