Flinders University’s commitment to improving palliative care services and research has been boosted with more than $3.5 million in Federal Government funding.

The Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative receives $2.2 million over two years for research that includes a new study examining the role of the antidepressant Zoloft for breathlessness in palliative care patients.

It is the sixth study being conducted by this national research group, led by Flinders University, that aims to improve quality of care for patients through access, awareness and quality use of palliative care medicines in the community.

The CareSearch Palliative Care Knowledge Network receives an additional $1.3 million to continue for another 12 months.

Created by Flinders in 2008 to improve the availability and quality of information about palliative care for health professionals and health consumers, the CareSearch website is now visited by more than 40,000 people each month.

Flinders University is also one of a consortium of four universities, led by the University of Wollongong, conducting the Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration.

This project receives $6.6 million over three years to continue the development of a national network for palliative care services that facilitates benchmarking through the collection of information and the reporting of outcomes for continuous quality improvement.

Minister Nicola Roxon and Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot announced funding of $14.3 million for nine projects nationally during last month’s National Palliative Care Week.