National Palliative Care Week 2023 - 'Matters of Life and Death'
National Palliative Care Week 2023 - 'Matters of Life and Death'
Friday, March 17, 2023
National Palliative Care Week runs, 21 May to 27 May 2023 and aims to put ‘Matters of Life and Death’ front and centre in Australia’s consciousness. Camilla Rowland, Chief Executive Officer at Palliative Care Australia (PCA) says, “We understand that death and dying is a difficult subject to talk about and engage with, but this year we have some powerful voices joining the campaign to inspire and start important conversations.”
“The ‘people at the heart of quality palliative care’ – our workforce and volunteers, have opened their hearts to share the life lessons they learn everyday as they provide care and support to people and families living with a life limiting illness.
“The vibrant video and social media campaign that is central to the week will also allow us all to show our appreciation for the doctors, nurses, physios, social workers, occupational therapists, dietitians, volunteers and the many others who contribute to the person-centred team approach to palliative care.”
Adding further weight to our message is the world premiere of ‘Live the life you please’, a powerful documentary produced by Moonshine Agency. The film delves into the stories of real people from across the country, sharing their personal experiences of palliative care. The film will make you smile, laugh, laugh harder and occasionally shed a tear as this diverse range of Australians share the last chapter of their life with us.
“National Palliative Care Week and the stories we’ll share will open the door on the full scope and impact of palliative care and the quality of life it delivers. I hope it provides a moment of reflection for all Australians to think about and plan for the last chapter of life,” Ms Rowland says.
Film screenings and a host of other events will make for a busy NPCW around the country. A full list of events can be found below as well as a range tools to help grow awareness of palliative care. Getting involved and showing your support for palliative care and the people who deliver it is as easy as sharing your story on social media using #MattersOfLifeAndDeath.
“Whether you are receiving palliative care, looking after someone or know someone who is receiving care, we encourage you to share your experience and break down those taboos,” Ms Rowland says. The advice, tools, and support below have been pulled together to support those working and volunteering in palliative care and help anyone and everyone better understand palliative care and how to access it.
You will also find some great resources to start end-of-life conversations and record those wishes and plans. Please make the most of the communication and marketing assets below to show your support and help amplify the message.
Thanks again, got a question? Email pca@palliativecare.org.au
See what's happening in your state or territory
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National movie screenings
Advice for you
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Other advice, tools and support
- Understanding self-care
- Planning for self-care
- Self-Care Matters campaign resources – a Palliative Care Australia resource, which aims to support you – whatever your role in palliative care – to prevent burnout and build resilience
- Self-care for volunteers working in paediatric palliative care
- Self-care for health professionals working in paediatric palliative care
- Questions for carers to ask the team caring for your loved one
- The Essence of Spiritual Care: A learning module for health care workers
- End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) Toolkits – designed to help you in providing palliative care and advance care planning to older Australians
- National Palliative Care Standards for Specialist Palliative Care Services
- National Palliative Care Standards for All Health Professionals and Aged Care Services
- CareSearch Health Professionals Centre – providing trustworthy and practical resources that are relevant to your practice
- End-of-Life Essentials: free education modules and resources
- Palliative Care Online Short Courses, Flinders University
- Oceanic Palliative Care Conference, Sydney, September 2023
- Free PCA shop
- Palliative care NSW – Homelessness and Palliative Care Report
- Department of Health and Aged Care – Exploratory Analysis of Barriers to Palliative Care – Issues Report on People Experiencing Homelessness
- CareSearch: palliative care issues for people experiencing homelessness
- Palliative Care Australia – Providing palliative care for people who are homeless; attempting to break down barriers
- Homeless Palliative Care Toolkit
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Quick links to more info
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Join the conversation
Sometimes, good palliative care begins with noticing.
After more than three decades in nursing, Louise Hill has learned to recognise the small changes that can signal something bigger — someone eating less, sleeping more, stepping away from a familiar routine.
