The BNPCC Hub

[From Ageing Australia]

Ageing Australia is developing free, tailored online education with national consortium partners.

This training will help nurses and aged care providers deliver palliative care to people receiving care at home and in residential facilities.

Live on 12 October 2026, the education will build workforce confidence and capability in using palliative care medicines safely and effectively to support quality end-of-life care.

Register your interest

[From Palliative Care Queensland]

This year's theme, What Matters Most in Palliative Care: Dignity, Identity and Choice at the End of Life, will bring together health professionals, aged care providers, community organisations, volunteers, carers, advocates and sector leaders from across Queensland for a day of learning, connection and celebration.

The program features an outstanding line-up of speakers, including:

• A/Prof Hannah Carter (QUT) – Death Has Value
• Dr Hannah Gould (University of Melbourne) – The 'Reality Check' of Death in the 21st Century
• Christine Bryden AM – Identity, dignity, autonomy and the importance of being recognised as a person, not a diagnosis
• Dr Denise Craig (CHHHS) – Alzheimer's, Autonomy and Advance Care Planning
• Dr Jodi Sariman (CHHHS) – Held by Connection Through the Tyranny of Distance
• Professor Phillip Good (St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane) – Dying as a Disruption of Relationships
• Ben Kelly (Australasian Cemeteries & Crematoria Association) and Luke Gregson (Gregson & Weight Funeral Directors) – Behind the Scenes: What Happens When Someone Dies?

Event Details

Date: Friday 30 October 2026
Time: Registration from 9:30am | Program commences 10:00am | Awards Ceremony 5:00pm
Location: Easts Leagues Club, Brisbane, or online via Teams

Participants can attend either in person or online, making the event accessible to professionals and community members across Queensland.

Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/2026-palliative-care-queensland-summit

PCQ would greatly appreciate it if you could share this opportunity through your newsletters, member communications, social media channels and professional networks.

[From ELDAC]

We are pleased to share that ELDAC has secured funding through to June 2030.
This continued investment means aged care providers, workers and organisations can continue to access ELDAC's trusted resources, education, practical tools and expert support to strengthen palliative care and advance care planning for older Australians.

Read more about ELDAC's next chapter for 2026 to 2030.

[From Queensland Health]

Thank you for your ongoing support of patients and families and your communities.

The Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board has released its fourth annual report, detailing activity from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. The annual report and associated consumer guide can be found here: www.health.qld.gov.au/vadreviewboard.

The report shows that people are accessing voluntary assisted dying throughout Queensland, including in rural and remote areas. A total of 2256 people started the process by having a first assessment, and 1082 people died following administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance as their end of life choice. Most people (76%) were accessing or had accessed palliative care at the time of their first assessment.

Between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026 there were 515 authorised voluntary assisted dying practitioners in Queensland. Although this number is growing, authorised practitioners are often not the first point of contact for people who are seeking to access voluntary assisted dying.

It is important you are aware of your rights and responsibilities under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 (the Act).

Discussing voluntary assisted dying

In Queensland, medical practitioners and nurse practitioners can initiate a conversation about voluntary assisted dying.

Any healthcare worker can conscientiously object to participating in the voluntary assisted dying process. However, registered health practitioners have specific obligations under the Act. If you conscientiously object to participating in voluntary assisted dying you must:

- inform the person that other health practitioners, health service providers or services may be able to assist, and

- give the person information about where they can get further information or support, such as the details of Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Support Service (QVAD Support).

QVAD Support

QVAD Support is a statewide service that provides advice and support to Queenslanders about voluntary assisted dying and can help link a person with a voluntary assisted dying doctor. You can contact QVAD Support for more information, or your patient can contact them directly. Phone: 1800 431 371 | Email: QVADSupport@health.qld.gov.au

Hours of operation: 8.30am to 4pm, Mon to Fri (excluding public holidays)

Being aware of QVAD Support and local referral pathways will ensure you are ready to fulfil your obligations under the Act.

Information about voluntary assisted dying for consumers

The consumer guide summarises the annual report information in an accessible way for consumers. Access the consumer guide here: www.health.qld.gov.au/vadreviewboard.

Information about voluntary assisted dying for healthcare workers

The voluntary assisted dying education module is available for all healthcare workers. The module takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and provides an overview of the voluntary assisted dying process, and roles and responsibilities of healthcare workers. Access the module here: Qld VAD Healthcare Worker Module

More information is also available on the Queensland Health website: www.health.qld.gov.au/vad.

Become an authorised practitioner

More information about eligibility and training can be found here: Becoming an authorised voluntary assisted dying practitioner | Queensland Health

[From Compassionate Communities Australia]

The next Compassionate Communities Australia Forum will be held in Adelaide on Monday 19 April 2027.

The 2027 Forum will focus on Communities transforming caring, dying and grieving, bringing together people from health and aged care, palliative care, community, policy and system change to share practical tools, proven models and community-led strategies.

