National Palliative Care Week 2026 - Getting to the heart of it: Big Questions. Real Answers.
National Palliative Care Week 2026 - Getting to the heart of it: Big Questions. Real Answers.
Friday, March 06, 2026
National Palliative Care Week 2026
Every day in Australia, over 450 people across the age spectrum die of a life-limiting illness. Every one of them could benefit from palliative care – care that is their human right, care that can enrich their final days, and care that too many people still miss out on.
With the support of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, National Palliative Care Week (NPCW) opens conversations, raises awareness, and advocates for better access to and acceptance of palliative and end-of-life care.
Getting to the heart of it. Big Questions. Real Answers.
The campaign aims to make palliative care easier to understand by encouraging honest questions and offering clear, human answers. The campaign is expressed through three supporting themes:
- Living well, your way – focusing on comfort, quality of life, and staying connected to what matters.
- Conversation changes everything – showing how starting the conversation can reduce uncertainty and support better planning and care.
- The heart of care – highlighting care that feels personal, safe and respectful for individuals and families.
Why conversations about palliative care matter
As Australia’s population ages (including rapid growth in the number of people aged 85 and over), and with dementia now the leading cause of death nationally, access to palliative care is more crucial than ever. While need is growing with an ageing population, palliative care is for anyone of any age with a life-limiting illness – including children and young people.
Meanwhile conversations about palliative and end-of-life care are often avoided because they can feel confronting or “too soon”, and many people aren’t sure what palliative care is or when it can help. National Palliative Care Week is a chance to change that – by encouraging earlier conversations and connecting people to trusted information, tools and support.
Thank you for your support!
Advice, tools and support
These trusted resources have been designed to support those receiving or providing palliative and end-of-life care.
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- National Palliative Care Standards
For Specialist Palliative Care Providers
Palliative Care Australia - National Palliative Care Standards
For all Health Professionals and Aged Care Services
Palliative Care Australia - ‘Live the life you please’ Documentary and Educational Package
For educators in medical education, hospitals, hospice, palliative care, end-of-life care, spiritual care, doulas, grief counsellors and more
Palliative Care Australia - PCA Learning module: The Essence of Spiritual Care
For healthcare workers
Palliative Care Australia - Paediatric End-of-Life Care Communication Course
8 modules: 1) Communicating with Children, 2) Connecting with Adolescents and Young Adults, 3) Understanding Emotion, 4) Shared Decision Making, 5) Moral Distress, 6) Self-Care, 7) Diversity and 8) Teamwork
For healthcare professionals working in paediatric end-of-life care
Paediatric Palliative Care - Professional Development Education
For teachers to support them when working with a sibling of a child with a life limiting condition
Paediatric Palliative Care - Health Professionals Centre
For the workforce providing palliative care
CareSearch - Toolkits
For use in Australian aged care services
End of Life Directions in Aged Care (ELDAC) - Online training curriculum 2023–2026
For medical practitioners, medical students, nurses
and allied health professionals about the law relating to end of life decision-making
End of Life Law for Clinicians (ELLC) - Education modules and resources
For doctors, nurses and allied health professionals working in acute hospitals in delivering end-of-life care
End-of-Life Essentials (EOLE) - LGBTIQ+ – Inclusive Palliative Care eLearning
For healthcare providers
LGBTIQ+ Palliative Care Project - Learning Resources – free palliative approach workshops and placements in palliative care services
Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) and Indigenous PEPA (IPEPA) - Learning modules: Improving palliative care knowledge and skills
Palliative Care Curriculum for Undergraduates (PCC4U) - Palliative Care Education Directory
Palliative Care Education Directory (PaCE ) - Palliative Care Short Courses
For professionals in the health and community care industries, ensuring the delivery of high-quality care
Flinders University - Palliative care education and training opportunities
For anyone who works in primary care and aged care
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- What is palliative care?
Palliative Care Australia - Understanding palliative care
Palliative Care Australia - Talking about palliative care
Palliative Care Australia - Questions for carers to ask the team caring for your loved one
Palliative Care Australia - How can I support my friend/family member?
