[From Caring@Home]

caring@home is proud to launch a new version of the trusted palliMEDS app.

palliMEDS contains prescribing information for medicines most useful to manage common end-of-life symptoms in the last weeks of life.

The addition of paediatric prescribing* information strengthens the capacity of primary care prescribers to deliver timely and effective palliative care for all patients.

Features:

• Supports clinical decision-making for primary care prescribers and knowledge for nurses delivering end-of-life care
• New paediatric prescribing information with a weight-based dose calculator
• New adult medicine added - dexamethasone
• User-friendly interface
• Equianalgesic dose opioid calculator
• Access recommended medicines, dose based on weight and administration routes.

*The paediatric component was developed in partnership with the Quality of Care Collaborative Australia.

Download the App

[from PCA]

National Palliative Care Week 2026 (NPCW) will take place from 10-16 May, and this year’s theme is Getting to the heart of it: Big Questions. Real Answers.

We’re pleased to share the National Palliative Care Week 2026 Supporter toolkit, available to download here, to help you spread the word across your organisation, networks and community.

Inside the toolkit, you’ll find:

• key messages
• social media tiles and suggested copy
• campaign branding and other digital assets
• facts and information to support conversations about palliative and end-of-life care.

You can find more resources on the Palliative Care Australia website, including campaign materials, posters, logos, social media assets, event information, orange heart merchandise, and advice, tools and support.

Explore the campaign page here.

As part of this year’s campaign, we’ll also be inviting you to join our livestream of the 2026 National Palliative Care Week Lecture, Rethinking Dementia and end of life care, at 12:30pm (AEST) on Thursday 14 May. The lecture will be delivered at Parliament House by a leader in palliative care, Dr Michael Chapman. Please find more information and registration link here.

However you choose to mark NPCW 2026, your support helps raise awareness and encourage better understanding of palliative and end-of-life care.

If you’re sharing your support online, please use the campaign hashtags:
#NPCW2026 #GettingToTheHeartOfIt #BigQuestionsRealAnswers #MattersOfLifeAndDeath

Thank you for helping Palliative Care Australia raise awareness and continue to normalise conversations about palliative and end-of-life care.

Jon Baines tours are having hosting another palliative care tour in September.

[From Jon Baines Tours]

Under the expert guidance of David Oliviere, gain insight into how the distinctive spiritual identities and rich cultural heritage of Hungary and Romania have shaped attitudes towards life, death and caregiving.

Queensland Palliative Care Clinical Network lead decisions and give expert advice about palliative care and end of life health.

Each week they provide a network update to their mailing list on QPCCN business, career and CPD opportunities, requests for feedback and more.

You can join the mailing list by using this form.

PallConsult delivers Educators' Muster events for clinicians who undertake clinical educator and facilitator roles in work areas that support patients in the last 12 months of life. These two-day events foster collaboration, share strategies and facilitate effective mentoring for frontline nursing, QAS and allied health clinicians across community, aged care and acute care settings.

The program is designed around sharing train-the-trainer principles, ensuring that educators gain the knowledge and confidence to cascade training within their local services.

Muster 1: Metro North Registrations close Friday, 1 May 2026

• Venue: Ground Floor Meeting Room, Queensland Health Building, 15 Butterfield Street, Herston.
• Date: Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 May, 2026
• Registration

[From MASS PCEP]

The Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS) has partnered with the First Nations Health Office to review and develop consumer resources for the Palliative Care Equipment Program (PCEP). We are now seeking feedback from prescribers and consumers to further edit and finalise the resources.

Resources include handouts about: MASS PCEP and Continence Aids, Daily Living and Mobility Aids, Home Oxygen, Syringe Drivers (pumps). The documents have been drafted with input from several external stakeholders.

Each document has been developed in line with the governing MSH procedure - PR2023-342 Metro South Health Delivering Health Literate Services. The documents are written in the Easy English (low literacy, English as a second language) and Plain English (grade 7-9 reading level) writing styles.

The team are now seeking feedback from prescribers and consumers to further edit and finalise the resources.

Feedback to be provided by 30 April 2026.

Survey (click)

Please contact Simone Dullaway, MASS PCEP Clinical Advisor, for more information: MASS-PCEP@health.qld.gov.au.

New National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant opportunity:

A Targeted Call for Research (TCR) is a one-time request for grant applications designed to stimulate research in a particular area that will benefit the health of Australians or address a specific health issue. This TCR aims to accelerate research that transforms the diagnosis, care and therapeutic landscape for children with dementia and their families.

The proposed objectives of this grant opportunity are to:

• Develop rapid diagnostic pathways to improve screening and diagnosis. This includes improving clinician awareness, creating standardised protocols, and enabling timely access to treatment and support through rapid diagnostic approaches.
• Design and evaluate evidence-based multidisciplinary care frameworks for children diagnosed with dementia. This should include rehabilitation therapies, symptom management strategies for pain, sleep, communication, mobility and behavioural issues, as well as integrated palliative care approaches. Education for healthcare professionals and carers on managing complex symptoms should also be considered.
• Advance therapeutic developmentand health system readiness through translational research that will uncover disease mechanisms and identify novel therapeutic targets. This should also include building capacity in the healthcare sector to increase access to disease modifying treatments for affected children. The research should also address systemic barriers such as education, referral pathways and care coordination with the aim to develop evidence-based guidelines to standardise and reduce variation in care.
• Improve psychosocial and family support by developing and testing interventions that address the mental health, grief and wellbeing of families and carers. Research should focus on scalable models for psychological support and care coordination to reduce caregiver burden and strengthen family resilience.

See https://www.grants.gov.au/Go/Show?GoUuid=f0036c4b-600e-4b4d-8bb9-de234b721ac6 for more information

[From CarerHelp]

Resources

Carer Information Kits and Rural Carer Kits back in stock! These kits provide core information to prepare families for end of life caring.

Order your Kits now at Order resources - Resources

We are also delighted to share our new ‘Caring in Aged Care Homes’ page and resources with you. Please take some time to explore these resources as they will help families who are considering transitioning to an Aged Care Home.

Free online sessions

We are also 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

• April 21 at 11am
• May 12 at 11am

Preparing for the last weeks

• April 21 at 1pm
• May 12 at 1pm

Living beyond loss: Finding your way through grief

• April 28 at 2pm
• May 26 at 2pm

[from palliAGED]

The palliAGED Introduction Modules have been co-designed with industry and re-aligned to the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. The refreshed modules now also consider all aged care settings, the roles of the interprofessional care team including family and carers, and present interactive 10-minute learning activities on a range of topics that connect to practice.

What’s new?

• Same trusted content, but with more practical tips and evidence-based resources
• Realistic scenarios for Support at Home and Residential Aged Care
• Consideration for cultural safety, role clarity, and self-care embedded throughout

Easy access via the palliAGED website, no cost, and a certificate of completion once you are done.

Explore modules: https://www.palliaged.com.au/Supporting-Services/palliAGED-Products/palliAGED-Introduction-Modules