The BNPCC Hub

Brisbane North PHN have published their response to the recently released Palliative Care Needs Assessment. This response document outlines the actions the PHN plan to undertake over the next three years.

See more information on the website: https://brisbanenorthphn.org.au/our-programs/aged-and-community-care/palliative-care

[From Dementia Australia]

Data released by Dementia Australia today has revealed that the number of Australians living with dementia in 2026 has increased to an estimated 446,500 1 – a figure projected to more than double to over one million people by 2065.2

The data also highlights that dementia impacts Australians of all ages, with an estimated 29,000 people living with young onset dementia (a diagnosis of any kind of dementia when you’re aged 18-65). This figure is projected to increase to an estimated 41,000 by 2054.3 Additionally, an estimated 1,500 children live with childhood dementia in Australia.4

In 2026, there are an estimated 6,300 people living with all forms of dementia in the Australian Capital Territory, which is projected to increase to an estimated 12,300 by 2054.5

Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said that with the number of people developing dementia rapidly increasing, and dementia now the leading cause of death for Australians, we need to act now on dementia, with significant and sustained intervention.

“There is a critical demand for a national program to promote brain health throughout our lives as well as a pressing need to provide quality care and support services for people of all ages living with dementia, their families and carers,” Professor Buchanan said.

“Dementia Australia is calling for essential investment from the Federal Government in implementing the National Dementia Action Plan, a ten-year government framework released in late 2024 aiming to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their carers.

“Australia is recognised internationally for its strengths in dementia care, support and research, but the system still has areas that need improvement. Funding the delivery of the National Dementia Action Plan is essential for all Australians impacted by dementia.”

Dementia Australia Dementia Advocate Rebecca Scouller cares for her mother Charlotte, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2017 and now lives in residential aged care. Rebecca is passionate about advocating for funding, navigation and support for people living with dementia and their carers.

“Dementia is likely to touch all our lives at some point in time.” Ms Scouller said.

“The National Dementia Action Plan needs to be costed and then incorporated into the budget. We need urgent investment now.”

Dementia Australia is committed to working with the Government and the sector on the delivery of the National Dementia Action Plan, and is calling for investment in three key priority areas aligned with the National Dementia Action Plan including:

1. Launching a comprehensive brain health campaign to raise awareness of the condition and to promote brain health;

2. Rolling out a network of Dementia Care Navigators to improve timely access to post diagnostic supports and services

3. Building the capability of the workforce to provide care and support for people living with dementia.

For more details about 2026 prevalence data local to federal, state and territory electoral divisions, as well as for local government areas, go to https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia/dementia-facts-and-figures

For dementia information and support anytime, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or visit dementia.org.au for live chat and email. The National Dementia Helpline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Brisbane North PHN is hosting an evening of palliative care education and networking.

Returning for its fourth year, this event aims to increase the primary care workforce awareness of available palliative care services and supports. Kindly share this event with your networks.

Details

Event Palliative Care Evening 2026
Date Tuesday 28 April 2026
Time 5.30 pm – 9.30 pm
Venue Kedron-Wavell, 21 Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside
Cost No cost to attend
Register https://www.trybooking.com/DJDJJ

(registrations close 19 April)

Download the flyer

Further information:
For more information, please contact the Brisbane North PHN Healthy Ageing Team at
community.care@brisbanenorthphn.org.au or phone 07 3630 7300.

[From CarerHelp]

CarerHelp are offering free online sessions for families caring for someone nearing the end of life. Led by experienced health professionals, these sessions cover a range of topics and are designed to meet carers where they are on their journey. Carers can find out more and self-register here.

Upcoming dates include:

Preparing for caring as illness advances

• Feb 10^th 11am
• Mar 10^th 11am

Preparing for the last weeks

• Feb 10^th 1pm
• Mar 10^th 1pm

Living beyond loss: Finding your way through grief

• Feb 24^th 2pm
• Mar 24^th 2pm

[From PCA]

Join us for our monthly deep dive into the National Palliative Care Standards, where we explore one standard in detail and discuss ways to embed it into everyday practice. This month, we focus on Standard Eight: Quality Improvement, encouraging services to engage in continuous improvement and research to enhance care. Our expert panel, Dr Claudia Virdun, Toni Arndell and Donna O’Brien, will reflect on their experiences, share insights and discuss how the Standard can be integrated into day-to-day practice.

The National Palliative Care Standards for Specialist Services (Edition 5.1, 2024) set a vision for compassionate, high-quality palliative care. Complementing these, the National Palliative Care Standards for All Health Professionals and Aged Care Services (2022) acknowledge that palliative care occurs across diverse settings. The Palliative Care Self-Assessment (PaCSA) supports services in self-assessing against both sets of standards and developing action plans for continuous quality improvement.

REGISTER HERE

Make the most of this session by downloading the National Palliative Care Standards and PaCSA before the webinar 👉 https://palliativecare.org.au/national-palliative-care-standards/

What we’ll cover in the webinar:

• The intention of Standard Eight: Quality Improvement.