Palliative Care Australia - The Dying Process
Palliative Care Australia - Resource Library
Palliative Care Australia - Resource Library
Paediatric Palliative Care
- Voluntary Assisted Dying in Australia – Guiding Principles
For those providing care to people living with a life-limiting illness
Palliative Care Australia - Overview of Voluntary Assisted Dying in Australia
End of Life Directions in Aged Care (ELDAC) - My Toolkit Checklist and Resources – Voluntary Assisted Dying in Acute Hospitals
End-of-Life Essentials (EOLE) - Training Module: Voluntary Assisted Dying in Acute Hospitals
End-of-Life Essentials (EOLE)
- Understanding self-care
Palliative Care Australia - Planning for self-care
Palliative Care Australia - Self-care matters
Palliative Care Australia - The wellbeing bites series (videos)
For health professionals working in paediatric palliative care
Paediatric Palliative Care - Self-care for volunteers for volunteers working in paediatric palliative care
Paediatric Palliative Care - Self-Care Pack
End of Life Directions in Aged Care (ELDAC)
- Paediatric Palliative Care website and accompanying video
Paediatric Palliative Care - Demystifying Paediatric Palliative Care: it’s more than you think (video)
Available in English and for the Arabic-speaking community
Paediatric Palliative Care - Navigating Transition in Palliative Care: Empowering Young People – A Healthcare Professional’s Guide and accompanying video
Paediatric Palliative Care - Caring Together: an introduction to paediatric palliative care (booklet)
Available in English, English Easy Read, Vietnamese, Arabic
Paediatric Palliative Care - Referral to Paediatric Palliative Care – A Decision Making Guideline Tool for Health Care Professionals and accompanying video
Paediatric Palliative Care
- Palliative care is more than you think (brochure)
Palliative Care Australia - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Discussion Starter – Working out what’s right for you (booklet)
Palliative Care Australia - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Discussion Starter – Working out what’s right for you (cards)
Palliative Care Australia - Working out what’s right for your child – Discussion Starter (cards) and Yarning Companion
Paediatric Palliative Care - The Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Portal
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet - Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
caring@home - Supporting Inclusive End of Life Care Companion Guide: Older Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples
For aged care providers
End of Life Directions in Aged Care (ELDAC) - Online Training Module 12: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples and end of life law
For medical practitioners, nurses, allied and other health professionals, and health professional students
End of Life Law for Clinicians (ELLC) - Palliative Care Education and Training Supporting Palliative Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities
Gwandalan
- What is palliative care? (brochure)
Available in Vietnamese, Chinese, Ukrainian, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Maltese, Greek, Polish, Croatian
Palliative Care Australia - What Matters Most – Discussion Starter (booklet)
Available in Vietnamese, Chinese, Ukrainian, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Maltese, Greek, Polish, Croatian
For older people using aged care services – they are designed to be used with health or aged care staff
Palliative Care Australia - What Matters Most – Discussion Starter (cards)
Available in Vietnamese, Chinese, Ukrainian, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Maltese, Greek, Polish, Croatian
For older people using aged care services – they are designed to be used with health or aged care staff
Palliative Care Australia - Caring Together: an introduction to paediatric palliative care (booklet)
Available in English, English Easy Read, Vietnamese, Arabic
Paediatric Palliative Care - Demystifying Paediatric Palliative Care: it’s more than you think (video)
Available in English and for the Arabic-speaking community
Paediatric Palliative Care - Supporting Inclusive End of Life Care Companion Guide: Older People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds
For aged care providers
End of Life Directions in Aged Care (ELDAC)
- LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Palliative Care Toolkit
For carers and health professionals
Palliative Care ACT - Resources and information about palliative care, tailored for members of LGBTIQA+ communities
For members of the LGBTIQA+ communities
Palliative Care Victoria - LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Palliative Care eLearning
For healthcare providers
LGBTIQ+ Palliative Care Project - Supporting Inclusive End of Life Care Companion Guide: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Gender Diverse, and Intersex Elders
For aged care providers
End of Life Directions in Aged Care (ELDAC) - Online Training Module 13: Inclusive end of life decision-making from diverse populations
For medical practitioners, nurses, allied and other health professionals, and health professional students
End of Life Law for Clinicians (ELLC) - Blog: Barriers LGBTIQ+ People Face in Accessing Palliative Care
For health professionals on the delivery of quality end-of-life care in hospitals
End-of-Life Essentials (EOLE)
- Homelessness and Palliative Care: A Scoping Study in Regional, Rural and Remote NSW
Palliative Care NSW - Palliative care issues for people experiencing homelessness
For health professionals
CareSearch - Toolkit
For staff working with homeless people who have advanced ill health
Homelessness Palliative Care Network - Exploratory Analysis of Barriers to Palliative Care – Issues Report on People Experiencing Homelessness
For general public
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Palliative Care in Prisons Project
Prisons Project - Blog: Providing palliative care in prisons: Perspectives of prison clinicians, hospital clinicians and correctional officers
For health professionals
CareSearch - Exploratory Analysis of Barriers to Palliative Care – Issues Report on People who are Incarcerated
For general public
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
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National events
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Local events
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Wear the Message. Support the Cause.
Our collection of Palliative Care Australia merchandise is designed to inspire conversation, honour compassionate care, and support those working in palliative care across Australia.
🧡 Thank you for supporting palliative care awareness in Australia. 🧡
| ‘Orange Heart’ Lapel Pin | ‘Orange Heart’ T-shirt (unisex) | 1000 Hearts Starter Kit |
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| Shop now |
More information
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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
