Thank you for your interest in the work of Palliative Care Australia (PCA) during 2024. 

It’s been a big year, I know you feel it too, but I certainly look back with pride not just at the achievements of PCA, but all those who work in the health and care sectors. 

Three years of significant reform across health, aged care, and disability services is bearing fruit – a direct result of how those with professional and lived experience expertise have been engaged in the necessary changes we’ve seen. 

More needs to be done of course, but from PCA’s perspective some of the highlights of 2024 include: 

• The Aged Care Act is now law. Our advocacy around the need for access to palliative care to be embedded within the Act is one of PCA’s most significant achievements in our 30-year history. Our attention now turns to the implementation of the Act and making sure our elders get the care that is their human right. 

• During 2024 PCA surveyed those working in specialist palliative care, aged care, and primary health. 1400 workers and volunteers responded, highlighted the pressures and opportunities that exist within health systems around the delivery of palliative care. This data and the ideas that came with it, will be central to our advocacy in 2025. Thank you to those who took part. 

• An updated version of the National Palliative Care Standards for aged care and primary health were launched this year during National Palliative Care Week. The standards have been the benchmark in the delivery of palliative care for over 15 years and will continue to be. 

• PCA’s new ‘Shaping the Future of Paediatric Palliative Care’ project is gathering momentum and influencing the lives of Australian families. Connected to our earlier work in this space, new Paediatric End of Life Communications eLearning  was launched this year. Real life experiences are at the heart of each module, and I urge all health professionals to complete this important training. 

Looking ahead into 2025, the Federal Election is an opportunity for us to drive further change. Much loved performer, Jean Kittson is currently helping us do that. By sharing her family’s grief, she is encouraging all Australian’s to “help us make some noise” about the need for ‘better access to palliative care’. You can sign our petition HERE.  

National Palliative Care Week, May 11 to 17 2025 and the Oceanic Palliative Care Conference in Brisbane, September 10 to 12 are both significant events in our diary. 

We move into the new year with new leadership, with Dr Peter Allcroft appointed PCA Board Chair in November, previous chair Prof Meera Agar will see out her term on the Board as Deputy Chair, allowing for a smooth transition. We will have more to say about Meera’s impact on PCA and the sector more broadly next year.  

On a personal note, 2024 has ended with some challenging news for my family, with my husband diagnosed with MND. He is strong and determined to make the most out of the life left to live, our bucket list will be a focus in 2025, as will my continuing role as CEO of this great organisation. 

I want to thank the PCA team, our Board of Directors, members, and partners in the sector for their support and contributions during 2024. It’s important to take some time to reflect on what we have done together and recharge our batteries over summer. 

Thank you also to our business partners who always go beyond the work they are engaged to do for PCA – BlueArc IT Solutions, Winton Research & Insights, Cre8ive, Griffin Legal, Medianet, Iceberg Events, Evexus, and Spring Media Group in particular.  

In 2025 the growing need for palliative care goes up a notch, as do our efforts for make sure health and care systems are part of a future that meets that need. 

Season's greetings and happy new year 

Camilla Rowland

CEO, Palliative Care Australia

PCA's office and communication channels will close from Christmas Day and start to reopen from Friday, 3 January. The PCA website has a range of information and tools you can explore in the meantime.