[From CHQ]
The theme for this year's Good grief, this hurts! webinar is:
Growing Up and Grieving: Deepening Our Understanding of Young People's Grief
Good grief, this hurts! is a free, annual educational event aimed at building community capacity and practical awareness about grief, loss, death and bereavement as experienced by children and young people. The event is an opportunity to enhance knowledge and skills in supporting a child or young person who is grieving.
In 2025, the Good grief, this hurts! webinar will explore how children and young people experience and express grief. We’ll unpack the unique challenges they face, the ways grief evolves as they grow, and how adults can offer meaningful support.
The webinar is open to anyone in the community who is caring for a grieving child or young person. We warmly welcome to this forum – family members and friends, teachers, guidance counsellors, healthcare providers, private counsellors/psychologists and community-based youth focused organisations.
Registered participants will receive a link to join the live event in October 2025. In the event of your inability to attend live webinar, a recording will be shared with you afterwards.
When: Thursday 16 October 2025 10am to midday
Register: https://www.stickytickets.com.au/e77xf/good_grief_this_hurts__2025__growing_up__grieving.aspx
For more information, please email: QuoCCAClinEd@health.qld.gov.au
This retreat is for Carers, Support Workers, End of Life Doulas and All Who Support Others.
Presented by ELDA — End of Life Doulas and Allies
Hunter Valley, NSW | 11-15 March 2026
Retreat Overview
This three night, two and a half day retreat offers a restorative, professionally guided experience for those who regularly walk alongside others through trauma, death and emotional labour. Whether you work in palliative care, aged care, nursing, allied health, ambulance services or as an end of life doula, this space is for you.
Step away from the demands of your day to day and into a nurturing, gentle rhythm that centres your wellbeing. Connect with peers, reflect and replenish all in a beautiful natural setting.
“Three days of renewal, connection and gentle support for those who care deeply and need space to nurture themselves too.”
Learn more and register your interest here: https://eolda.com.au/supporting-you-retreat-2026/
[From End of Life Doulas UK]
In a pioneering step for end of life care, Leeds became the first city in the UK to commission end of life doula support through the NHS in May 2022.
This pilot project, coordinated by EoLDUK, provided compassionate, non-medical support during the final weeks and months of life to people with a terminal diagnosis and those important to them. The Open University partnered with EoLDUK to independently evaluate the project and published a report at the half-way point of the project in July 2023 which is available open access here. This report underscores the significance of this project, highlighting the growing demand for end of life doulas and the ability of doulas to ‘fill the gaps’ in the health and social care system. The report stresses the positive impact of end of life doulas on increasing wellbeing, as well as the cost-effectiveness of integrating end of life doula support within public health frameworks.
End of Life Doula UK concluded their Leeds NHS pilot project in September 2024. The final report can be accessed here.
For more information see: https://eol-doula.uk/leeds-nhs-commissioned-project/
[From PCQ]
Join us on Wednesday, September 24th, for Palliative Care Queensland's webinar, “Creative Pathways to Comfort - Artistic Therapies In Palliative Care”.
The webinar will feature guest speakers Natalie Lynch, Founder of Studio Yellow and Emma Beattie, Founder of Before & After | Life will share their insights on creative therapies and their benefits in Palliative Care.
We believe that palliative care is everybody’s business, and we aim to build compassionate communities around people and their families experiencing serious illness, dying, death and grief. This webinar is designed for all members of the community including both health and non-health related workers (i.e., healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, social workers, allied health staff, health administrative staff, spiritual care workers, health managers, health educators, pharmacists and paramedics). We also encourage people from diverse backgrounds to attend.
FREE for PCQ members, PCQ Volunteers, QAS Paramedics, people living or working in the Brisbane North region
$10 General Admission
$8 Concession Card Holders
These webinars are sponsored by Queensland Health, and supported by Queensland Ambulance Services and Brisbane North PHN.
Any questions please email us to hello@palliativecareqld.org.au, or call us on 07 3842 3242.
[From UQ ECHO]
Join the World’s Biggest Palliative Care ECHO!
Palliative Care ECHO is a dynamic, interactive virtual learning series designed to build knowledge, confidence and community among health professionals through expert-led, case-based discussions.
As part of Palliative Care Australia’s 2025 Oceanic Palliative Care Conference, we’re hosting a very special edition:
The World’s Biggest Palliative Care ECHO – and you’re invited!
Friday 12 September, 2:20pm – 3:10pm AEST – streaming live across Australia and around the world
Come together with healthcare professionals across the globe to explore two real-world cases, share insights, and learn from a panel of expert palliative care specialists in a rich, interactive session.
Let’s make history – together.
Register
https://uqecho.org/pallcare-echo/
[From PCQ]
Over the coming months, we will be working collaboratively to identify key priorities with you, to explore innovative ideas and ensure the voices of our palliative care sector and community are reflected in our upcoming 2026-27 pre-budget submission to government.
We are committed to working alongside our members, palliative care sector and the broader community every step of the way. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to your input throughout this process.
SEPTEMBER: Sector Roundtables
We’ll be exploring the top issues facing palliative care in Queensland, the key policy changes needed to improve care, and the most effective or innovative programs that could be scaled statewide.
