The BNPCC Hub

The Australian Centre for Health Law Research invites you to join us for an engaging program of interdisciplinary research on assisted dying. This is an in-person event held at the QUT Gardens Point Campus in Brisbane, from 8-11 April 2026.

Register here

[from ICS Event Secretariat]

2026 NATIONAL CLOSING THE GAP INDIGENOUS HEALTH CONFERENCE

8-10 DECEMBER 2026

HILTON HOTEL GOLD COAST QLD

Submissions are now open for the 2026 National Indigenous Closing the Gap Health Conference, held 8–10 December 2026 at the Hilton Gold Coast. This major national gathering brings together Elders, community leaders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, researchers, AMS and PHN staff, policymakers, frontline workers, and organisations committed to culturally grounded, community-led health systems.

Guided by the principle “prevention is better than cure,” the conference centres culture, self-determination, and Indigenous leadership at a time of significant reform across health, mental health, disability, and workforce development. It provides a vital space to share knowledge, honour lived experience and truth-telling, and co-design solutions that uphold dignity, choice, and control for First Nations communities.

We invite papers aligned to the conference themes:

• Our Leadership, Our Health – community-driven solutions and self-determination
• Truth, Culture, Healing – cultural integrity, healing, and holistic wellbeing
• Innovate Together, Transform Generations – partnerships and innovation for sustainable, culturally safe outcomes

Topics may include chronic disease prevention, mental health and trauma recovery, traditional and integrated healing, disability and NDIS, workforce and research capacity, social determinants of health, and innovative approaches to Indigenous health and wellbeing.

Presenters are encouraged to share lived experience, research, case studies, and community-led innovations that strengthen the independence, safety, and dignity of First Nations peoples.

For submission guidelines and registration details, please click the link and complete the Submit-A-Paper form online.

This conference is a shared movement for action, healing, and transformation. Walk with us as we shape a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples thrive in mind, body, and spirit.

[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

The Palliative Care Needs Assessment Report for the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region is now available via the PHN website. This report is intended to be a guide document for all services and supports for the region over the next four years.

https://brisbanenorthphn.org.au/web/uploads/downloads/Reports-and-Plans/REP-Palliative-Needs-Assessment-2025-Final.pdf

(located on the PHN website: https://brisbanenorthphn.org.au/about/commissioning-reports-plans)

The PHN is currently finalising its response to this report- outlining activities for the next four years (the BNPCC will be notified when this is available).

[From Dementia Australia]

Dementia Australia is excited to deliver the following free public education programs in Brisbane in February 2026:

• Carer Wellness Program – Mount Gravatt – Tuesday 10^th February 2026 - https://CWP-MG-FEB2026.eventbrite.com.au

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.

• Blokes in the Caring Role - Milton – Monday 23^rd and Tuesday 24th February 2026 - https://BCR-MIL-FEB26.eventbrite.com.au

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:

• Applications close: 1 February 2026 11:59pm AEDT
• Apply and further information: https://www.wiyiyaniuthangani.com.au/opportunities/women-deliver-2026
• Questions about sponsored positions: wyut@anu.edu.au
• For further updates, sign up to our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/a944f0003c3a/sign-up

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/

The Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (who run the Palliative Care Equipment Program) have released their education calendar for the next six months.

You can see the printable PDF here: https://myvoice.brisbanenorthphn.org.au/101722/widgets/471415/documents/321589

Or your can see it online: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/mass/education