Palliative Care

National Palliative Care Week | 10-16 May 2026

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

This National Palliative Care Week, Palliative Care Australia invites everyone to start conversations, raise awareness, and advocate for better access to and acceptance of palliative and end-of-life care.

This year's theme, 'Getting to the heart of it. Big Questions. Real Answers', empowers earlier conversations and connecting people to trusted information, tools and support.

Conversations about palliative and end-of-life care are often avoided because they can feel confronting or 'too soon' and many people aren't sure what palliative care is or when it can help.

Why conversations about palliative care matter

Palliative care supports people to keep living as well as they can, for as long as they can. Starting a conversation about palliative care early gives people time to ask questions, understand options and plan for what matters most. It is better to talk sooner than to have choices narrowed when time is shorter.

Palliative care is care that puts people first. With the right support, families feel less alone, decisions are respected and care stays focused on what matters most.

For practical, evidence-based resources and training that support aged care and primary care professionals to initiate advance care planning and palliative care conversations, visit The Advance Project or Advance Care Planning Australia.

Upcoming Palliative Care Education

Managing Complexity in Palliative Care - Free CPD opportunity

Clinician-delivered case study learning. This five-part online ECHO series for GPs, nurses and primary care professionals is designed to build clinical confidence and strengthen essential palliative care skills.

RACGP accredited.

• When: Monthly on Tuesdays
• Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm on Zoom

Click here to Register 

The first session has already occurred but you can access the recording through the link above and register for the remaining four.

Session Dates and Topics

• June 2: Pain Management in Palliative Care
• June 30: Respiratory Failure and Breathlessness Management
• August 4: Dementia and a Palliative Approach
• September 8: Framing Hard Conversations

Palliative Approach to Care Workshop

Palliative Care SA is hosting a FREE Palliative Approach to Care workshop for health professionals on Wednesday, 13 May.

This workshop is designed to strengthen understanding and practice of the palliative approach to care - ensuring care is compassionate, person-centred, and responsive to what matters most. This workshop is part of Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA).  

For more information and to register, visit PEPA. 

Special Guest Lecture

Rethinking Dementia and end-of-life care at 12pm on Thursday, 14 May. 

Join Palliative Care Australia's livestream delivered at Parliament House by a national leader in palliative care, Dr Michael Chapman, Director of Palliative Care at Canberra Hospital and Lead of the Palliative Care Research Unit at Clare Holland House.

Resources

For more advice, tools and support, visit Palliative Care SA.

Support for GPs can be found via HealthPathways SA, a free online portal that allows health professionals to access the latest evidence-based assessment, management and referral options in South Australia.

Clinical Pathways:

• Palliative Care Patient   
• Emergencies in Palliative Care   
• Pain Medications in Palliative Care   
• Symptom Management in Palliative Care     
• Last Days of Life   
• Advance Care Planning (ACP)   

Plus many more. Register and start exploring the suite of Palliative Care pathways today. To access the site and find out more, click HERE.

HealthPathways SA is a partnership between SA Health, Adelaide PHN and Country SA PHN.