News

Getting to the heart of it: Big Questions. Real Answers 

From 10–16 May 2026, Palliative Care NSW marked National Palliative Care Week (NPCW) by bringing communities, health professionals, and advocates together.

This year’s campaign, Getting to the heart of it: Big Questions. Real Answers, focused on breaking down misconceptions and making palliative care more accessible. By encouraging people to ask honest questions and engage with clear, practical responses, the campaign helped demystify a topic that is often avoided. 

Opening the conversation 

Throughout the week, Palliative Care NSW used its social media platforms to address some of the most frequently asked questions about palliative care, including: 

• What is palliative care? 

• Who provides palliative care? 

• Who is palliative care for? 

• How do I access palliative care? 

• What’s one thing everyone should know? 

• Where is palliative care provided? 

These conversations reached a broad audience and helped empower individuals and families with knowledge, making it easier to approach planning, decision-making and care with confidence. Find out more by clicking on any of our social channels: Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn)

Beyond digital engagement, the campaign extended across the state, with resources distributed to more than 40 palliative care and health organisations. These resources supported local advocacy efforts and enabled communities to host their own events, ensuring the message of NPCW reached both metropolitan and regional audiences. 

A dedicated campaign website further supported the initiative, promoting events and providing downloadable resources, including key messages, suggested social media content, and facts about death and dying. These tools helped unify messaging while encouraging participation at every level, with thanks to Palliative Care Australia for the digital assets made available on their website. 

Exploring advance care planning 

A highlight of the week was a livestreamed webinar held on 12 May, featuring Dr Ashfaq Chauhan and Dr Upma Chitkara from Macquarie University. The session introduced the iCanPlan Program: Improving Advance Care Planning Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities. 

The webinar tackled a crucial question: If so many of us are open to planning ahead, what’s stopping us? 

While a 2025 study by Advance Care Planning Australia found that 73% of Australians are open to discussing advance care planning, only 33% have taken steps to formalise those plans. The disparity is even greater among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. 

The iCanPlan Program aims to address these gaps by strengthening collaboration between clinicians and interpreters, reducing communication barriers, and improving culturally appropriate care. The session highlighted both the challenges and the opportunities in ensuring equitable access to advance care planning. 

Find out more about the iCanPlan Program here.  

Community-led engagement across NSW 

NPCW also saw strong community participation across regional NSW. On 13 May, Western NSW PHN hosted a Dying to Know Day event in Parkes, which drew more than 110 attendees. Local residents engaged in open discussions with speakers on a wide range of topics, including palliative care and advance care planning, voluntary assisted dying (VAD), carer support services such as Carer Gateway, financial and legal guidance and aged care packages. 

The event fostered meaningful dialogue, with attendees actively asking questions and exploring end-of-life care options. 

Palliative Care NSW attended this event with Volunteer Services Support Program Manager Kate Bowman sharing resources alongside the Parkes Neighbourhood & Community Information Centre Palliative Care Volunteers. Their presence highlighted the role of volunteers in supporting patients and families. 

Advancing professional knowledge 

Each year, National Palliative Care Week concludes with Palliative Care NSW’s Professional Education Day, an opportunity for clinicians and practitioners to deepen their knowledge and connect with peers. 

Held in Crows Nest, Sydney, and livestreamed to nine regional hubs including Broken Hill, Buronga, Balranald, Kyogle, Grafton, Moruya, Queanbeyan, Wagga Wagga and Griffith, the 2026 event attracted more than 300 participants. 

The program reflected the diversity and complexity of modern palliative care practice, with presentations covering: 

• Safe, dignified and responsive care for older women 

• Culturally safe care 

• Community-based models involving pharmacists 

• Improving care for people with intellectual disability 

• Equity in access for those with chronic non-malignant disease 

• Challenges and opportunities in aged care 

• Advances in pain and symptom management 

Speakers from across the sector shared research, case studies and practical insights, contributing to a rich and collaborative learning environment. 

