Patients

Research project to evaluate impact of handover bags: A 10-minute survey

10 September 2020

Have you ever wondered what happens to a loved one’s possessions when they die in hospital, hospice or residential aged care facility? Often, their objects are returned to families in any available plastic bag, sometimes […]
Dance makes it all better (almost): remembering Jules Domigan

24 May 2020

What do you when you’re 35 years old and in palliative care during COVID-19? You dance, of course. Why? “Because you can’t choose what happens to you in life but you can choose how you […]
Music Therapy at home during COVID-19

7 May 2020

The richness of the Bear Cottage culture has made it possible for me to transition to providing online Zoom music therapy sessions with an ease which has taken me by surprise. Working from home, as […]
Sharing Sam’s end-of-life story to help others…

26 August 2019

Back in 2017 Lorna Hurst shared her very personal story with Palliative Matters about her son Sam’s bowel cancer diagnosis, treatment and death at just 17 years-of-age. Lorna has now generously agreed her to share […]
The day before Sarah Williams died her family made her wedding wish come true

18 July 2019

Sarah Williams wanted what so many of us already have — an education and to be married with a family of her own. Instead, she died from cancer at 33 before having the chance to legally marry […]
Life after Jarrod… Briony Lyle takes on her next big challenge

19 June 2019

Briony Lyle will share insights from her extraordinary life with late husband, professional golfer Jarrod Lyle, at the Oceanic Palliative Care Conference this September. From their high school days in Shepparton, Victoria to the world […]
Into the Dreaming

3 June 2019

An innovative new resource kit has been developed in NSW to help local Aboriginal communities feel more welcome in palliative care settings and start inclusive and culturally appropriate conversations about end of life planning. “Into […]
National art competition highlights what matters most during the holiday season

6 December 2018

In the lead up to this holiday season, Palliative Care Australia (PCA) hosted the third Dying to Talk online art competition which asked participants to create a piece of art that demonstrates what matters most to them during the holiday season. With a record of 125 entries submitted, artworks were created by artists all around the country.
The woman turning children’s disabilities into super powers

17 October 2018

“Disability is not a deficit within the person, but shows up the deficits in our culture and society that does not fully accept, encourage and celebrate humanity, no matter what it looks like. The unique and distinctive abilities of this amazing group of children can act as an inspiration for all of us, to encourage each other.”
Bear Cottage was our lifeline

13 October 2018

When Max was diagnosed with Batten Disease, we had no idea what his future held. All we knew was that our little boy was going to die.