National Palliative Care Week 2023 - 'Matters of Life and Death'
National Palliative Care Week 2023 - 'Matters of Life and Death'
Friday, March 17, 2023
National Palliative Care Week runs, 21 May to 27 May 2023 and aims to put ‘Matters of Life and Death’ front and centre in Australia’s consciousness. Camilla Rowland, Chief Executive Officer at Palliative Care Australia (PCA) says, “We understand that death and dying is a difficult subject to talk about and engage with, but this year we have some powerful voices joining the campaign to inspire and start important conversations.”
“The ‘people at the heart of quality palliative care’ – our workforce and volunteers, have opened their hearts to share the life lessons they learn everyday as they provide care and support to people and families living with a life limiting illness.
“The vibrant video and social media campaign that is central to the week will also allow us all to show our appreciation for the doctors, nurses, physios, social workers, occupational therapists, dietitians, volunteers and the many others who contribute to the person-centred team approach to palliative care.”
Adding further weight to our message is the world premiere of ‘Live the life you please’, a powerful documentary produced by Moonshine Agency. The film delves into the stories of real people from across the country, sharing their personal experiences of palliative care. The film will make you smile, laugh, laugh harder and occasionally shed a tear as this diverse range of Australians share the last chapter of their life with us.
“National Palliative Care Week and the stories we’ll share will open the door on the full scope and impact of palliative care and the quality of life it delivers. I hope it provides a moment of reflection for all Australians to think about and plan for the last chapter of life,” Ms Rowland says.
Film screenings and a host of other events will make for a busy NPCW around the country. A full list of events can be found below as well as a range tools to help grow awareness of palliative care. Getting involved and showing your support for palliative care and the people who deliver it is as easy as sharing your story on social media using #MattersOfLifeAndDeath.
“Whether you are receiving palliative care, looking after someone or know someone who is receiving care, we encourage you to share your experience and break down those taboos,” Ms Rowland says. The advice, tools, and support below have been pulled together to support those working and volunteering in palliative care and help anyone and everyone better understand palliative care and how to access it.
You will also find some great resources to start end-of-life conversations and record those wishes and plans. Please make the most of the communication and marketing assets below to show your support and help amplify the message.
Thanks again, got a question? Email pca@palliativecare.org.au
See what's happening in your state or territory
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National movie screenings
Advice for you
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Other advice, tools and support
- Understanding self-care
- Planning for self-care
- Self-Care Matters campaign resources – a Palliative Care Australia resource, which aims to support you – whatever your role in palliative care – to prevent burnout and build resilience
- Self-care for volunteers working in paediatric palliative care
- Self-care for health professionals working in paediatric palliative care
- Questions for carers to ask the team caring for your loved one
- The Essence of Spiritual Care: A learning module for health care workers
- End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) Toolkits – designed to help you in providing palliative care and advance care planning to older Australians
- National Palliative Care Standards for Specialist Palliative Care Services
- National Palliative Care Standards for All Health Professionals and Aged Care Services
- CareSearch Health Professionals Centre – providing trustworthy and practical resources that are relevant to your practice
- End-of-Life Essentials: free education modules and resources
- Palliative Care Online Short Courses, Flinders University
- Oceanic Palliative Care Conference, Sydney, September 2023
- Free PCA shop
- Palliative care NSW – Homelessness and Palliative Care Report
- Department of Health and Aged Care – Exploratory Analysis of Barriers to Palliative Care – Issues Report on People Experiencing Homelessness
- CareSearch: palliative care issues for people experiencing homelessness
- Palliative Care Australia – Providing palliative care for people who are homeless; attempting to break down barriers
- Homeless Palliative Care Toolkit
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Quick links to more info
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Join the conversation
“People are death denying, we don’t want to talk about it because we are worried it will tempt fate, and I think there is a sense of – it’s going to happen to someone else, not me,” says Peter Jenkin, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner.
Peter is one for six ‘people at the heart of quality palliative care’ we feature in 2024 as part of our National Palliative Care Week video series. Wait till you hear what they have to say and share!
National Palliative Care Week is May 19 to 25, are you ready? More info and tools to get involved, including details on where you can buy your orange heart pin ➡️ https://ow.ly/peZU50Rzbjb
#MattersOfLifeAndDeath 🧡
Stand up and cheer as Simon has one last beer and pie at the Adelaide Oval.
Simon’s wish is the first to be granted by Ambulance Wish SA, launched this week with the support of Palliative Care South Australia, SA Health, St John Ambulance | SA, and Flinders University.
The Ambulance Wish program runs across the country including Ambulance Wish Queensland, Ambulance Wish Western Australia and the Memory Lane program run by the Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria
It’s a program with a big heart that opens the door on memory making, better grief and bereavement outcomes, and smashes taboos around death and dying.
Know more or support Ambulance Wish SA ➡️ https://ow.ly/8JHr50RzaN6
Love that smile Simon! Thanks for sharing your story,
📸 9 News Adelaide
“Art therapy is one way of helping a person receiving palliative care to rise above the deterioration of their physical health,” Palliative care specialist Dr Eric Fairbank, told The Medical Journal of Australia.
“It is a path to mindfulness that locates them in the present moment…. It gives them a focus away from the hassles of day-to-day life.”
Read on ➡️ https://ow.ly/BLaW50RwYo4
📸 Some of the vibrant artworks of Jeffery Kelson’s “Celebration” exhibition at Quadrant Gallery, 72 Barkers Road, Hawthorn, Vic, from 8 to 31 May 2024. More in the article.
The number of people dying year-on year in Australia is increasing. The 5 leading causes of death in Australia (2022):
1. Heart disease
2. Dementia
3. COVID-19
4. Stroke
5. Lung cancer
Palliative care has a powerful role to play in maximising quality of life for people with each of these life-limiting illnesses, but during #HeartWeek2024 we are highlighting healthy lifestyle strategies with our friends at the Heart Foundation.
A Heart Health Check is a routine 20-minute check-up with your GP to assess your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next five years. If you are aged 45 and over and do not already have heart disease, it is recommended you see your doctor for a Medicare-subsidised Heart Health Check.
Some people may be eligible earlier, including First Nations peoples from 30 years, and from 35 years for people living with diabetes.
Learn more ➡️ https://ow.ly/FwNG50RwY1s
🌟Essential listening 🌟
The Mourning After Podcast with Benjamin James, End of Life Support offers a male point of view on death and grief.
In this episode, Mark Freedman from Tathra on the Far South Coast of NSW, shares his family’s experience around the death of their beloved wife and mum Lisa, following her shock bowel cancer diagnosis.
Mark shares the resilience he found and the tools he employs to navigate a life with grief, including a passion for living in and capturing his local environment.
Listen ➡️ https://ow.ly/uHxY50Rvkrn
Thanks Mark and Ben for sharing this.
📸 Mark Freedman: A star filled night with WMB at one of their weekly camps.
The successful ‘Palliative Care – it’s more than you think’ campaign has been adapted to include a factsheet, poster, and other tools designed to support clinicians who are referring patients to palliative care.
Research led by Queensland University of Technology highlighted that end-of-life conversations can be challenging and present a barrier to early referral to palliative care.
“Referring clinicians are sometimes poorly equipped to manage patients’ understandings of palliative care, we want to flip that,” says Dr Sarah Lord, Palliative Care Consultant, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane.
Find out more ➡️ https://ow.ly/X88R50RvkFx
Thanks to QUT (Queensland University of Technology), The Prince Charles Hospital, Queensland Health, The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, and The Common Good Au.
