The BNPCC Hub

[From CPCRE]

The CPCRE Lunch & Learn Education for May 2026:

"Advance Care Planning"

Friday 22 May 2026
12.00 - 13:00 hours (Queensland time)

To be presented by Dr Greg Parker, Director, Advance Care Planning Australia, Metro South Health Advance Care Planning Program; Co-Director, PallConsult, Statewide Office of Advance Care Planning.


Who should register?

• Health professionals of all disciplines who have an interest in palliative or end of life care.
• Clinicians of all disciplines working in any health setting are encouraged to register and attend.
• Health students of any discipline are welcome to register.

free online education session

Register

[From Silverchain]

New research from Silverchain has found that people with complex health conditions are fulfilling their preference to die at home rather than in a hospital provided they have access to specialist community palliative care.

The study, published in the international journal BMJ Public Health, analysed outcomes of more than 4,100 people over six years. It found that those with non-cancer illnesses – such as heart or lung disease – often have more complicated medical needs yet are the most likely to achieve their wish of dying in their own home.

The findings come as palliative care-related hospitalisations in Australia have risen by 29% in recent years (2015 to 2022) – a rate three times higher than all other hospital admissions.

With demand for palliative care service expected to double by 2050, the research highlights a critical solution to easing the mounting pressure on overstretched emergency departments and hospital wards.

The research challenges long held beliefs that specialist palliative care is best suited for those with a predictable decline. Instead, the research shows that people without cancer often enter palliative care with a high degree of health issues, more medications, and greater frailty, yet are still able to die in their preferred place supported by a community specialist palliative care team.

Silverchain’s National Director of Research & Evidence, and lead author of the study, Adj Prof Karen Smith OAM, said the study proves that a complex health diagnosis should not be a barrier to choosing to die at home.

“While 70 per cent of Australians say they would prefer to spend their final days at home, there is a lingering fear that complex medical needs make this impossible. This research turns that perception on its head,” Adj Prof Smith said. “Traditional palliative care triage tools have been designed primarily for cancer patients. However, the increased complexity of non-cancer patients suggests more work is required to recognise palliative care needs in this cohort earlier and ensure equal access to specialist community palliative care.

“We are proving that medical complexity does not require a hospital bed. By bringing specialist expertise in the home, we aren’t just managing symptoms, we are safeguarding a person’s fundamental right to choose how and where they spend their final moments.

“It’s time our health system prioritised this choice for all Australians, regardless of their diagnosis,” Adj Prof Smith said. The research findings contribute to growing evidence and calls for a national approach to specialist community palliative care as the number of Australians aged 85 and over potentially requiring palliative care is projected to double by 2042.

[ From Preparing the Way]

Most of us carry a picture of dying shaped by hospital dramas, hushed family stories, and a culture that tends to look away. That picture is usually wrong and the gap between what we imagine and what dying typically is can cause enormous, unnecessary fear.

This June, we're sitting down with Dr Kathryn Mannix for a live, honest, and genuinely useful conversation about what dying actually looks like and what it means to accompany someone through it.

What we'll explore together

• What ordinary dying actually looks like, and why so many of us misunderstand it
• Why we avoid conversations about death, and what it takes to begin them
• What end of life doulas offer alongside families and conventional care
• What compassionate, collaborative end of life care could look like in the years ahead

Who is this for?

This event is open to anyone who wants to understand dying better — end of life doulas, palliative and aged care professionals, nurses, social workers, chaplains, grief practitioners, and members of the public. You don't need medical knowledge or doula training, just an open mind. Even simple curiosity is enough.

When you register, you'll be invited to submit a question for Dr Kathryn Mannix. A selection of audience questions will be asked live during the conversation.

Date: Monday 8 June
Time: 9.30-11am
Format: Livestream
Cost: $88 full price, $44 Consession

Register: https://events.humanitix.com/dr-kathryn-mannix-and-helen-callanan

[From PCA]

Palliative Care Australia (PCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Chris Hatherly as the organisation’s new Chief Executive Officer. 

Dr Hatherly is a highly respected not‑for‑profit leader with 20 years’ experience across research, policy, health and ageing; most recently as CEO of The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. 

He brings deep expertise in national advocacy, evidence‑informed policy development, and coalition‑building across government, academia, industry and consumer groups. His early career included roles with Alzheimer’s Australia (now Dementia Australia), where he oversaw research, policy and consumer‑engagement initiatives. 

Dr Hatherly said he was honoured to take up the role and deeply motivated by PCA’s mission. 