• Panel discussion around the elements of the standard.

• Questions from the audience.

Whether you work in a specialist or non-specialist palliative care service, the CoP and monthly webinars have been designed to support you in providing high-quality palliative care.

Haven’t joined the CoP yet?

Complete the Expression of Interest Form

[From ACPA]

It’s nearly time, National Advance Care Planning Week is returning from 16–22 March 2026.

This year’s theme, Your story, your choice, recognises that every person’s values, experiences and wishes are different. Advance care planning is about taking the time to reflect, start conversations and make plans for the future care that feels right for you.

As part of the national campaign, we’re sharing powerful real-life stories from people across Australia, highlighting why planning ahead matters and how advance care planning can give clarity, confidence and peace of mind.

We invite you to help spread the word by promoting Advance Care Planning Week across your organisation and community networks. A range of ready-to-use campaign resources is available to support you to raise awareness and spark meaningful conversations.

There are lots of ways to take part this Advance Care Planning Week:

• Promote ACP Week across your organisation with downloadable campaign resources including posters, social media tiles, videos and printable materials
• Register an ACP Week activity and go into the draw to win $200 worth of catering
  • registered hosts also receive FREE resources, including posters, conversation starters, pens and wallet cards
• Hear a real-life story – Marie shares why planning ahead made a difference for her and her family

Not planning to host an activity this year? You can still play an important role in raising awareness of advance care planning:

• Download and share campaign resources
• Use the Key messaging guide, which includes ready-made newsletter content and social media posts.
• Initiate or encourage conversations with patients, clients, residents and families about future health care choices.

Every conversation counts, thank you for helping Australians reflect on what matters most.

Questions or need support? Contact us at comms@advancecareplanning.org.au

[From ELDAC]

Many aged care services collect data, but translating it into action can be a challenge.

Register for this ELDAC webinar to see how digital data can better support end-of-life care Discover the new ELDAC Dashboard BI Model at its official launch.

Date: Tuesday 17 February 2026
Time: 10am-11am (ACDT)

[Brisbane North PHN event]

The purpose of this workshop is to identify needs, generate potential solutions, and prioritize them through cross-sector stakeholder collaboration. These findings will inform an action plan to be implemented through to 2029.

The workshop is part of a project aiming to improve at-home palliative care access for people with disability in North Brisbane and Moreton Bay by enhancing workforce knowledge, skills, and confidence.

Event: Workforce support for at home palliative care access for people with disability: Action planning workshop

Date: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Time: 9.00 am to 1.00 pm (morning tea and lunch provided)
Venue: Sky lounge at Kedron-Wavell (21 Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside)
Cost: Free
Registration: https://www.trybooking.com/DIYJM

Registration is essential and closes 17 March.

You are welcome to share this invitation with other in your organisation who may be interested.

The Department of Health Disability and Ageing have opened up two grant opportunities in palliative care:

• $22M in grants to improve collaboration between aged care, health practitioners and specialist palliative care providers. Follow this link for more information and please contact the Health Grants Team at Grant.ATM@health.gov.au if you have any questions.
• $76M in grants for palliative care improvement projects that will be implemented nationally. Follow this link for more information and please contact the Health Grants Team at Grant.ATM@health.gov.au if you have any questions.

In September 2025, The Queensland Clinical Senate hosted more than 130 clinicians, consumers and healthcare leaders in person and 95 online to explore how we can better care for patients in their last 1000 days.

The 8 Recommendations and meeting summary notes are now available:

The Senate’s 8 recommendations to Queensland Health

1. Build on current educational resources to provide a statewide program to upskill the workforce in the principles of dignity of risk and end of life conversations in the last 1000 days, tailored for the Queensland context.

2. Advocate for revision of Queensland State legislation to promote national consistency in laws governing end of life care and decision making with emphasis on withdrawal of treatment.

3. Launch a statewide public awareness campaign to promote Advance Care Planning with a focus on the last 1000 days and work with community partners to increase uptake.

4. Support clinicians to enable people to die with dignity by championing early conversations about care in the last 1000 days, avoiding interventions with low benefit and aligning care with what matters most to the person.

5. Enhance rural-regional-metro partnerships through integrated networked service models including expanded specialist outreach and in-reach services to rural and remote areas.

6. Establish a Home‑Based Care Model for the last 1000 days that prioritises safe, culturally responsive care at home by linking regionally based virtual care hubs to virtual wards, rapid equipment loan and supply hubs, carer coaching/support resources, supported by statewide iEMR, telehealth, electronic prescribing and shared digital records, and with clear escalation pathways and a statewide clinical support hotline.

7. Establish multidisciplinary decision support teams in each Hospital and Health Service with access to networked statewide clinical ethics expertise supported by a clear governance framework to help clinicians navigate complex end of life cases confidently and consistently.

8. Strengthen Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) services across Queensland to ensure consistent, equitable, and culturally responsive access, particularly in regional, rural, and remote communities.