The report, commissioned by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, notes that the distinct contribution of volunteering in health is the presence of another person at some of the hardest points in a person’s life. Volunteers are there to sit with patients, drive people to treatment, make welfare calls and stay present through some of life’s hardest moments.

Their presence, time and continuing relationships make a real difference to health and wellbeing across NSW. Health volunteers give nearly double the hours of other volunteers, and their contribution is credited with outcomes the funded system does not produce on its own.

Both volunteers and their managers overwhelmingly described working in health settings as rewarding. Volunteering in health is more likely than other forms of volunteering to give volunteers a sense of purpose, friendships and social connection with their community.

The report also identified improvements that could be made to the sector, including funding volunteer coordination as a core activity and covering costs volunteers personally incur, such as transport. One big idea to emerge was portable checks. A ‘volunteer passport’ would allow volunteers to take their Working with Children Check and police checks with them from organisation to organisation, greatly reducing the burden on volunteer coordinators.

Another important recommendation is for NSW Health to update its policy on volunteers as it has not been updated since 2011. The full report is worth a read. You can find it by clicking here.

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Transgender Awareness Week is a week when transgender people and their allies take action to bring attention to the trans community by educating the public about who transgender people are, sharing stories and experiences, and advancing advocacy around issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that affect the transgender community.

Trans and gender diverse people require healthcare and support just like everyone else. Their clinical needs may differ from that of cisgender peers, both in how their identities are reflected and affirmed and when accessing general healthcare. Supporting trans and gender diverse patients requires developing a safe, inclusive environment that goes beyond the clinical consultation itself.

TransHub is for health professionals and volunteers who are seeking to strengthen the care they deliver to trans patients and clients. It has been written in collaboration with leading health professionals who specialise in the healthcare and affirmation needs of trans and gender diverse people across Australia. This is a great place to start when seeking ways to better support trans people.

Minus18 has some great resources to help you better understand young trans people which you can access here and you can find the ACON Palliative Care support toolkit here.

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This year’s theme, Legacy and Leadership: Honouring the Past, Present and Future, shines a spotlight on the people who have shaped the profession of volunteer management, those leading with purpose today, and the next generation who will continue to strengthen volunteer engagement in our communities.

While volunteers are often the public face of community service, there is a skilled workforce behind the scenes ensuring volunteer programs are safe, inclusive, rewarding and effective. Volunteer managers recruit, train, support and empower volunteers, creating the conditions that allow individuals to contribute their time, skills and compassion where they are needed most.

Celebrating a Lasting Legacy

Volunteer management has evolved significantly over the years. What was once viewed primarily as a coordination role is now recognised as a specialised profession requiring expertise in leadership, governance, safeguarding, risk management, communication and community engagement.

Today’s volunteer managers continue to build on the foundations laid by those who advocated for stronger volunteer programs, better volunteer support, and greater recognition of the value volunteers bring to society. Their legacy can be seen in the thousands of organisations that depend on volunteers to deliver services, strengthen social connections and improve community wellbeing.

This International Volunteer Managers Day, we proudly recognise and thank the Palliative Care Volunteer Managers whose leadership makes a lasting difference across our sector.

Their expertise, compassion and dedication create meaningful opportunities for volunteers while ensuring they feel supported, valued and connected to a shared purpose. In the uniquely sensitive field of palliative care, volunteer managers provide guidance through challenging situations, celebrate achievements, and help volunteers build confidence and skills.

Their leadership not only strengthens volunteer engagement but also extends the reach and impact of palliative care services, helping organisations support more people and families in their communities.

The timing is particularly fitting, following last week’s Palliative Care Volunteer Managers Conference, where volunteer leaders from across the sector gathered in Sydney to learn, collaborate and celebrate the important role of volunteering in palliative care. The conference showcased the innovation, commitment and expertise that continue to shape the future of volunteer management.

Click here to read more about the conference and view the event highlights.

