Palliative Care Australia hosted the Parliamentary Friends of Palliative Care event, ‘Paediatric Palliative Care: A pathway for success’, on Thursday 26 March 2022 during National Palliative Care Week.

Paediatric palliative care is more than you think. It is about improving the quality of life of infants, children and young people diagnosed with a life-limiting condition and supporting those who care for them.

This event showcased the incredible work being done by The Paediatric Palliative Care National Action Plan Project, highlighting its co-design approach to improving paediatric palliative care in Australia.

“Coming together to build a nest for living in around a family”

“A real misconception is that palliative care happens in hospitals and hospices, it happens in neighbourhoods, it happens all over Australia”

“To listen to family and then to let go, to let go of my assumptions, let go of what other people might have told me and to jump in the trench with that family and how they want to do it”

“Biggest thing, in a nutshell, is to provide a national voice, it is a big thing to have a united approach”

“Our role is to partner and guide not be the hero”

Panel members for the event: 

• Ryan Fowler – together with his wife Karen, founded the charity Rio’s Legacy after losing their son Rio in January 2018. The charity, which has since raised $600,000, was established to assist children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Ryan received the Pride of Australia Award for Service to Children’s Palliative Care Services. 
• Sara Fleming – is the Chair of Paediatric Palliative Care Australia and New Zealand and a member of the Paediatric Palliative Care Steering Committee. Sara Fleming was recognised in this year’s Australia Day honours for outstanding public service to the development and provision of Paediatric Palliative Care Services.   
• Tim Rogers – is the National Advocacy Manager at Redkite, supporting children and young people diagnosed with cancer and their families. He has a background in social work, acute care and crisis work. 
• Dr Lisa Cuddeford has over 20 years of experience in paediatric palliative medicine in the UK and Australia. In the UK, Lisa was instrumental in setting up a Community Paediatric Palliative Care Service in Birmingham and was the Medical Director for Acorns Children’s Hospice. After moving to Australia, Lisa has led the WA Paediatric Palliative Care Service and is delighted to be associated with the development of WA’s first Children’s Hospice.   

Hosted by Rachel Callander (TEDx presenter and author of ‘Super Power Baby Project’).

The Paediatric Palliative Care National Action Plan Project represents a unique opportunity to support health professionals to respond to the specialist needs of children with life-limiting conditions. The Project also addresses the needs of parents and carers seeking assistance to care for a child with high medical needs and life-limiting conditions. 

The Parliamentary Friends of Palliative Care Group was established in 2008 to inform Members and Senators on issues about palliative care. The theme of each event seeks to broaden the Government and community’s perceptions and understanding of palliative care.   

Watch it now