Pre-Congress Workshops

In response to popular demand, four pre-congress workshops on different themes of significant interest have been scheduled.  The workshops, lead by eminent international paediatric palliative care experts, will run simultaneously on Wednesday the 21^st October 2026 from 8.30 to 16.30.

Please note that pre-conference workshops can only be booked online congress registration page in connection with the registration for the congress.

Participation in the pre-congress workshops will be limited to a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 80 participants, places will be allocated on a first come first-served basis.

Registration for the pre-congress workshops closes on 4^th October 2026

Fees for Participants include:

• Attendance in the selected workshop
• Refreshments and lunch

IT’S NOT POSSIBLE TO CHANGE PRE-CONGRESS WORKSHOP ON THE DAY OF THE CONGRESS

Title: Perinatal PPC 
Date: 21^st October 2026
Duration: 1-day (08.30 -16.30)
Coordinator: Brian S. Carter
Co presenters: Kang Zhi Lin, Alexandra Mancini
Min Capacity: 30 pers. Max Capacity: 80 pers.
Description: Perinatal Palliative Care (PnPC) is increasingly being developed around the world to address support for families having a prenatal diagnosis of a serious condition that may result in an early demise or neonatal intensive care with an uncertain or concerning prognosis for premature death, or a poor quality of life as judged by the parents. This workshop will report on programs from N. America, the UK, and Asia, entail case presentations and problem solving in a combined lecture, discussion, and participatory manner. The objectives are to: 1. Describe current PnPC practices and approaches to serious cases based on diagnosis & gestational age; 2. Identify barriers to effective PnPC; 3. Engage in active problem solving with attendees.  Intended audience: Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Midwives from Obstetric Units, Neonatal ICU, and Palliative Care Level: Novice, Midlevel, and Experienced Clinicians

Title: Children Dependent on Lifesaving Technology
Date: 21^st October 2026
Duration: 1-day (08.30 -16.30)
Coordinator: Daniel Garros
Co presenters: Julie Hauer, Joana Mendes, Regina Okhuysen-Cawley
Min Capacity: 30 pers. Max Capacity: 80 pers.
Description: Topics: – Decision making: Initiation of Life support technologies – Hospital vs Community access to technology – Transition to Home to Home/Hospice Objective: Develop an Ethics’ based “practice map” for share-decision making with families (from the start to the finish line!) – Discuss the challenges from High and low -Mid developed countries in resource allocation perspectives – Learn from Families and their stories Teaching Methodology:  Videos of testimonies from families, Case-base teaching: Round table and group discussion,  Formal presentation by experts Outcomes:  Evaluation with brief Questionnaire before and after – Group communication of “pearls to take home” Intended audience: Clinicians including allied professionals looking after children with technology dependent, or acute care clinicians involved in decision-making about implementing technology in paediatric and Palliative Care Level: Entry to mid-level experience

Title: Bereavement Care
Date: 21^st October 2026
Duration: 1-day (08.30 -16.30)
Coordinator: Justin N. Baker
Co presenters: Raghnild Fretland, Alexis Morvant, Stacy Remke
Min Capacity: 30 pers. Max Capacity: 80 pers.
Description: The death of a child profoundly impacts parents, siblings, extended family members, healthcare professionals, and communities. Bereavement support is increasingly recognized as a core component of high quality pediatric palliative care, yet significant variability remains in how services are designed, delivered, and evaluated across settings and cultures. This interactive full day workshop will provide participants with practical knowledge, skills, and frameworks to strengthen bereavement care throughout the continuum of pediatric palliative care. Topics will include understanding grief and bereavement across developmental stages, supporting parents, siblings, and extended family members before and after a child’s death, communication during periods of anticipatory grief, identifying risk factors for complicated grief, culturally responsive bereavement care, and emerging research in pediatric bereavement. Special attention will be given to the unique grief experiences of fathers, continuing bonds and legacy building, ambiguous loss, and the ways in which high quality communication and end of life care influence long term bereavement outcomes. The workshop will also address professional grief, exploring how healthcare teams experience the death of a child, how organizations can foster healthy team cultures around loss, and how clinicians can remain emotionally available without becoming emotionally overwhelmed. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to describe evidence informed approaches to pediatric bereavement care, identify opportunities to strengthen bereavement support within their own organizations, and develop practical strategies to improve care for grieving children, families, healthcare professionals, and communities. Teaching methodologies will include brief didactic presentations, case based discussions, small group exercises, reflective activities, and interactive audience participation. Intended audience: Multidisciplinary pediatric palliative care professionals, including physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, chaplains, therapists, educators, and trainees. Level: Intermediate to Advanced.

Title: Research Fundamentals: From Research Idea to Written Report
Date: 21^st October 2026
Duration: 1-day (08.30 -16.30)
Coordinator: Julia Downing
Co presenters: TBD
Min Capacity: 30 pers. Max Capacity: 80 pers.