Comprehensive 9-month Certificate Course in Paediatric Palliative Care 2027
Learn more about the 9-month course
Now in its fifth year, PatchSA is again offering a 9-month long ONLINE (virtual) comprehensive certificate course on paediatric palliative care to run from 1 March – 30 November 2027.
Who should take the course?
The course is appropriate for and open to all members of the multi-disciplinary team caring for children with palliative care needs. 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, teachers, etc.
What prior learning is required?
No prior degree or diploma is required but the course does require good 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 laptop computer. Due to the interactive nature of the course, it is not recommended for the course to be completed using a phone or tablet. There should be no restrictions on watching videos posted to YouTube. 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 2027. 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.
Does the course have CPD Accreditation?
The course is accredited with 71 CPD points. (Level 1: 36 General & 35 Ethics) by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) At the close of the course, these points are uploaded to HPCSA on your behalf by our administrative staff. For those registered with councils other thank HPCSA, you can request that these points be converted for your council’s CPD requirements.
What are the course requirements?
In order to complete this course, it is essential that you have:
- A strong desire to learn about paediatric 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.
In order to receive your Certificate of Completion, you are required to:
- Complete all course modules within the specified timeframes.
- Complete the required reflective activities throughout the course.
- Complete and submit the longitudinal workbook assignment.
- Attend at least 80% of the designated webinars held throughout the 9-month course.
Do I have to be resident in South Africa to take this course?
While originally written for a South African audience, the course is applicable for and 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 more than 20 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
- Participation in interactive live participant group webinars designed to support discussion, reflection, application of learning and peer engagement
- Personalised responses to assignment submissions
- Regular reminders and progress reports on how you are doing 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 to consolidate learning
- A Certificate of Completion
- 36 General and 35 Ethics CPD points from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) for those registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
Discount
A 10% discount on the full price of the course is offered to paying members of PatchSA. South African residents can click here to join PatchSA as a member today and once registered, claim your discount.
Bursaries
Limited partial bursaries will be available. We do not offer full bursaries.
You can apply for a partial bursary here.
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 or 3 months are available on request.
Refunds: Once you have commenced the course in March 2027, 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.
Registration
Registration for this course will close on 26 February 2027
Registration for 9-month Comprehensive Course in PPC 2027
Pay via Payfast
Click on the yellow button below to pay for the course in full using Payfast. Payfast supports over 18 ways to pay, including Visa and Mastercard, Instant EFT, Capitec Pay, SnapScan, Zapper, Apple Pay, and credit facilities like Mobicred.
If you are a paying PatchSA member with a current certificate of membership, please use the Payfast button on the right. Everyone else should use the Payfast button on the left.