Working across aged care, emergency and acute care on King Island, that knowledge helps Louise understand when it may be time to start a conversation, involve family, plan ahead or make sure medicines are available before they’re urgently needed.
In our latest People of Palliative Care story, Louise shares what decades of nursing have taught her about timing, preparation and understanding the people in her care.
“It’s just understanding people,” she says.
Read Louise’s story:
#PalliativeCare #PeopleOfPalliativeCare #Nursing #AgedCare
Remember the energy of 25OPCC? 😃
Take a look back at the special moments that made it so memorable. In 2027, we are bringing that energy to Adelaide – it’s going to get bigger and better 🎉
For the first time since 2009, the Asia Pacific Hospice Conference and Oceanic Palliative Care Conference will come together in one shared event (APHC27OPCC), bringing around 2,000 delegates from more than 20 countries.
Register by 30 September to secure the super early bird rate.
Start planning for Adelaide now 👉 https://aphc27opcc.com/
#APHC27OPCC #aphc2027 #27opcc
How can we better support people grieving after voluntary assisted dying (VAD)?
Join Grief Australia for ‘From Research to Practice: Bereavement Care Following Voluntary Assisted Dying’, an online workshop exploring current research, clinical implications and evidence-based approaches to supporting people bereaved after VAD.
📅 Tuesday 15 September 2026, 10am–1pm AEST
🎤 Facilitated by Hayley Russell, Specialist Grief Practitioner at Grief Australia
Find out more and register: https://bit.ly/4xJTqBn
#PalliativeCare #GriefSupport #Bereavement #VAD
We’re in Hobart for the Palliative Care Tasmania Conference!
It’s great to be here supporting Palliative Care Tasmania and connecting with the local palliative care community.
This year’s conference highlights the importance of the connections across the end-of-life ecosystem, bringing together clinical practice, community insight, cultural knowledge and lived experience.
If you’re at the conference, come and say hello to the PCA team at our booth, and catch our team presenting across the program:
1:30 PM – Wednesday
Kate Ritchie – Embedding Quality Improvement: National Palliative Care Standards, Palliative Care Self Assessment and Collaborative Practice
11:30 AM – Thursday
Chelsea Menchin – Looking Back to Move Forward: Insights From Shaping the Future of Paediatric Palliative Care
We’re looking forward to hearing the Tasmanian perspective, sharing ideas and making plenty of connections over the two days.
If you’re here, come and find us!
What does ‘Conversations about end of life’ mean to you?
From quiet reflections to bold expressions, there’s no single style, tone or interpretation being sought in the 2027 Live Well, Die Well Art Prize, presented by Palliative Care Australia and the Arcare Family Foundation.
Artists of all ages and backgrounds are invited to explore life, death and end of life through visual art – and share their own interpretation of the theme.
Entries are now open and free, with $30,000 in prizes across a range of categories.
Find out more and enter: https://livewell.awardsplatform.com/
#LiveWellDieWell #ArtPrize #ConversationsAboutEndOfLife
Across Australia, people are working to improve palliative care, but their contributions often go unseen. Now is your chance to change that.
🏆 Nominations for the National Palliative Care Awards 2027 are now open! 🏆
Help us recognise an individual or organisation, including a team, making a meaningful impact for people receiving palliative care and those close to them.
Nominations close on 10 December 2026. Winners will be announced at #APHC27OPCC on 22 April 2027. Nominate today – https://npcawards.awardsplatform.com/
Important information for Queensland nominations: Palliative Care Queensland Awards are open for nominations until 21 September 2026. Winners of the Queensland awards will be submitted to the National Palliative Care Awards. Please submit them directly through the Palliative Care Queensland Awards portal – https://palliativecareqld.org.au/palliative-care-qld-awards-2026/. Queensland-based nominations will not be accepted through the national awards portal this year.
#NationalPalliativeCareAwards2027
