During National Palliative Care Week 2025 (NPCW), palliative care teams across Victoria came together in meaningful ways to reflect, connect and honour the care that supports people at the end of life.
This year’s campaign theme, ‘What’s your plan?’, encouraged Australians to start conversations about end-of-life care and to reflect on their own values, preferences, and priorities. With over 400 people dying each day from life-limiting illness, the campaign called for greater awareness and planning, reinforcing that palliative care is not only a human right, but a vital part of living, dying and grieving well.
As part of the campaign, Palliative Care Victoria (PCV) distributed packs of morning tea supplies to member organisations, inviting them to participate by hosting a morning tea for their teams. The morning supply packs were provided as an acknowledgement and expression of gratitude for the incredible work and expertise of Victoria’s palliative care workforce and volunteers. It also presented an opportunity for the teams to reflect on their own end-of-life plans or their plans for their palliative care careers.
Celebrations around the state
Peninsula Home Hospice hosted a morning tea with their team, embracing the campaign's theme of planning for the future while celebrating the compassion and dedication of their staff.
Rosehaven Hospice also marked the week with a heartfelt event that brought its community together, fostering important conversations around palliative care and what matters most at the end of life.
Bellarine Community Health extended the conversation beyond the campaign week by inviting their community to an information session on palliative care services.
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre celebrated the importance of palliative care by wearing orange (with a best dressed competition), hosting an orange afternoon tea and sharing stories on why the team members chose palliative care.
These events are a small sample of the many ways in which the Victorian palliative care community celebrated NPCW this year. PCV acknowledges and thanks our members for continuing to lead with compassion, vision and dedication to palliative care for all Victorians.
Looking ahead, PCV will continue to build on the momentum of National Palliative Care Week to amplify sector voices and strengthen our advocacy work as we engage with government, partners and the broader community to ensure that every Victorian has access to the care they need, when they need it.
If you have any images of your NPCW events that you would like to share, it’s not too late! Send any event or team images through to info@pallcarevic.asn.au.