In recognition of National Advance Care Planning Week, Palliative Care NSW hit the road once again to deliver a series of insightful and engaging community conversations, bringing together healthcare professionals, local community members, and caregivers to discuss advance care planning, palliative care, and end-of-life care. The week kicked off on Monday, 17 March, and concluded on Friday, 21 March, with events in Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Armidale and Gunnedah, focusing on making these critical discussions accessible and relevant to all.
Monday 17 March: Shoreline Retirement Village, Coffs Harbour
The week began at Shoreline Retirement Village and Residential Aged Care in Coffs Harbour, where a Community Conversation was held for the residents. The event was an excellent opportunity for the residents to engage with topics regarding their future healthcare decisions. Following the conversation, a separate education session was conducted for the nursing and care team, providing them with essential information on palliative care, end-of-life care and advance care planning.
The session was well-received, with attendees asking thoughtful questions and participating actively in the discussions. The presence of team members from the Coffs Harbour palliative care service helped enrich the session, offering local guidance, expert perspectives and practical advice. This set the tone for a week of open dialogue, community involvement, and education on such an essential topic.
Tuesday 18 March: Forget Me Nots Community Group, Grafton
On Tuesday, 18 March, we joined the local community group Forget Me Nots, a volunteer-led singing and social group for those living with dementia and their carers, people with a disability, those in residential aged care, or socially isolated. After their weekly singing and St. Patrick’s Day-themed socialising session, the group gathered for a Community Conversation on advance care planning, palliative care, and end-of-life care.
The session was made possible thanks to the collaboration of community leaders such as Leigh Robertson and Jenny Worrell, founders of Forget Me Nots, and Vicki Forbes from Clarence Valley Conservatorium. Vanessa Gee from our event partner Healthy North Coast PHN also helped ensure the session’s success. The warm, inclusive atmosphere created a supportive space for attendees to explore these often challenging but necessary topics.
Wednesday 19 March: Armidale Community Conversation
The conversation continued on Wednesday, 19 March, in Armidale, where local specialist palliative care clinicians Jennie and Fiona joined the event. The session highlighted how palliative care services are supporting the New England region, particularly in response to the challenges of accessing a GP or specialist in rural areas.
A key highlight of the event for community members was learning that in this area, self-referral was an option, helping make palliative care more accessible to those who need it. The attendance of Bec & Lauren from the Highlands End-of-Life Project, a recent addition to the Palliative Care Volunteer Managers Network, was also noted as a step forward in strengthening the network of support in the region.
Thursday 20 and Friday 21 March: Gunnedah Community Conversation
We finished our Advance Care Planning Week events in Gunnedah on Thursday, 20 March, and Friday, 21 March. Two sessions were held, where approximately 30 community members gathered to learn about advance care planning, palliative care, and end-of-life care options.
The event was made even more impactful with the support of Vickie from Carer Gateway and the invaluable contributions of specialist palliative care clinicians and educators Merryl and Jon, who shared local insights and advice. A special thank you was extended to Amanda, a passionate community member and carer, who played a pivotal role in organising the sessions and ensuring they were accessible to the local population.
The Importance of Community Engagement
Across all the events, one theme stood out: the importance of the community having a greater understanding of what palliative care is, how to access it and the importance of advance care planning at any age. Whether it was residents in Coffs Harbour, members of the Forget Me Nots group, or community members in Gunnedah and Armidale, attendees were given valuable knowledge and resources, the opportunity to connect with local specialist clinicians, and the space to ask questions, share concerns, and receive guidance on how to navigate these essential life decisions.
By bringing together health professionals, community organisations, and local residents, the week fostered an open and inclusive environment where difficult conversations were made more approachable. These events helped empower individuals to make informed decisions about their care, and to understand their rights and options.
Looking Ahead
With the ongoing support of funding partners such as Healthy North Coast and the NSW Ministry of Health, and the support of local palliative care services, community leaders, and passionate local members, these important Community Conversations will continue, and inspire more individuals to live their life as well and as comfortably as they can, right to 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 through our funding and partnership with Healthy North Coast PHN (Coffs Harbour & Grafton), and the NSW Ministry of Health NGO Grant program (Armidale & Gunnedah).