[From Hammond Innovation]
Hammond Innovations is dedicated to improving dementia care with practical, evidence-based solutions, and one example of this is the Distress Observation Tool (DOT), which drew on dementia and palliative expertise from our researchers, and across Australia.
Emerging from the Advance Project, the DOT helps care teams and families systematically observe and record non-verbal signs of distress in people with advanced dementia, enabling earlier and more accurate interventions when verbal communication is challenging.
Introduced to care teams at HammondCare Horsley, the DOT empowered the team to better recognise and respond to distress, resulting in an increase of 36% in palliative care assessment for new admissions, with 85% of residents screened for distress.
By making the DOT accessible to nurses, carers, and families, Hammond Innovations supports a person-centred approach and aims to embed this evidence-based tool across all HammondCare homes, as well as encourage wider sector adoption.
Read More Here
[From Dementia Australia]
Dementia Australia is excited to deliver the following free public education programs in Brisbane in February 2026:
This group session is designed to inform strategies to support positive health and wellbeing outcomes for a carer, family or friend of a person living with dementia.
The program is suitable for: family members of people living with dementia.
This program gives men the chance to meet others who are caring for a person living with dementia, and to learn together what to expect. It takes a practical approach to developing strategies and identifying support options.
The program is suitable for: men caring for a person living with dementia.
These programs are not intended as professional education for worker in the health or aged care sectors.
If you have any questions, please contact the QLD Client Services Team on 1800 588 699 or email qld.services@dementia.org.au.
[From Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice]
Women Deliver 2026 is coming to Australia—and we're supporting First Nations women, girls, Sistergirls and gender-diverse peoples to be there.
For the first time, the world's largest gender equality conference is being held in the Oceanic Pacific region. From 27–30 April 2026, over 6,500 people from 170+ countries will gather in Narrm (Melbourne), on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Peoples, to shape what happens next for gender justice.
This is a pivotal moment to share our knowledges, connect with global networks, and shape critical conversations on gender justice at an international level.
The Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute is offering a limited number of sponsored positions to support First Nations women, girls, Sistergirls and gender-diverse peoples (aged 12+) to attend, covering conference registration, flights, accommodation, meals, and the logistics.
All First Nations Women, girls, Sistergirls and gender-diverse peoples (aged 12+) are welcome to apply, and we encourage applications from those typically underrepresented and conferences like this:
- Mob from remote and regional communities
- Trans women, Sistergirls, and gender-diverse mob
- Young women and girls (aged 12+)
- Elders and senior knowledge holders
- Mob with disability and/or neurodivergent
- Those who've never attended a conference like this before
- Mob with caring responsibilities (children under 12 can attend free)
Applicants don't need to work in the "gender sector" to belong at this conference. Whether mob are caring for Country, supporting community health, keeping language and culture alive, working in education, arts, business, law, studying, finding their way after a tough time, learning from Elders—their work connects to gender justice.
Key details:
We are also fundraising in the hope of sponsoring 100 positions, donations can be made via our website or you can yarn with us further if interested.
[From PIP Project]
Justice health, correctional, and palliative care staff are invited to trial a new short, 10 minute, case-based online learning program designed specifically for custodial settings.
Register your teams' interest: pip.project@qut.edu.au
Launching 27 Feb 2026
The Healing Foundation have developed guidance for health and aged care staff on providing support and services to Stolen Generation survivors.
As survivors age, and would benefit from palliative care, it is important services are culturally safe and trauma informed to provide quality care. This information is not palliative care specific but of use to all.
See more:
https://healingfoundation.org.au/resources/working-with-stolen-generations/
[From the Palliative Care Nurses Australia]
We are pleased to announce the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is funding several scholarships to attend the conference in 2026. We encourage applicants from rural and metropolitan areas as well as applicants for online attendance.
Please view the website for details on eligibility, inclusions, and to apply.
Applications Close 30 January 2026
https://pcnaconference.au/scholarships/
The Biennial Palliative Care Nurses Australia Conference held at the Adelaide Convention Centre and online, 10 - 12 June 2026
https://pcnaconference.au/
[From Clinical Oncology Society of Australia]
The 'Optimal Care Pathway for older people for cancer' is now available. This will help to ensure older patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.
Professor Meera Agar and A/Professor Christopher Steer led the development of the OCP co-chairing and guiding an expert multidisciplinary working group including members of our COSA Geriatric Oncology Group Executive and consumer representatives.
The working group mapped the cancer journey for older adults using the National OCP Framework and the 4Ms framework of Age-Friendly Care: What Matters, Medication, Mentation (Mind and Mood) and Mobility.
In a recorded address, during the opening ceremony of COSA-IPOS 2025, the Federal Health Minister, Mark Butler MP, thanked everyone involved in the OCP development and added that, "All Australians deserve the best care, regardless of their age and circumstances and this pathway sets a benchmark for health services and professionals."
The OCP is comprised of a 158-page booklet and Quick Reference Guide for healthcare providers, and consumer guides in 11 languages available as PDF and audio downloads.
Support for implementation of the OCP will be vital to ensure healthcare providers and consumers can apply the pathway principles in everyday practice to optimise care for older people with cancer.
2026
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