COURSE INFORMATION

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions in Adelaide, the EPIC Course has been cancelled and a new date later in the year will be announced.

EPIC is the Effective Peri-Procedural Communication interest group within SPANZA. EPIC aims to provide language, communication and imaginative techniques for every child, every time they have a medical procedure. The EPIC workshops teach these techniques to help health professionals engage with children and their families and enhance their ability to manage medical procedures.

Participants will receive access to an e-learning workshop. This provides background information on the communication and imaginative techniques which are taught on the one-day workshop. We strongly encourage participants to complete the e-learning in the 2 weeks prior to the course as it will form the theoretical basis for the interactive learning on the course.

In the first session we’ll reinforce the GREAT LAURS - structured approach to communication and language techniques. In the second and third sessions we’ll learn techniques to manage anxiety and specific imaginative techniques to use during hospital procedures and in the peri-operative setting. Our goal is to provide useful understandings about communication which can assist with reducing a child's anxiety when facing procedural care, and simple practical skills you can begin to use at your next day caring for children.

Who Should Attend?

The courses are for anaesthetists, surgeons, physicians, dentists, and other health professionals (nurses, social workers, play therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists) who work with children and are keen to expand their ability to provide effective empowering communication for procedural care.

Attendees should be interested in gaining information and skills to understand the importance of preventing and managing procedural anxiety.