Professor Deb Parker was awarded with a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division, for her significant service to community health, particularly through palliative and aged care research.
Deb Parker is a long-standing member of Palliative Care NSW (PCNSW) and currently a member of the PCNSW Management Committee, and has served as both President and Vice President in the past. She has held numerous roles across a variety of health and academic disciplines, including the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), the University of Queensland, Western Sydney University, End of Life Directions in Aged Care (ELDAC), Sydney Local Health District, and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Deb has also conducted significant research into related fields, including over 100 publications in the field of Nursing Aged Care.
We would like to congratulate Deb for her achievements and thank her for her extensive and continued contributions to the palliative and aged care sectors.
To view Deb Parker’s full citation, click here.
We would also like to congratulate the other recipients nationally who were recognised for their contribution to palliative care or whose work has included palliative care including:
- Clinical Associate Professor Jenny Louise Hynson (VIC). Awarded an OAM for service to palliative care medicine. Professor Hynson’s work has a paediatric palliative care focus, and she was a former Board Member of Palliative Care Victoria.
- Mrs Lynette Margaret Read (VIC). Awarded an OAM for service to community health. Mrs Read is a long-standing palliative care volunteer including with the Eastern Palliative Care Association Inc for 17 years and Caritas Christi Hospice.
- Professor Kirsten Anne Auret (WA). Awarded an AM for significant service to palliative care medicine, and to tertiary education. Professor Auret has been the Clinical Director, Palliative Care with WA Country Health Service since 2019 and has been an active committee member of both Palliative Care Australia and Palliative Care WA.
- Mrs Patricia Neely (QLD). Awarded an AM for significant service to community health, and to the community. Mrs Nealy is a Founding Member, Life Member and former President of Palliative Care QLD.
As a sector we should be proud of the great work being done here in NSW and around the country and the recognition received for clinicians, researchers and volunteers which also serves to shine a light on palliative care, its depth and its importance. The recognition of the role the recipients have played in some of the palliative care peak bodies around the country is also pleasing to see – as member-based Associations, we cannot do what we do without the dedicated support of people like Professor Deb Parker and the other recipients.