The 2023-2024 Palliative Care Australia (PCA), Annual General Meeting (AGM) was a chance to celebrate and acknowledge the work of the PCA team, our members, and the community we are a part of.
“Palliative care is a team effort – a person-focused service that draws on the head, heart, and hands of a range of health professionals and volunteers to enable quality of life in the years, months, weeks, and days that remain for people with life limiting illness,” says Camilla Rowland, Chief Executive Officer, PCA.
“This collaborative and nimble approach to deliver care inspires our values and how we go about our work at PCA. As you read our Annual Report, what will be evident are the partnerships we forge and the collective impact we have across the health and care sectors.”
Highlights from the 2023 – 2024 Annual Report:
- The 2023 Oceanic Palliative Care Conference, attended by over 1,400 delegates
- Launch of the ‘Shaping the Future of Paediatric Palliative Care’ project
- New NDIA palliative care ‘Priority Access Pathway’
- Update of the National Palliative Care Standards for Specialist Palliative Care
- Launch of the inaugural National Palliative Care Week Lecture
- Launch of the ‘orange heart’ as the official symbol of the palliative care sector
The full Annual Report can be viewed and downloaded from the PCA website.
The AGM was also an opportunity to thank retiring Board Director, Vlad Aleksandric for his contribution to PCA and the sector.
“Vlad is generous in sharing his significant experience in health and community services, his advice and participation has made us stronger,” says Prof Meera Agar, Chair, PCA.
An election was held to fill the vacant position on the nine member PCA Board, with clinical educator, Sarah Begley elected by PCA’s 12 member organisations.
“Sarah is a welcome addition to our ranks, she is currently working at Eastern Palliative Care in Victoria but comes with 12 years of community palliative care experience across Australia, including roles in rural NSW and Far North Queensland, not to forget her involvement with Australasian Palliative Link International and Palliative Care Nurses Australia.
“I also want to thank the team at PCA who work hard to position palliative care at the centre of Australia’s current and future health reforms.”
The AGM was also an opportunity to reflect on current and future challenges.
“A growing challenge for PCA and indeed many peak bodies, is our sustainability,” Ms Rowland says.
“We know that the Australian Government values the role that PCA plays in their health and aged care reforms, and we welcome new or future alternative investment pathways to support our important work on behalf of the sector.”
Some of PCA’s focus areas for 2024 – 2025 includes:
- Federal Election Campaign around ‘better access to palliative care’
- Implementation of the Aged Care Act
- Commonwealth – State Health Funding Agreement
- Increasing awareness of the Palliative Care Standards
- 2025 National Palliative Care Week, 11 to 17 May
- 2025 Oceanic Palliative Care Conference, September 10 – 12, Brisbane
To stay up to date with PCA’s work subscribe to our fortnightly eNewsletter.
Contact details:
Ian Campbell
P: 0417 482 171
