Every day in Australia, 400 people of all ages die of a terminal illness. Many of these people and their families could benefit from palliative care. A form of care that is their human right, that can enrich their final days, and that too many people are missing out on.
This National Palliative Care Week (11-17 May 2025) Palliative Care Victoria (PCV) is asking a simple yet powerful question: ‘What’s your plan?’
This question prompts Australians and their loved ones to talk about what matters most at the end of life, and to make a plan that empowers and respects their choices during the last years, months, and days of life.
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2025 Award Winner
As part of National Palliative Care Week, PCV presents the annual Noala Flynn AM Award for Excellence in Palliative Care Nursing, which is awarded to a Victorian palliative care nurse who has exceptional talent, quality, or commitment that surpasses usual standards, and consistently goes above and beyond to make a difference.
The external judging panel, including palliative care leaders from Queensland, NSW, and two Victorian community members, independently assessed the nominations using criteria based on Noala’s nursing values to identify this year's winner.
PCV is proud to announce the winner of this year’s award is Kylie Draper, Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC). Throughout her career, Kylie has made a profound impact on palliative care in Victoria – not only through her clinical expertise, but also through her unwavering commitment to equity, cultural humility and person-centred care.
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Kylie Draper with PCV Board Vice-Chair, Kate Johnson
A respected leader and mentor, Kylie has guided many palliative care professionals, helping shape the next generation of clinicians and nurse practitioners. During her tenure at Eastern Palliative Care (EPC), she led with vision and compassion, driving innovation, quality and collaboration.
In addition, Kylie champions culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and now extends this work nationally through her current role with PCOC. Her personal experiences – including caring for her husband during his illness – further deepen her empathetic approach and authentic leadership.
Kylie’s work reflects the very essence of this year’s National Palliative Care Week theme, ‘What’s your plan?’. Through her leadership, advocacy and compassionate care, she has helped countless individuals and families feel empowered to make informed choices about their end of life. Her unwavering commitment to culturally safe, person-centred care is a perfect example of how palliative care supports the community, not just clinically, but emotionally and spiritually, during life’s most vulnerable moments.
Kylie truly embodies the legacy of Noala Flynn AM, and we are honoured to recognise her outstanding contributions to the palliative care sector with this Award. In honouring Kylie, we also recognise the vital role that palliative care nurses play in helping Victorians live, die and grieve well.
For further information or comment:
Adj. A/ Prof. Violet Platt
Chief Executive Officer
Palliative Care Victoria
e info@pallcarevic.asn.au
p 03 9662 9644