Palliative Care NSW travelled to Bega to participate in the Bega Silver Summit Festival on March 13, 2025. The event attracted 200 attendees and featured engaging speakers, including comedian Jean Kitson and education expert Shanna Provost, who addressed the often-sensitive subject of death, end-of-life planning, and advance care planning with humour.
On the 14th of March 2025, Palliative Care NSW collaborated with the Bega Valley Shire Council to host two Community Conversation events in Bega and Eden, providing a platform for the community to delve deeper into end-of-life issues, learn about local palliative care services, and understand the significance of advance care planning.
In Bega, the first session was met with enthusiasm, prompting many participants to reflect on their priorities as they approach the end of life, gain clarity on what palliative care is, and complete advance care directives.
The second session in Eden welcomed 22 members from the CWA Eden and Pambula-Merimbula Branch, who expressed their appreciation for the availability of local palliative care and other support services. A notable moment was when the club requested 30 advance care directives to distribute among their members for completion.
Overall, both Community Conversations were deemed successful, with several attendees expressing interest in hosting more events for their communities. Palliative Care NSW is thankful for the chance to offer these free educational sessions, aiming to empower individuals to live their lives fully and comfortably until the very end.
If you would like Palliative Care NSW to run a Community Conversation in your area, please complete the EOI here: https://palliativecarensw.org.au/community-conversations/.
These events were made possible by funding from the NSW Ministry of Health.