To learn more about International Volunteer Managers Day and how you can get involved, visit the official website: International Volunteer Managers Day.

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As Australia’s population ages, a growing number of people are navigating important life decisions largely on their own. Some identify as “solo agers” or “solo persons” and may not have family members or trusted friends available to help with future planning, healthcare decisions, or practical matters after death.

To better understand these experiences, researchers from COTA (Council on the Ageing) and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) are inviting people to share their stories.

The project is seeking input from people who:

• Have experience planning for the future without close family or friends.
• Have been affected by the death of a “solo person”.
• Have supported someone who was facing end-of-life without a strong personal support network.

The insights gathered will help researchers develop practical resources and guidance to support people navigating end-of-life planning, advance care planning, legal matters, and decision-making when family support may be limited or unavailable.

Why This Matters

Planning ahead is an important part of ensuring a person’s wishes are known and respected. For those without close family or friends, the process can be especially complex.

Questions around appointing a substitute decision-maker, documenting healthcare preferences, arranging finances, managing legal affairs, and planning for after death can be difficult to navigate alone. Understanding the real-life challenges and experiences of solo agers will help shape resources that are more accessible, relevant, and supportive.

By sharing their experiences, participants will contribute to improving future support for others who may face similar circumstances.

Get Involved

If you have lived experience of planning for the future without close family or friends, or if you have been affected by the death of a solo person, the research team would like to hear from you.

For more information or to express your interest in participating, contact:

• Maria Katsabanis (COTA): mkatsabanis@cota.org.au
• Dr Olivia Rawlings-Way (UTS): olivia.rawlings-way@uts.edu.au
• Professor Nola Ries (UTS): nola.ries@uts.edu.au

Download Flyers to spread the information:

Click here if you have you been affected by the death of a ‘solo person’, or here if you have experience planning for the future without close family or friends

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Diane Scott, Parkes Neighbourhood Central Executive Officer acknowledged Kittie’s founding efforts, “As the inaugural Volunteer Coordinator, Kittie helped create a service founded on dignity, compassion and support for people at the end of life and their families. Her commitment to palliative care and bereavement support has left a lasting legacy that continues to influence the service today.”

Kittie spent a long time just quietly making things happen for the community of Parkes. As well as volunteering in palliative care, she established support groups for the aged and for people with disabilities.

Parkes volunteer Chris Duffy knew her for many years through these support groups before joining the service, “Kittie had such a lovely way with people, and she really added a personal touch to everything she took on.” 

Kittie was a much loved and respected team member who will be missed by her fellow volunteers.

Tony Fisher, Volunteer Coordinator said, “Kittie was a volunteer we could always count on, especially when we needed experienced insight. She had a gentle way about her that naturally put people at ease in any circumstance. With her extensive background knowledge and experience, she was deeply valued by both our volunteers and clients.

“Kittie devoted so much of her time to the volunteer service and so many wouldn’t even know the full extent of what she did. She would often go above and beyond what was expected, sometimes even cooking and delivering hot dinners after hours. Whatever her clients needed most, she would make it happen.”

Kitty was such a powerhouse and the world is a better place because of her. Our sympathies are with her family, and everyone else who loved and will miss her.

PHOTOS:

LEFT. Back row: Bernadette Orange, Chris Duffy, Maria Buchanan, Wendy Morrow. Front row: Kim Sheridan, the late Kaye Lyndsay, Kittie Dwyer.

RIGHT. Bernadette Orange (left) and Kittie Dwyer.

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The survey suggests that increasing hours of unpaid caring are associated with poorer wellbeing outcomes. Among carers providing 40 hours or more of care each week, only 28% reported healthy levels of wellbeing, indicating that intensive caring responsibilities can place substantial pressure on carers’ physical, emotional and mental health.

Evidence suggests that unpaid carers are increasingly filling gaps in support services. Research involving carers of older people receiving the Support at Home Program found that caring workloads had increased, and approximately half of respondents reported a decline in their wellbeing. This highlights concerns that changes to support systems may result in greater demands being placed on unpaid carers.

