National Palliative Care Week 2023 - 'Matters of Life and Death'
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
Our New PCA Shop is Open!
Get ready to shop with purpose at the brand-new PCA Shop! We’ve launched an exciting collection of exclusive orange heart merchandise. From cozy, stylish apparel to meaningful accessories, each item is designed to raise awareness and celebrate the amazing work of palliative care.
And the best part? Every purchase helps spread the message of care, dignity, and compassion. So, come on in, check out our fresh new look, and wear your support proudly.
Thank you for helping us make a difference – one awesome item at a time!
You can choose from a range of T-shirt designs, lapel pins and heart making sewing kits 🧡
Get shopping now 👉 https://ow.ly/V6z750VGImV
As people around the world stop to reflect on and honour the life of Pope Francis, we wanted to share some of his recent words about palliative care.
He called it a “sign of closeness and solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are suffering. Even when a cure isn’t possible, we can still offer something profound — presence, compassion, and gentle support.”
At Palliative Care Australia, we carry this message forward. Everyone deserves to live — and die — with dignity, surrounded by love and support.
Thank you Pope Francis for highlighting the work of our community and raising awareness.
Rest in peace.
Welcome to Thursdays@3 our regular series of conversations with people living and working at the end of life.
Kate Reed is a Canberra based Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, whose work in recent years has taken her to the Solomon Islands where she has been part of a team from Canberra Health Service upskilling local clinicians in in the delivery of oncology and palliative care services.
It’s an experience she will share at the Oceanic Palliative Care Conference this September in Brisbane as one of our keynote speakers – but you get a sneak peek now, press play to join the conversation.
Show notes and more information:
🧡 Early bird regos for 25OPCC 👉 https://icebergevents.eventsair.com/25opcc/
🧡 Update on implementation of VAD in the ACT 👉 https://www.act.gov.au/health/topics/end-of-life-and-palliative-care/voluntary-assisted-dying-in-the-act#:~:text=Voluntary%20assisted%20dying%20will%20be,for%20you%20or%20your%20family.
🧡 PCA’s position statement on VAD 👉 https://palliativecare.org.au/statement/palliative-care-and-voluntary-assisted-dying-position-statement-2022/
Join us for one of the headline events of National Palliative Care Week 2025 – an evening of raw stories, bold insights, and future-focused action.
🗓️ Thursday, 8 May
📍 The Street Theatre, Canberra
🕕 6:00 pm in person | 6:30 pm (AEST) live stream
💰 FREE
🎤 Hear from Heike Fabig and Richard Boele as they reflect on the powerful, and deeply personal end-of-life care experiences of their two sons.
🧭 PCA Chair, Dr Peter Allcroft sets the stage for the newly elected 48th Parliament, outlining the next steps of health and care reforms
🎙️ And the incomparable Jean Kittson returns as MC – keeping the night honest, heartfelt, and hilariously human.
This free event is for the whole community – join us in person or via the live stream, register now to be part of this national conversation 👉🏽 https://ow.ly/EZMx50VFXGM
“It was a Monday night of June of 2020, and we had 40 people or so from two palliative care divisions, we all got on Zoom and told stories, they were stories of what we were going through. They were stories about what it was like to take care of our patients, they were stories about what it was like going back to the grocery store after the first lockdowns were lifted,” says Dr Ricky Leiter, Co-founder of the Palliative Story Exchange.
That night sparked something powerful: connection, healing, and the comfort of finding others who understood the same everyday struggles.
Join the founders of Palliative Care Story Exchange and be part of this powerful story exchange. Bring your voice, your experience, your story.
📅 Wednesday 8 May 2024
🕕 6:00pm–7:30pm AEST
📍 Online via Zoom
🔗 Submit your story or reserve your spot to attend here: https://ow.ly/xGzE50VFXnv
You never know who might need to hear your story—or how much lighter it might feel once it’s shared.
The new Support at Home End of Life Pathway starts on July 1 and gives older people who have less than three months to live up to $25,000 for “a higher level” of in-home aged care services.
