National Palliative Care Projects confirmed

The Department of Health Disability and Ageing have confirmed the National Palliative Care Project:

PALLIATIVE CARE CAPABILITY IN AGED CARE

Project / Organisation

Duration

Strategic Focus

Objectives

End of Life Directions for Aged Care

Queensland University of Technology

2026/27 to 2029/30

Aged care workforce capability, quality improvement and advance care planning

Strengthen the capability of aged care providers and workers to deliver high-quality palliative and end-of-life care, advance care planning and care coordination, supporting implementation of aged care reforms and improved care outcomes for older Australians.

Palliative Aged Care Outcomes Program

University of Wollongong

2026/27 to 2029/30

Outcomes measurement, quality improvement and evidence-based care

Strengthen quality improvement and outcomes measurement across aged care settings, supporting evidence-based practice, continuous improvement and more consistent palliative and end-of-life care for aged care recipients.

NATIONAL PALLIATIVE CARE PROJECTS

Project / Organisation	Duration	Strategic Focus	Objectives
National Palliative Care Coordination Project University of Wollongong	2026/27	Primary care capability	Build capability and capacity of general practices to identify palliative care needs and initiate referral to palliative care when clinically indicated
Palliative Care Australia		Community awareness, collaboration and consumer engagement	Strengthen community awareness and consumer engagement, supporting greater understanding of palliative care and amplifying the voice of consumers, families and carers.
End of Life Law for Clinicians Queensland University of Technology	2026/27 to 2029/30	Clinician education and legal capability	Strengthen clinicians' understanding of end-of-life legal frameworks, supporting safe, lawful and high-quality care.
caring@home Metro South Hospital and Health Service	2026/27 to 2029/30	Community and home-based care	Support access to palliative care at home, helping more Australians receive care in their preferred setting and reducing avoidable hospital presentations.
CareSearch incl. palliAGED Flinders University	2026/27 to 2029/30	Information, evidence and digital resources	Provide trusted, evidence-based information and resources for consumers, carers and health professionals across health, aged care and community settings.
Quality of Care Collaborative Australia Children's Hospital and Health Service	2026/27 to 2029/30	Paediatric palliative care capability	Strengthen workforce capability and consistency in paediatric palliative care through education, mentoring and quality improvement activities.
Advance Care Planning Australia Metro South Hospital and Health Service	2026/27 to 2029/30	Advance care planning	Increase awareness and uptake of advance care planning, supporting care that aligns with individual preferences and goals.
Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration Plus University of Wollongong	2026/27 to 2029/30	Quality improvement, outcomes and evidence	Strengthen outcomes measurement, quality improvement and evidence-based decision-making across palliative care services.
Palliative Care Education and Training Collaborative Queensland University of Technology	2026/27 to 2029/30	Workforce capability and training	Build palliative care capability across health, aged care and First Nations workforces, supporting more equitable access to high-quality care.
End-of-Life Essentials – Acute Hospitals Flinders University	2026/27 to 2029/30	Workforce capability and quality improvement in acute settings	Improve the quality and consistency of end-of-life care in acute hospital settings through education and practice support.
Palliative Care Pharmacist Integration and Workforce Development Pharmaceutical Society of Australia	2026/27 to 2029/30	Pharmacy capability and care integration	Strengthen the role of pharmacists in palliative care and supports multidisciplinary care coordination and medication management.
End-of-Life Essentials – General Practice Flinders University	2026/27 to 2029/30	Primary care capability	Strengthen general practice capability in palliative and end-of-life care, supporting earlier identification and management of palliative care needs.
National Coordinated Informal Palliative Care Infrastructure Project Gather My Crew	2026/27 to 2029/30	Carer and community support	Strengthen informal caring networks and community support for people receiving palliative care and their carers.
The Advance Project HammondCare		Dementia care and advance care planning	Improve dementia-specific palliative care and advance care planning across primary care and aged care settings.
We Need to Know Before You Go Ngiyani Wandabaa Indigenous Corporation		First Nations palliative care and advance care planning	Strengthen culturally safe advance care planning and improves palliative care awareness and engagement within First Nations communities.