The survey also found that carers supporting a child or grandchild with a disability, illness, or developmental challenges reported some of the lowest wellbeing levels of any caring group. Only 20% reported healthy wellbeing, suggesting these families may require additional practical, emotional and social support.

Social Connection and Loneliness

Unpaid carers contribute an estimated $78 billion annually to Australia’s economy through the care they provide. Their contribution underpins health, aged care, disability, and community support systems, yet many continue to experience significant strain and unmet support needs.

The survey highlights substantial challenges related to social connection and community participation:

• 63% of carers do not feel part of their community
• Only 12% feel more connected to their community since becoming a carer
• 43% often or always feel lonely
• A further 33% sometimes feel lonely

Despite the challenges, many carers report positive aspects of their caring role:

• 48% say being a carer contributes to their sense of meaning and purpose
• 40% describe caring as a positive experience

These findings remind us that while caring can be demanding, it can also provide a strong sense of connection, fulfilment and personal value.

Why These Findings Highlight the Importance of Volunteers

The survey findings clearly demonstrate that many carers need greater social, emotional and practical support. The findings are particularly relevant to palliative care, where family members often provide intensive care over extended periods while coping with uncertainty, grief and loss.

Palliative care volunteers help alleviate some of this burden by:

• Providing companionship to patients and carers
• Offering respite that allows carers time to attend appointments, rest or care for themselves
• Supporting families during periods of serious illness
• Reducing social isolation and loneliness
• Assisting with emotional and practical support
• Helping families remain connected to their community

The Carer Wellbeing Survey reminds us that carers are a vital yet often under-supported part of Australia’s health and care system. While carers provide extraordinary support to others, they too need support, connection and recognition. Volunteers play an important role in meeting these needs, helping carers feel less alone and enabling them to continue their caring role with greater confidence, resilience and wellbeing.

Supporting Families of Children with Life-Limiting Conditions

The survey’s finding that carers of children and grandchildren with disability, illness or developmental challenges report particularly low wellbeing highlights the importance of volunteer support in paediatric palliative care.

Paediatric palliative care volunteers can provide valuable support through:

• Family-centred companionship
• Sibling support activities
• Practical assistance for parents
• Opportunities for respite and self-care
• Social connection during periods of prolonged caring

For families caring for a child with a life-limiting illness, the support of trained volunteers can help reduce feelings of isolation, strengthen community connections, and contribute to overall family wellbeing.

The Carer Wellbeing Survey reminds us that carers are a vital yet often under-supported part of Australia’s health and care system. While carers provide extraordinary support to others, they too need support, connection and recognition. Volunteers play an important role in meeting these needs, helping carers feel less alone and enabling them to continue their caring role with greater confidence, resilience and wellbeing.

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The 2027 Live Well, Die Well Art Prize, presented by Palliative Care Australia and Arcare Family Foundation, invites artists of all ages and backgrounds to share their creative vision on the theme, ‘Conversations about end of life’.

This year’s Art Prize features an expanded $30,000 prize pool, with more opportunities to recognise and reward outstanding artists across a range of categories.

Your entry, whether reflective or bold, should reflect the power of storytelling through visual art, move people to see the beauty in life and tenderness in loss.

Key dates

Entries open: Thursday 27 August 2026

Entries close: Monday 11 January 2027

Finalists notified: February/March 2027

Winners announced: The APHC27OPCC Conference, 21-23 April 2027, Adelaide Convention Centre, Australia

Explore categories and prizes

The 2027 Live Well, Die Well Art Prize features an expanded $30,000 prize pool, with more opportunities to recognise and reward artists across a range of categories.

• Overall winner — $10,000
• Highly commended — $5,000
• First Nations artist — $5,000
• Emerging artist — $3,000
• Artist living with a disability — $3,000
• People’s Choice — $3,000
• Primary school student — $500
• Secondary school student — $500
• Support for finalists up to $300 + GST 

How your artwork will be assessed

Entries to the 2027 Live Well, Die Well Art Prize will be assessed against four key criteria.

