Palliative Care Australia (PCA) has held its Annual General Meeting, reflecting on a positive year of partnerships and impact, while electing two new directors to the PCA Board. 

“Our connections and collaboration not just with member organisations, but across the primary care, aged care, disability, paediatric, and specialist palliative care sectors has delivered significant results that I am very proud of,” says Prof Meera Agar, PCA Chair. 

PCA’s 12 members include the palliative care peak organisations in each state and territory as well as national professional groups representing nurses, social workers, and physicians. 

PCA Chief Executive Officer, Camilla Rowland says the sector’s collective effort has achieved much in the 2022-2023 year, “in the aged care space, where we have been working hard  to embed palliative care into aged care, palliative care is now key components of the new aged care funding system, the Aged Care Act, and the Aged Care Standards.” 

“We have also been working to ensure that we address opportunities to improve specialist palliative care co-ordination with other health sectors including primary care, dementia care, cancer care, and the hospital system to improve funding and access,” Ms Rowland says. 

“We know that a goal in the coming year, will be disability care reform to improve linkages between the NDIS and the health system for people with life limiting illness.” 

Other highlights presented in the 2022-23 Impact Story:  

• Delivery of the National Paediatric Palliative Care Action Plan 
• Delivery of the palliative care standards for all health professionals 
• Most successful National Palliative Care Week ever 
• Release of the ‘Live the life you please’ documentary 
• 14 policy submissions to government 

“However, looking ahead, as a national peak organisation we face an increasingly challenging and decreasing government funding environment,” Prof Agar says. 

“Working with our new National Champions, PCA needs to partner with a broader group of funders and diversify our income in order to keep delivering on our vision and purpose.” 

The Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on Thursday, 9 November also saw an election for three positions on the PCA Board. 

Victorian based, palliative care researcher and physiotherapist Rachel Coghlan was re-elected for a second three-year term, alongside new directors: 

• Simon Menelaws - Queensland based GP, lived experience voice 
• Simon Waring – Victorian based marketing and communications professional, lived experience voice, and ‘Live the life you please’ narrator 

“I want to thank out going directors Dr Jayne Hewitt and Ilsa Hampton for their energy, passion, and expertise over the last three years,” Prof Agar says. 

“You are very much a part of the progress we have been able to deliver for the Australian community and palliative care services.” 

This AGM was also the last for PCA Corporate Services Director and Company Secretary Tamara McKee. 

“Tamara’s contribution over more then six years has been immense,” says Ms Rowland. 

“We wish her well and will be forever grateful for the position of strength she leaves us in.” 

The look and feel of PCA’s Annual Report has taken another step forward this year, reflecting our desire to have a document that is more user friendly, relatable, and mutli-purpose. 

In keeping with the PCA Communications Strategy, we have sort to inject more story telling – hence the change in name from Annual Report to Impact Story.  

“I invite anyone and everyone to explore our Impact Story for a fuller picture of our work,” Prof Agar says. 

“Thank you to the PCA team who are responsible for getting the work done. These policy, projects, finance, admin, communications, and events professionals go above and beyond in their day-to-day work for the sector and the people we seek to serve.” 

PCA’s 2022-23 Impact Story and 2022-23 Financial Statements can be viewed and downloaded below:

PCA Impact Story 2022-23.pdf

Palliative Care Australia 30 June 2023 Financial Statements.pdf