A collective effort 

National Palliative Care Week 2026 demonstrated the power of community, collaboration and conversation. Whether through attending events, sharing resources, participating in discussions, or hosting local initiatives, individuals and organisations across NSW played a vital role in advancing awareness and understanding. 

Palliative Care NSW extends sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the week. Your commitment, compassion and willingness to engage in these important conversations are helping to shape a more informed, supportive and inclusive approach to palliative care across the state. 

Together, we are getting to the heart of it, one question, one conversation at a time. 

 

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Other Statewide Highlights 

Nelson Bay Community Health Centre  

The centre held an information stand at the main entrance to the hospital and many people stopped to look at the information and took the magnets and flyers. 

The chocolates and bags were also well received. 

Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service 

Palliative Care Week at Hornsby Centre was held from 10th May to 16th May and was well received by staff. It was a successful Palliative Care Week campaign, promoting awareness, education, and conversations about palliative care. 

An information table was set up in the hallway, encouraging staff to engage with and gather resources.  

“The materials, provided by Palliative Care NSW, were popular, particularly the branded bags, which were a hit among staff. Informational handouts paired with tea bags were also very well received and helped promote engagement.” Said Bridget Garrard, ONC CNC & Palliative Care. 

Throughout the week, an informal in-service session was delivered focusing on what palliative care is and the stages of palliative care. This session encouraged open discussion and conversation rather than using formal PowerPoint slides, which fostered a more relaxed and interactive learning environment. 

Murrumbidgee Health Service 

MLHD Palliative Care Specialist Service hosted a regional hub in Wagga Wagga within Murrumbidgee Local Health District, with more than 40 participants attending from across all sectors, including inpatient services, community care, residential aged care homes and general practices. 

The day was an inspiring and highly educational experience, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback. The opportunity to participate via a regional hub made the event accessible to a broader range of staff across our large district and attendees were extremely appreciative of being able to take part locally and network with others. 

 

Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD) held a stand to raise awareness about palliative care and support services. 

Calvary Health Care Kogarah 

The palliative care celebration at Calvary Health Care Kogarah was a success. Several events were held such as: 

-Foyer Presentation of Merchandise: The MDT promoted Palliative Care Week with the help of PCNSW merchandise. This was well-received by the community, including patients and carers from their rehabilitation wards at Calvary. They highlighted that palliative care is not just one person helping patients and their families, but a team of specialised professionals working together to ensure the best quality of palliative care is delivered across inpatient and community areas. 

-Pocket Hearts for PCU Patients:  Sarah from 1000hearts kindly donated Pocket Hearts to give to their palliative care patients. The lovely volunteers from Calvary also created small messages of support for the patients and their families. 

-Education Day Participants: Calvary sponsored a palliative care nurse from the Palliative Care Unit and a nurse from the Community Palliative Care Team to attend the PCNSW Education Day. The participants took the opportunity to network with other palliative care specialists and share how their teams work. 

-MDT Afternoon Tea: Calvary sponsored an afternoon tea for the MDTs of both the inpatient and community teams to celebrate the amazing work they do every day. It was an opportunity to relax, talk, and be proud of the positive impact each practitioner has on the lives of patients and their carers. 

-Volunteer-Sponsored Lucky Door Raffle: Calvary’s volunteers sponsored self-care packs and two tickets to the Art Gallery of NSW. This exciting event added a fun twist to the palliative care afternoon tea. PHOTO (from left to right: Britt, Ben, Hannah) 

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What’s next for PCNSW 

• Supportive & Palliative Care Education Day – Tamworth. Palliative Care NSW is proud to partner with Hunter New England LHD to return to Tamworth for this important event on Wednesday 17 June. Register here: https://palliativecarensw.org.au/…/pcnsw-and-hnelhd…/ 
• Save the date for the Volunteer Managers Conference on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October, running concurrently to the PCNSW State Conference. More information coming soon. 
• Palliative Care NSW State Conference – Sydney from Monday 19 October to Wednesday 21 October 2026. More info here: https://pcnswconference.org.au 

We look forward to connecting with you again soon. 

The Palliative Care NSW team