1. Interpretation of the theme
2. Originality
3. Artistic merit
4. Emotional impact

Before entering, explore details on the categories and prizes, find out more on how your artwork will be assessed, and review the Terms and Conditions.

Questions?

Contact Palliative Care Australia at events@palliativecare.org.au

To apply click here: Enter now.

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When most people think about pain, they picture physical symptoms such as aching muscles, headaches or discomfort caused by illness. However, palliative care professionals have long understood the concept of “total pain”, where emotional distress, anxiety, loneliness, grief, loss of independence, financial concerns and questions about meaning or purpose can intensify a person’s experience of physical pain.

Four important truths about pain

There are several key principles that guide pain management in palliative care:

• Everyone’s experience of pain is different.
• Pain is common in people living with a terminal illness, but not all patients will experience pain.
• Pain is subjective. Pain is what the patient says it is.
• Physical pain can be made worse by psychological worries and distress.

These principles remind us that effective pain management begins with listening to the individual and understanding their unique experience.

Pain that cannot always be seen

For someone living with a life-limiting illness, pain may stem from much more than physical symptoms.

Psychological pain may include fear of the future, anxiety about treatment, depression, uncertainty, or concern about loved ones.

Social pain can arise from isolation, loss of social roles, financial pressures, relationship difficulties, or reduced ability to participate in activities that once brought joy.

Spiritual pain may involve questions about meaning, identity, hope, faith, forgiveness, or what lies ahead.

These forms of distress are deeply interconnected. A person who feels lonely, frightened or overwhelmed may experience their physical symptoms more intensely. Likewise, addressing emotional and social concerns can sometimes help reduce a person’s overall suffering.

Where volunteers make a difference

While clinical teams play a critical role in managing physical symptoms, volunteers are uniquely positioned to help ease many of the non-physical aspects of pain.

A volunteer may not administer medication, but they can provide something equally valuable: human connection.

Through regular visits, active listening and companionship, volunteers help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. A friendly conversation, shared cup of tea, walk in the garden or simply sitting quietly with someone can provide comfort during a difficult time.

Volunteers also help people feel seen and heard. When a person has the opportunity to share their fears, memories, hopes or concerns without judgement, it can ease emotional distress and create a greater sense of peace.

The value of volunteer support in palliative care is increasingly recognised in the research literature, with studies highlighting its positive impact on quality of life, social connection and emotional wellbeing. This evidence reminds us that alongside clinical care, human connection is a powerful tool in easing the experience of total pain.

Further reading: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13102129/

Learn more about World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2026: https://thewhpca.org/world-hospice-and-palliative-care-day/

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This year’s selected works were curated by Kylie Mirmohamadi and Jodi Vial, with Katarina Lindstrom as Associate Curator.

Hunter Writers’ Centre proudly acknowledges the support of their partners, the National Association of Loss and Grief (NSW) and Pettigrew Family Funerals, their sponsors, and In-Memoriam Donors whose generosity makes the Grieve Project possible. Palliative Care NSW was proud to contribute to this important initiative through sponsorship of the Curator’s Award ($400), awarded to Joanna Woutersz for her work, The Circle is Complete.

On the Grieve project, Trudy Hanson, CEO of NALAG (NSW) says:

The National Association of Loss and Grief (NSW) is the proud foundation partner of The Grieve Project. Each year, we are stunned by quality of expression submitted. We wish we could give everyone all who enters this project something for their courage and generosity in sharing their work. I encourage people to look through the online gallery and the Grieve anthology where you will find a profound expression of the fundamental qualities of being human. Nothing can move us quite so deeply as music, story and art.