You’ll leave with practical roadmaps for building and sustaining a Compassionate Community, conversation tools for discussing caring, dying and grieving, insights from successful community-led initiatives, and strategies for engaging local partners in sustained collective action.

Save the date: Monday 19 April 2027
Location: Adelaide – venue to be announced
Speakers: Coming soon

If you’re attending APHC2027OPCC in Adelaide, come a day early and join us.

Registrations are now open: https://bit.ly/4zgVIJu

[From Palliative Care Australia]

Entries are now open for the 2027 Live Well, Die Well Art Prize, presented by Palliative Care Australia and the Arcare Family Foundation.

Art has a unique way of helping us connect, reflect and begin conversations that matter. This year’s theme, ‘Conversations about end of life’, invites artists of all ages and backgrounds across Australia to explore life, death and end of life through visual art.

Entry is free, and with an expanded $30,000 prize pool, this year’s Art Prize offers more opportunities to recognise and reward artists across a range of categories.

From quiet reflections to bold expressions, there’s no single style, tone or interpretation being sought – the Art Prize is an opportunity for artists to show what the theme means to them.

Entries close on 11 January 2027.

Find out more and enter: https://livewell.awardsplatform.com/

[From PCQ]

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Palliative Care Queensland Awards.

These awards recognise the individuals, teams, volunteers, researchers and organisations making an outstanding contribution to palliative and end-of-life care across Queensland.

We know there are remarkable people and programs making a difference every day. Now is the time to celebrate their achievements and ensure their contributions are recognised.

As part of our newly aligned awards program with Palliative Care Australia, many Queensland award winners will also have the opportunity to be considered for national recognition through the 2027 Palliative Care Australia Awards.

2026 Award Categories

• Excellence in Building Compassion in the Community
• Excellence in an Aged Care Setting
• Emerging Leader
• Emerging Researcher
• Innovation in Palliative Care
• Volunteering Hero
• Exemplary Care for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples
• Outstanding Work by a Team in Delivering Palliative Care
• Outstanding Achievement by an Individual in Palliative Care
• Lifetime Achievement

Key Dates

• Nominations Open: 24 August 2026
• Nominations Close: 21 September 2026
• Finalists Notified: Early October 2026
• Winners Announced: 30 October 2026 at the Palliative Care Queensland Annual Summit & Award
• 2027 Qld Finalists submitted to the Palliative Care Australia Awards

Join Us at the Annual Summit & Awards

The awards presentation will be held as part of the 2026 Palliative Care Queensland Annual Summit & Awards on Friday 30 October 2026 at Easts Leagues Club, Brisbane.

Guided by the theme "What Matters Most in Palliative Care: Dignity, Identity and Choice at the End of Life," the Summit will bring together healthcare professionals, aged care leaders, researchers, volunteers, community organisations and policymakers to explore the future of palliative care and celebrate excellence across our sector

We Need Your Help

Please consider nominating a colleague, volunteer, team or organisation whose work deserves recognition.

We would also appreciate you sharing this opportunity throughout your networks, services, organisations and communities to help us identify and celebrate the outstanding work happening across Queensland.

Submit an Award Nomination Here

View Award Guidelines Here

Register for Summit Here

Thank you for the vital role you play in supporting Queenslanders facing life-limiting illness, and for helping us celebrate excellence across our sector.

[From PCQ]

What Matters Most as We Age? Navigating Frailty, Dementia and Quality of Life

As we age, conversations about frailty, dementia and future care can feel difficult, but they can also help us better understand what matters most and support people to live with dignity, comfort and connection.

Join Dr Aneesha Singh, Geriatrician and General Medicine Consultant with the Community Palliative Care Service, Metro North HHS, and Kristy Clapp, Clinical Nurse Consultant from Dementia Australia for a compassionate and practical discussion about navigating the changes that can come with ageing.

Dr Singh will share clinical insights into frailty, ageing, and the lessons learned through developing and delivering the Comfort Care Bundle, highlighting lessons that can strengthen person-centered care. Kristy will bring a lived-experience, advocacy, education and support perspective, exploring how individuals living with dementia and the families and carers supporting them can be better understood, included and supported.

This webinar will explore:

• Understanding frailty and dementia
• Supporting independence, wellbeing and quality of life
• Planning ahead and having important conversations
• Lessons from the Comfort Care Bundle
• Listening to and learning from lived experience
• Supporting carers and families throughout the journey
• Connecting with community supports and services

Designed for healthcare and aged care professionals, carers, families and anyone interested in supporting older people, this session will offer practical insights grounded in care, compassion and respect for individual choices.

DATE: WEDNESDAY 30 September 2026

TIME: 12:00 PM – 01:00 PM (AEST)

REGISTER: https://events.humanitix.com/pcqwebinarseptember2026

FREE for PCQ members, PCQ Volunteers, QAS Paramedics

$10 General Admission

$8 Concession Card Holders

These webinars are sponsored by Queensland Health, and supported by Queensland Ambulance Services

Any questions please email hello@palliativecareqld.org.au or call 07 3842 3242.