Your voice matters. These conversations will help shape our 2026 priorities and guide our 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission to the Queensland Government.
Three sessions. Various times. Choose the one that works best for you. First Session 4th September- Sign up here
OCTOBER - NOVEMBER: Drafting the 2025 Priorities Report
Drawing from the survey and roundtable feedback, we will compile a comprehensive Priorities Report outlining the sector’s shared views. This draft report will be circulated to all round table participants and members for comment before finalisation.
DECEMBER: Pre-Budget Submission
The final step in this process is the development our 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission to the Queensland Government. This will reflect the collective voice of our community and advocate for the funding, resources, and reforms required to improve access to quality palliative care across Queensland.
Prior to his retirement, John Rosenberg is performing a library cull and is offering texts free to a good home.
Books are of varying age (see photos)
Collection from John in Caboolture or Brighton, at the National Compassionate Communities Forum/OPCC, or at the upcoming Face to Face BNPCC meetings.
Contact John (jrosenbe@usc.edu.au) with your interest.
First in best dressed
(Click here to see a larger image)
[from NPCC project]
The National Palliative Care (NPPC) Project is conducting interviews with Practice Nurses to
- Gain insights into chronic condition management processes and their experience in undertaking serious illness conversations, and
- Gather feedback on a newly developed screening protocol
The online interviews will run for 40–60 minutes, and an honorarium will be provided in recognition of your time. Participation is entirely voluntary, and we greatly value your contribution at a time that suits you.
This study has ethics approval 2024/ETH02262: 2025UMB0803. Interviews are open until 8 October 2025.
NPCC is a National Palliative Care Project funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing.
For more information or any questions, please contact:
Stacey Heer
NPCC Project Manager
Sheer@uow.edu.au
Phone 02 4239 4632
The Department of Health is partnering with Nous Group to deliver a review of the Queensland Health Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme.
Why it matters
Aids and equipment play a key role in enabling people to make decisions about their lives, engage actively in their communities, and live with dignity and independence.
As the health, disability and aged care sectors continue to evolve through national reforms, the review of the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme presents an opportunity to consider how the scheme can meet the needs of Queenslanders in a contemporary, fair and sustainable way.
Scope of the review
The review will assess how the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme is currently working and explore opportunities to strengthen its impact and effectiveness. This includes understanding stakeholder experiences, highlighting what is working well, and identifying ways to enhance service delivery and outcomes for consumers.
The review will also consider how the scheme can align with broader reforms across the health, disability and aged care sectors.
What is changing
At this stage, there are no changes to the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme services, eligibility criteria or funding arrangements. The focus of the review is to listen, learn, and collaborate on shaping the scheme for the future.
How you can be involved
Queensland Health is committed to ensuring stakeholders have an opportunity to contribute to the review. Engagement activities will be held throughout the review process and include a survey, focus groups, workshops, and targeted consultations.
We welcome input from a wide range of stakeholders, including consumers, carers, prescribers, suppliers, hospital and health services, representative bodies, and government partners.
Project updates and information about how to participate will be available on the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme website: www.health.qld.gov.au/mass.
More information
If you have any questions or would like further information about the review, please contact the project team at MASS-Review@health.qld.gov.au.
[From Karuna Hospice Services]
Karuna is pleased to announce the launch of our Carer Support Services, designed for carers supporting someone with a life-limiting illness, as well as those recently bereaved. These services are proudly delivered by Karuna in partnership with Wellways Carer Gateway.
We are now accepting referrals for carers who may benefit from our range of supports, including upcoming peer groups for both current and recently bereaved carers.
These services are proudly delivered for and in partnership with Wellways Carer Gateway, who are supported by a vast local and national partner network, including Karuna. Our strong collaboration ensures carers are empowered with the support they need to flourish and become the best version of themselves. At Karuna, we walk alongside those navigating the often complex and emotional journey of supporting someone with a life-limiting illness. Whether the person in their care has just received a diagnosis, is receiving palliative care, nearing end of life, or has recently died—carers need and deserve support too. We offer a range of free, tailored services for carers, designed to reduce isolation, build resilience,and provide practical and emotional support. These include:
- Navigation support: helping carers understand what’s available and access the right services at the right time
- Counselling: offering a safe, compassionate space to process grief, loss, emotional strain & change
- Coaching: supporting carers to reflect, plan ahead, develop confidence, and maintain balance in their lives
- Peer support groups: guided group sessions where carers can share experiences and connect with others in similar circumstances
We invite you to refer carers—whether they are family members, friends, or neighbours—who may be quietly carrying the burden of care. They do not need to wait until crisis strikes. In fact, the earlier we can provide support, the more grounded, informed, and emotionally sustained they are likely to feel throughout the journey.
We’ll be sharing more detailed information about these services soon. In the meantime, if you are working with a carer who may benefit from support, you can ask them to complete the enquiry form themselves, or—with their consent—complete it on their behalf. Our team will then be in touch to offer personalised assistance.
https://karuna.org.au/carer-support/
Information Sheets
If you have any questions about the services or referral process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Proposed Schedule for 2025 (v8) (139 KB) (pdf)
November 2025