Congratulations to PCQ award finalists

Congratulations to the following BNPCC members on becoming finalists for the Palliative Care Queensland awards:

  • Dr Helen Haydon
  • Kathryn Hooper
  • Jess Slater (Blue Care Rural Regional and Remote Palliative Care Team – Wide Bay)
  • Dr Samantha McClean

Also, what a fantastic display of finalists in our region:

  • Dr Ashwin Kaniah
  • Comfort Care Bundle for the Frail Metro North Community Palliative Care
  • Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) Palliative and End-of-life Care Team
  • Toni Bradley
  • (honorable mention as used to work in our region) Ven. Tsultrim (Carla Pearse)

Tickets are still available to attend the 2026 Palliative Care Queensland Summit and Awards on Friday 30 October.

Below is a list of all the finalists

Excellence in an Aged Care Setting Award

⭐ Comfort Care Bundle for the Frail Metro North Community Palliative Care

⭐ Lutheran Services Nurse Practitioner Program

⭐ Residential Aged Care Facility Team, Metro South Palliative Care Service

Excellence in Building Compassion in the Community Award

✨ Jess Lane , Rally for a Cause

✨ Lisa's Lunches, Ipswich

✨ Mingary Care, Sunshine Coast

Emerging Leader Award

⭐ Dr Ashwin Kaniah, Palliative Medicine Staff Specialist, Redcliffe Hospital, Metro North Health

⭐ Dr Helen Haydon, Senior Research Fellow, Registered Psychologist, The University of Queensland

⭐ Kathryn Hooper, Nurse Practitioner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit, Metro North Health

Emerging Researcher Award

✨ Finalist to be announced on the night


Innovation in Palliative Care Award

💡 Gold Coast – Subcutaneous Patient Controlled Analgesia Team

💡 PEACE Program, Gold Coast Specialist Palliative Care

💡 Pop-Up Palliative Care Service, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service


Volunteering Hero Award

✨ Athol James Alcorn (Posthumous Finalist), Volunteer, Hummingbird House

✨ Carolyn Groves, Volunteer, Ian Maver Foundation

✨ Paula Ryan, Volunteer, Fitzroy Community Hospice


Exemplary Care for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples Award

⭐ Blue Care Rural Regional and Remote Palliative Care Team – Wide Bay

⭐ Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) Palliative and End-of-life Care Team

⭐ Dr Samantha McClean, GP Palliative Care, Institute for Urban Indigenous Health


Outstanding Work by a Team in Delivering Palliative Care Award

✨ Blue Care Rural, Regional and Remote Palliative Care Program

✨ First Nations Community-Based Palliative Care Program

✨ Quilpie Multipurpose Health Service


Outstanding Achievement by an Individual in Palliative Care Award

⭐ Jamie Hind, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Blue Care, Regional & Remote Community Palliative Care Program- Central & Mackay

⭐ Dr Jodi Sariman, Allied Health Educator & Research Lead, Advanced Social Worker, Cairns and Hinterland HHS

⭐ Melanie McBain, Nurse Manager Palliative Care Services, West Moreton HHS


Lifetime Achievement Award

✨ Jane Williamson

✨ Pat Neely AM

✨ Toni Bradley

✨ Ven. Tsultrim (Carla Pearse)