Assessing a support and learning network for palliative care workers in a country area of South Australia.

Palliative care might be described as a movement within the healthcare systems of many countries which has a strong voluntary backing in the wider community. Much of the developments in Australia have taken place in the metropolitan areas with 'cinderella' services attempting to make provision in rural and remote parts of the country. This paper describes and reviews an action research project designed to provide a support and learning network for palliative care workers in a country area of South Australia, using the telephone and interactive video conference facilities for communication purposes. The lessons of the project have applicability for other healthcare providers in rural and remote parts of Australia.