I am interested in engaging a representative
I am interested in engaging a representative
Engaging people with lived experience strengthens policy, research, service design and quality improvement by ensuring decisions are informed by the people they affect most. Through the National Register of Palliative Care Consumers and Carers , Palliative Care Australia helps organisations engage consumer and carer representatives to bring meaningful lived experience into projects, research and service improvement.
Why Engage a Representative?
NRPCCC representatives bring more than lived experience. Through their involvement with Palliative Care Australia, they develop knowledge of the palliative care sector, build confidence in consumer engagement, and contribute to national conversations that influence policy, research, education and service improvement.
Representatives combine their personal experiences with broader sector knowledge to provide thoughtful, constructive perspectives that help organisations identify priorities, strengthen decision-making and ensure projects better reflect the needs of people, families and carers.
Whether you're developing a research project, reviewing a service, designing a resource or informing policy, engaging an NRPCCC representative help bring meaningful lived experience together with informed consumer leadership.
How Representatives Can Support Your Work
Representatives can contribute at any stage of a project, from early planning through to implementation and evaluation. They may participate in national committees, advisory or reference groups, consultations, working groups and research projects, or provide feedback on policies, services, resources and education materials. Some representatives may also contribute to public speaking, media activities or other opportunities to share lived experience perspectives.
PCA works with you to identify representatives whose experience and interests align with each opportunity, supporting meaningful engagement that benefits both organisations and the people they serve.
Select a Representatives
-
Christine Hofmeyer
Representative
Christine Hofmeyer
Representative
Read moreI see my role as a carer and consumer representative as an opportunity to act as an advocate for consumers and carers, to promote person-centred care and programmes to improve health literacy in death and dying. I believe it is essential to ensure consumers points of view and experiences are heard and integrated into policy development and service and quality improvements.
-
Frances Logan
Representative
Frances Logan
Representative
Read moreMy volunteer roles, (experience as a volunteer and team leader in the Community team) with Hospice Volunteers South (Tasmania) and with Lifeline Tasmania bring me into connection with people living with life threatening illness, their carers and those bereaved by the death of people of significance in their lives. I am a member of Palliative Care Tasmania.
-
Harpreet Kalsi-Smith
Representative
Harpreet Kalsi-Smith
Representative
Read moreMy passion to advocate and work in end of life care commenced after supporting my family care for my mother during her final months. My own experience in losing a baby and supporting those around me who have recently lost loved ones from cancer, dementia and old age has further driven me to work for better care for all approaching end of life.
-
John Clements
Representative
John Clements
Representative
Read moreI have two main aims within the area of palliative care: The first is to do what I can to inform the general public as to what it actually is and the potential benefits it offers and the second is to strive to get palliative care more involved at an earlier stage in patients’ trajectories than is currently the case.
-
Nicola Champion
Representative
Nicola Champion
Representative
Read moreI am a registered nurse with twenty years’ experience working in a rural, regional community cancer care and palliative service. I also have personal experience of caring for my terminally ill father as a single mum at home until his death.
-
Rosemary Dillon
Representative
Rosemary Dillon
Representative
Read moreRosemary is a registered nurse with a clinical background in neurology and neurosurgery, aged care, rehabilitation and more recently, patient experience and consumer engagement. On a personal level, in recent years Rosemary has cared for several people in her immediate family at the end of their lives.
-
Simon Waring
Representative
Simon Waring
Representative
Read moreMy experience of palliative care extends to both adult and paediatric oncology, as a full-time carer to one of my young sons and also my wife. Diagnosed with neuroblastoma at fifteen months, my son Marmaduke died three years later, just five weeks after my wife succumbed to breast cancer.
-
Natasha Welsh
Representative
Natasha Welsh
Representative
Read moreNatasha is the CEO of Derek's Place. She is a mother to Cristian, who was just four-years-old when her husband Derek, passed away from Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) in August 2019 after a 23-month battle. Derek was one month short of his 36th birthday.
-
Jodie Adams
Representative
Jodie Adams
Representative
Read moreMy journey alongside my daughter under paediatric palliative care was only five months, but I was in that space for a number of years with my daughter having a rare and complex life limiting condition from when she was 12 months. Cosette was 5 years old when she passed away and spent over half her life in the Royal Children’s Hospital. I experienced exhaustion in providing ongoing 24-hour care on my own attending to my daughter’s high medical needs. Respite is imperative for carers and families need to be provided adequate support to prevent carer burnout.
-
Jacinta Smith
Representative
Jacinta Smith
Representative
Read moreIn 2019 I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. My journey took me through induction and consolidation rounds of chemotherapy as well as a Bone Marrow Transplant. During this treatment period I spent 22 days on life support in the Intensive Care Unit due to total organ failure and consequently, spent an extended time in a rehabilitation unit due to my deconditioned state.
-
Julie Delvecchio
Representative
Julie Delvecchio
Representative
Read moreJulie’s passion for palliative care stems not only from their professional experience but also from personal encounters. Over a decade ago, she spent a brief period as a palliative care volunteer and supported her mother during her 6.5-week stay in a hospice in 2023. This deeply meaningful experience has given Julie firsthand insights into end-of-life care's challenges and transformative power.
-
Jodie Clarkson
Representative
Jodie Clarkson
Representative
Read moreJodie Clarkson is a palliative care outpatient in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). She has been living with brain cancer since 2017 and has undergone neurosurgery in South Australia and New South Wales as well as chemotherapy in the Northern Territory. Jodie holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Education LOTE (Languages Other than English) and EADL (English as an Additional Dialect or Language). She worked and now volunteers with the Aboriginal Interpreter Service training professionals in legal, health and human services.
-
Annie Dullow
Representative
Annie Dullow
Representative
Read moreMy personal experience of palliative care was with my mum who was provided with excellent non-specialist palliative care in an aged care setting. As a family we felt supported, listened to and encouraged to be with Mum for as long as we wished and assist with her end of life care.
-
Paras Pappas
Representative
Paras Pappas
Representative
Read moreI first became aware of palliative care services around 25 years ago after watching an Australian documentary featuring palliative care nurses. I was deeply moved by the compassion shown to vulnerable people and their families during one of the most significant times in their lives.
-
Melissa Malivoire
Representative
Melissa Malivoire
Representative
Read moreMelissa Malivoire is a bereaved mother, consumer advocate and research partner with lived experience of extreme prematurity, neonatal death, paediatric palliative care and bereavement.
-
Elena Ragonese
Representative
Elena Ragonese
Representative
Read moreMy journey into the end-of-life space is shaped by decades of supporting individuals living with a terminal diagnosis or who experienced the sudden death of a loved one, and my 6.5 years in the role as carer and advocate for my mother, who lived and died, with end-stage kidney disease and dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
Parisa Alai
Representative
Parisa Alai
Representative
Read moreMy name is Parisa, and I have been a registered nurse for 14 years. Throughout my career, I have cared for patients requiring palliative support, but my most profound experience with palliative care came through caring for my mum during her battle with breast cancer.
-
Bronwyn Leon
Representative
Bronwyn Leon
Representative
Read moreI am a Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal woman originating from Nambucca Heads, located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. I am an experienced executive leader, community advocate and business owner with 40 years of experience across Aboriginal health, community services, aged care, government and community engagement.
Resources
For more information about engaging an NRPCCC representative, download the factsheet below.