This is a welcome step forward, but PCA has made the point to those standing for election that for the pathway to reach its full potential aged care workers need to be upskilled in end-of-life care and other parts of the health system need to support them.
Thanks to The Senior for exploring this issue ahead of election day ➡️ https://ow.ly/t0Lg50VFXFs
Palliative care helps people with terminal illness live as fully and as comfortably as possible for as long as possible. It aims to ease the suffering of patients and their families, and maximise quality of life.
Not all Australians have access to it though.
Better access to palliative care – worth voting for.
Sign the petition, share your story, support our plan ➡️ https://ow.ly/4KmP50VC5aW
#MattersOfLifeAndDeath
“I do remember the first time I really connected with a dying patient in those first few weeks of my life at the hospice. Her name was Margaret. She was a lady in her seventies who had had polio as a child and was diagnosed with motor neurone disease as an older adult,” writes A/Prof Joanne Doran.
“I am smiling as I write this as I remember her face so well. She could smile with her eyes. Here was someone who was not at all defeated by the cards she had been dealt with in life. She remained optimistic, spirited and good natured.”
Ahead of #25OPCC this September in Brisbane, and as part of a People of Palliative Care series, Jo reminds us of our connectedness – to each other, to everything. Some great long weekend reading ➡️ https://ow.ly/ZjBm50VC56N
The theme for National Palliative Care Week in 2025 is ‘What’s your plan?’ which challenges and inspires a range of conversations.
For individuals and families – it challenges them to think about their own future and quality of life, make informed choices, and decide how they want to be cared for.
For the health and care sectors – it prompts reflection on capacity, innovation, and readiness to meet growing demand in a community that feels empowered by end of life planning.
For government – it calls for accountability, opening an opportunity to discuss policy, investment, and strategy, and addressing the future palliative care needs of our community.
Find out more, get involved ➡️ https://ow.ly/cP9t50Vpqux
#WhatsYourPlan?
Our existing primary care workforce, including general practitioners, practise nurses, and nurse practitioners, are a critical part of the palliative care workforce of the future.
The GPs and nurses working in primary care are experiencing increased demand for palliative care, but don’t feel resourced or supported in meeting the needs of their local community.
Sign the petition, share your story, support our plan ➡️ https://ow.ly/IC1j50VAz2b
Better access to palliative care – worth voting for.
#MattersOfLifeAndDeath
Today our conversation takes us to Western Australia to meet Dr Jonathan Ramachenderan – a GP whose career and work has centred around pain medicine and palliative care, but he also has a particular interest in the wellbeing of those he works with.
Click play to join this thoughtful conversation 👇
Show notes and more information:
🧡 Watch Jonathan’s TED x Talk 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cvTnvcnQHk
🧡 Read Jonathan’s blog 👉 https://thehealthygp.wordpress.com/
🧡 PCA Self Care Matters tools 👉 https://palliativecare.org.au/resource/resources-self-care-matters/
Thank you to you for tuning into Thursdays@3 and engaging in ‘matters of life and death’.
Learn how to communicate meaningfully across cultures.
“I wish there was more openness,” a mother shared while reflecting on her experience with paediatric palliative care. You as a health professional can now make that a reality.
Learn how to better connect with different cultural communities with empathy and respect, while delivering care at the end of life. The Diversity Module within the ‘Paediatric End of Life Communication’ course will help you apply a clear, kind and curious method in your engagement with families.
Developed in collaboration with bereaved parents and health professionals, this is a free, self-guided, online course available through the Paediatric Palliative Care Education Hub.
Invest in yourself! There are 8 modules in total, start with the Diversity Module today 👉🏽 https://ow.ly/ES2g50VAyWi
We are honoured to welcome The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care as the Elite Sponsor for the 2025 Oceanic Palliative Care Conference. #25OPCC
With the Department’s support, 25OPCC will create a platform for sharing knowledge and creating meaningful connections. This sponsorship will also provide scholarships, enabling many individuals facing financial barriers, to attend the conference.
A big event like 25OPCC is not possible without the support and generosity of our sponsors. So, thank you to the Department for joining us on this journey.
Find out more 👉 https://ow.ly/6JUC50VBnr8