This year, with the generous support of Pettigrew Family Funerals, the Grieve anthology opens with a commissioned piece by a First Nations author, Julie Janson, a Burruberongal woman of the Darug Aboriginal nation, NSW. The story is based on her Indigenous family history of children given up to the Benevolent Society in the 1860s.

Amy-Lea Pettigrew, whose sponsorship enabled the commission, says:

Pettigrew Family Funerals is honoured to support the Grieve anthology’s first commissioned work by a First Nations author. First Nations people are this country’s first storytellers, and it feels right that the anthology begins with their voice. Julie Janson’s story carries a history that deserves to be heard.

Grieve Volume 13 is due for release on Tuesday 29 September, and can be preordered here: https://hunterwriterscentre.org/bookshop/

The full list of 2026 award winners is available at https://hunterwriterscentre.org/grieve-2026/

The online gallery is now open to view the selected multi-media works, with the Grieve anthology soon to be released. Available at https://hunterwriterscentre.org/grieve-2026-online-gallery/

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The Federal Government has backed the launch of a new Centre of Excellence in Sydney aimed at addressing critical gaps in Alzheimer’s research across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Speaking on ABC Sydney Drive, Health, Disability and Ageing Minister Mark Butler described the emerging blood test as a potentially significant step forward in improving early detection and diagnosis.

The proposed test works by identifying biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease, including the APOE4 gene and specific proteins such as tau. What sets the technology apart is its potential to identify risk years, or even decades, before any symptoms become apparent. Researchers believe this could give individuals valuable time to make lifestyle changes and seek medical advice earlier than is currently possible.

While the Minister stressed that the test is not a definitive predictor of Alzheimer’s and should not be viewed as a “silver bullet,” it could significantly improve Australia’s ability to diagnose and monitor the disease.

The prospect of learning about a heightened Alzheimer’s risk decades in advance raises important questions for many Australians. Some may wonder whether knowing early would be beneficial given that there is currently no cure for the disease. However, health experts increasingly point to a range of modifiable risk factors linked to dementia, including smoking, poor diet, lack of physical activity and other lifestyle factors. Would early awareness encourage people to adopt healthier habits that may reduce their overall risk and improve long-term brain health?

Pathway to Medicare funding still ahead

Although the blood test is generating excitement, Australians should not expect immediate Medicare coverage.

Before the test can be covered by Medicare, researchers at the University of New South Wales, working in partnership with Roche Diagnostics, must first demonstrate its effectiveness through Australian clinical data. If the evidence confirms the test can accurately identify people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease, it will be submitted to the independent experts who assess new services for inclusion on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). Should the test receive approval, eligible patients would be able to access it with Medicare support, helping make the potentially groundbreaking screening tool more widely available

Until then, some forms of testing may be available privately, particularly for people with family histories or other risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Australians interested in accessing the test before any Medicare decision is made are encouraged to contact NeuRA, the neuroscience research institute based at the University of New South Wales’ Randwick campus, which is involved in the project.

New Treatments Offer Hope

The push for earlier diagnosis comes as new Alzheimer’s treatments begin emerging internationally. Researchers and pharmaceutical companies continue investing heavily in the search for more effective therapies. Yet experts acknowledge that major challenges remain, including improving diagnosis, expanding support services and ultimately finding treatments that can substantially alter the course of the disease.

The development of a reliable Alzheimer’s blood test represents one of the most promising advances in dementia care in recent years. While further clinical validation and regulatory assessment are required before widespread adoption, the technology could eventually transform how Australia identifies and manages one of its most challenging health conditions.

For more detailed information, including discussion of Medicare eligibility, treatment developments and NDIS-related issues, the full interview transcript with Minister Mark Butler on ABC Sydney Drive is available by clicking on the following link: Radio interview with Minister Butler, ABC Sydney Drive – 30 July 2026 or listen to the interview by clicking here (min 1:03:50)

Other Links and Resources:

Neura News Article 

Dementia Australia

Dementia support Australia (DSA)

DSA Resources.

DSA Support for Health Care Professionals

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