Paediatric Palliative Care 9-month Certificate Course 2026

Learn more about the 9-month course

Now in its fourth year, PatchSA is offering a 9-month long ONLINE (virtual) comprehensive certificate course on children’s palliative care to run from 1 March – 30 November 2026.

Who should take the course?
The course is appropriate for and open to all members of the children’s palliative care multi-disciplinary team. This could include but is not restricted to doctors, nurses, medical officers, social workers, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, music therapists, art therapists, psychologists, counsellors, paramedics, pharmacists, etc.

What prior learning is required?
No prior degree or diploma is required but the course does require reasonable academic ability and proficiency in English as well as a reasonable degree of computer literacy. We will be there to support you through any challenges you may have as you work through the course.

What equipment do I need to complete the course?
It is recommended that the course be completed on a computer or at least on a tablet. Due to the interactive nature of the course, it is not recommended for the course be completed using a phone. You will also need to have access to YouTube videos. Reliable and regular access to an internet connection is necessary.

How long will the course take to complete?
The course will take 9 months to complete and will run from 1 March – 30 November 2026. We estimate that you will need to spend approx. 2 hours a week or 8 hours each month over the duration of the 9-months on required course activities.

Who will be coordinating the course?
The course will be coordinated by PatchSA’s Education & Training Manager, Tracy Rawlins, with support and contributions from members of the Patch Academy Training Team.

What will I receive at the end of the course?
You will earn a certificate of completion at the end of the course endorsed by Patch Academy. While it is not an accredited course with any institute of learning, all of the online courses you will complete are accredited for CPD points with the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) and those registered with the HPCSA will earn a total of 59 CPD points. (Level 1: 24 General & 35 Ethics)

What are the course requirements?
In order to complete this course, it is essential that you have:

• A strong desire to learn about children’s palliative care including both clinical and psychosocial aspects of care
• The willingness to make the time and a commitment to the completion of the course over the 9-month period
• Regular and reliable access to a computer, the internet and sufficient data to complete online courses and attend webinars
• A keenness to interact with and learn from fellow participants and engage in online forums.

Do I have to be resident in South Africa to take this course?
No. While the course is aimed primarily at a South African audience, the course is open to people living in countries within sub–Saharan Africa and around the world. We welcome international students. To date registrations for our comprehensive courses have come from 14 countries.

How much does the course cost?
The course costs R7 500 (Approx. US$435 | £325 | €370) and includes:

• Access to 11 of our online Patch Academy courses
• Attendance at 4 webinars where members of the Patch Academy Training Team and invited guests will share their knowledge and expertise
• Personalised responses to all assignments and case studies
• Regular reminders and progress reports on where you are at during the course
• Access to one-on-one assistance during working hours
• Access to and participation in online forums
• A copy of our book ‘Palliative Care for Children: A guide for improving the quality of life of patients and their families’ (Cost of delivery not included)
• A final assessment quiz to consolidate learning
• A certificate of completion for the 9-month Comprehensive Course if completed in time
• 24 General and 35 Ethics CPD points from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) for those registered with the HPCSA

Discount
A 10% discount on the full price of the course is offered to any paid-up member of PatchSA. South African residents can click here to join PatchSA as a member today and once registered, claim your discount.

Bursaries
Bursary applications have now closed.

Payment
Once registered, you can pay for the course using the Payfast buttons below. Alternatively, you can request an invoice for the amount due and payment can be made directly into our bank account via EFT.  We are able to receive payments from most countries outside of South Africa and you also have the option of using PayFast. Payment plans over 2 – 5 months are available on request.

Refunds: Once you have started the course in March 2026, no refunds will be given if you are not able to complete it, however, you will still be provided with access to the online courses over the 9-months. Any refunds requested before 1 March will be subject to a 15% admin fee.  

When does registration open?
Registration is open.

When does registration close?
Registration for the course will close on 20 February 2026.

Register using the form below and we will send you an invoice for payment OR you can pay using the Payfast buttons below

Pay R7 500 using Payfast

Pay R6 750 using Payfast if you are a paying member of PatchSA

Please note, this is only for bona fide PatchSA members able to provide a membership number on request.

Pay R7 500 (Approx. $435 | €370 | £325)   directly into our bank account using EFT

Bank details

Bank: Standard Bank of South Africa (MYMOBIZ Current Account)

Account name: Palliative Care for Children South Africa

Branch Code: Rondebosch 005009

Account Number: 10 22 543 324 7

SWIFT Code/ IBAN: SBZAAJ

Please use your name and Comprehensive 9-month course as our reference