“High-quality, compassionate and accessible palliative care benefits everyone in our society,” he said. “I’m energised by the opportunity to work with PCA’s Board, staff, members and partners, and to meet and hear from palliative care consumers and carers. I look forward to championing PCA’s vision and contributing to better outcomes for people living with life‑limiting illness, their families and communities.”  

His appointment comes at a critical time for palliative care in Australia, with growing demand and significant reform across the health and aged care sectors. Dr Hatherly’s expertise will support PCA’s ongoing advocacy and strengthen its national leadership in improving access to high-quality palliative care. 

PCA Chair, Dr Peter Allcroft, welcomed the appointment, saying, “I am delighted with the appointment of Chris and expect him to provide a steady and innovative influence on the organisation and the broader sector. His experience working at the interface of research, policy, service delivery and the community will be an invaluable asset to PCA’s critical mission.” 

 Dr Hatherly will commence with PCA on 8 July 2026. Simon Waring will continue as Interim CEO during this transition.

[From ELLC]

This FREE one hour 15 minute webinar presented by Dr Eliana Close (End of Life Law for Clinicians, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology) and Dr Penny Burns (General Practitioner) will provide GPs and other primary care staff with core knowledge about voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in clinical practice and GPs' VAD legal obligations.

Using a clinical case study, legal and clinical aspects of VAD in General Practice will be explored. Participants will be able to ask questions via the chat function and engage with interactive poll questions.

26 MAY 2026 at 6pm AEST

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Register

ABCnews have published a story, coinciding with the Australian Story episode, on James Valentine's year of living gratefully.

James Valentine knew he was dying but he knew something else with equal clarity: he didn't want to die angry.

The radio presenter and jazz saxophonist who surrounded himself with music, laughter and good times throughout his life knew that a Dylan Thomas-style "rage against the dying of the light" was not for him.

"I don't want my last days to be angry," Valentine, 64, said in his final interview with Australian Story in February.

"Can't my last days be happy? If these are my last months, I want them full of joy. I want them full of friendship and love and happiness. That's what I've lived for. So, I don't want that to stop."

Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-03/james-valentines-year-of-living-gratefully/106211520

[from Advance Care Planning Australia]

With National Palliative Care Week approaching (10–16 May 2026), Australians will again be invited to ask big questions about future care — and to find real, human answers. This year’s theme highlights the importance of open conversations in supporting comfort, quality of life and care that truly reflects what matters to people.

To support these conversations, Advance Care Planning Australia has released a new Supporting advance care planning in general practice factsheet for general practitioners, practice nurses and primary care teams.

The factsheet provides clear, practical guidance on how advance care planning can be incorporated into routine processes and clinical care, supported by existing MBS items, including:

• health assessments
• GP chronic condition management plan preparation and review
• Time‑tiered general attendances.

👉 Read our blog and download the Supporting advance care planning in general practice factsheet

Abstract submissions for presentations and digital posters are now open for the CPCRE Annual Research Conference, held on Friday 9^th October 2026 at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Education Centre.

The theme for this year's conference is "Dissemination: Sharing Wisdom". If you have undertaken a study or project over the past year which relates to disseminating research in palliative care, we encourage you to submit an abstract for a short presentation (25mins) or digital poster to share your work.

Submit your abstract or digital poster here.

[From HELP (Healthy End of Life Project)]

From 1st June 2026, the HELP app will no longer be available to download from app stores.

While many people found the App helpful, we know that digital tools don’t work for everyone, especially at end of life, when things can feel overwhelming. Some health professionals have also told us that simple, printed resources can be easier to introduce and use. Alongside this, rising technology costs means it is no longer sustainable to continue the App.

For partners who are promoting the App through their work or service:

We’re continuing our mission to support people at end of life and their carers to access support from their social networks – just the recommended tool to coordinate it is changing back to the downloadable HELP Guide.
The key palliative care tips and content from the App have now been transitioned over to the HELP website making them easier to access and share.

If you’re currently using the app:

• You will be contacted by the HELP team via email to talk you through this process and support you along the way.
• You can still access your network until June 30 but you will not be able to download or update the App after June 1st.
• We recommend taking screenshots to save any important messages or photos as soon as possible.
• You can find the printable HELP Guide for families, carers and friends here.
• You may wish to set up a support network using an alternative digital tool such as Gather My Crew.

We’ll be contacting all HELP App network coordinators individually to ensure messaging is timely and clear, this will also be communicated through the App.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch: info@healthyendoflifeprogram.org

[from ELDAC]

The free ELDAC Digital Dashboard helps aged care services turn existing clinical data into clear, evidence-based insights for palliative care.

Take this quick 2-minute check to see how ready your data and systems are for Dashboard implementation.