Finalists revealed for the 2025 National Palliative Care Awards

Palliative Care Australia today announced the 24 finalists for the 2025 National Palliative Care Awards. 

The prestigious awards, proudly sponsored by Silverchain, celebrate excellence, innovation, and leadership across Australia’s palliative care sector. 

Palliative Care Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Camilla Rowland, said the winners of eight award categories would be announced at a ceremony in Brisbane on Thursday 11 September hosted by comedy great, and palliative care advocate, Jean Kittson.  

“The National Palliative Care Awards are one of the ways we can shine a light on the dedication and compassion of people across Australia who care for patients with life-limiting illnesses, and the families and communities that surround them,” Ms Rowland said. 

“The award finalists are changemakers that have worked with their teams to deliver exceptional care and advocate for people at the most vulnerable moment in their lives." 

“We are so pleased that Silverchain has once again chosen to partner with Palliative Care Australia to deliver this key event in our sector’s calendar,” Ms Rowland said.  

Ms Rowland said the Awards would be a highlight of the Oceanic Palliative Care Conference (25OPCC) that will be hosted in Brisbane across three days from 10-12 September.  

2025 National Palliative Care Awards Finalists:  

• Emerging Leader 

• Kymberlie Cox, Institute of Urban Indigenous Health, Qld 

• Charlotte Laverack, Peninsula Villages, NSW 

• Dr Priyanka Vandersman, Flinders University, SA 

• Emerging Researcher 

• Dr Alison Bowers, Queensland University of Technology, Qld 

• Dr Jodi Sariman, Queensland Health, Qld 

• Dr Wei, Mater Hospital, NSW 

• Outstanding Achievement by an Individual in Palliative Care 

• Jess Sanders, Palliative Care Tasmania, Tas 

• Dr Christine Sanderson, Territory Palliative Care, NT 

• Claudia Virdun, College of Nursing and Health Sciences Flinders University, SA 

• Outstanding Work by a Team in Delivering Palliative Care 

• Bellarine Community Health, Vic 

• Royal Melbourne Hospital, Vic 

• Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) Paediatric Palliative Care Service, SA 

• Outstanding Achievement in Volunteering 

• Ambulance Wish Western Australia, WA 

• Derek's Place, NSW 

• Kevin Stokes, Great Lakes Palliative Care Support, NSW 

• Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Palliative Care 

• Centre for Palliative Care Research and Education (CPCRE), Qld 

• Daniel Gela, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, Qld 

• Territory Palliative Care, Alice Springs, Central Australia, NT 

• Innovation in Palliative Care  

• Central Team – EPC, Eastern Palliative Care Ltd, Vic 

• Prof Jennifer Philip, Palliative Nexus Research Group, University of Melbourne, Vic 

• Palliative Care Tasmania Team, Tas 

• Lifetime Achievement Award  

• Emeritus Professor Margaret O'Connor AM, Palliative Care South East, Vic 

• Dr Lawrie Palmer, Northern Adelaide Palliative Service, SA 

• Professor Elizabeth Raymond, Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Support & Pharmacy Service, National caring@home projects, Qld 

Finalists were selected by an expert panel of judges from a competitive pool of nominations submitted by peers, colleagues, and community members.  

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Notes to Editors:  

• Palliative Care Australia holds the Awards every two years to recognise excellence, innovation and leadership in Australia's palliative care sector.

• The 2025 Awards sponsor, Silverchain Group, is one of Australia’s leading home care specialists, providing health and aged care services to more than 140,000 clients each year. 

• Over 1400 delegates are expected to attend the Oceanic Palliative Care Conference (25OPCC) from 10-12 September 2025 in Brisbane. More information about the conference and how to register is available at www.25OPCC.com 

• More information about the Awards and how to promote finalists is available on the Palliative Care Australia website: National Palliative Care Awards - Palliative Care Australia