National Palliative Care Week 2026 has now drawn to a close, after a week of conversations, events, shared stories and community engagement right across Australia. Guided by this year’s theme, Getting to the Heart of It: Big Questions. Real Answers., the campaign encouraged Australians to engage more openly with conversations about death, dying, grief, caring, and the role of palliative care in helping people live well at the end of life.
Across the country, communities came together in meaningful ways to mark the week. From large public events and professional education forums to community conversations, grief cafés, advance care planning workshops, awareness campaigns, and collaborative sector initiatives, National Palliative Care Week highlighted the many ways palliative care touches lives. Landmarks across Western Australia were lit in orange, major summits and education events were held in Victoria and New South Wales, new partnerships and statewide initiatives were launched in South Australia and Queensland, while the ACT brought together families, professionals and community voices to help shape a better future for paediatric palliative care. Stories from regional and rural communities in the Northern Territory also highlighted the dedication of people working to strengthen access to palliative care where it is needed most. Details below share more about our activities in Tasmania.
While National Palliative Care Week is one week on the calendar, the conversations it encourages continue well beyond those seven days. In Tasmania, we were proud to be part of this national movement, creating spaces for connection, learning and important conversations in our own communities. Read more about National Activities
How Tasmania Got to the Heart of It This National Palliative Care Week
During National Palliative Care Week, important conversations about palliative care took place right across Tasmania. From community events and education sessions to training opportunities and shared stories, the week created space for connection, learning and greater understanding. Palliative Care Tasmania was proud to be part of most of these activities across the state.
“Getting to the Heart of It” - Our Key Event
Palliative Care Tasmania’s key National Palliative Care Week event, Getting to the Heart of It, brought around 75 community members, professionals and supporters together at St Luke's Health & Wellness Hub in Hobart for a day of conversation, learning and connection.
The event opened with a powerful lived experience story from Chris Wedd, who spoke candidly about living with stage four cancer for more than five years. “I’ve been so lucky. Usually the survival is only twelve months,” Chris shared. Reflecting on his journey, he spoke about the importance of access to trustworthy information, saying, “During the early stages of my diagnosis, I struggled to find credible information and resources to help plan my cancer journey.”
During the event, Palliative Care Tasmania also launched the new PalliCaring Guide and the organisation’s new website, both designed to help Tasmanians better navigate palliative care and access support when it is needed most. PCT CEO Heather Kent said, “These resources are vital across our community because they are tailored to the Tasmanian context and provide reliable information when you need it most.” Speaking about the website, Heather highlighted the importance of accessible and up-to-date information, including a new support directory to help connect people with the services they may need.
The day also featured the Big Questions, Real Answers panel discussion, exploring common questions and misconceptions about palliative care, while also considering the support available in Tasmania. A key focus was placed upon the importance of care that supports the whole person, their loved ones and cares, enabling individual wishes to be honoured.
The event also marked the beginning of Palliative Care Tasmania’s partnership with 1000 Hearts, with attendees joining in to stitch hearts as a simple act of kindness and connection. The day concluded with a mindfulness session led by Mindfulness Programs Australasia in which we explored why mindfulness matters and engaging in mindfulness practice.
We thank everyone who joined us and helped make this event such a special part of National Palliative Care Week. More images of the event are available on our Facebook page. Please CLICK the link.
Our latest resource , the “Pallicaring Guide”, is now available to order for FREE for Tasmanians
We were pleased to officially launch our new resource, the PalliCaring Guide, during National Palliative Care Week. Based on extensive consultation, this practical guide has been created to support Tasmanians navigating palliative care, serious illness, advanced ageing, caregiving, and planning ahead.
Developed specifically for the Tasmanian context, the Guide brings together clear, easy-to-understand information to help people explore their circumstances, understand their options, make informed decisions, and connect with support when they need it most.
One attendee at the launch shared, “The guide is a great resource during the diagnosis stage, as people search for more information and look for places to reach out for help.”
The PalliCaring Guide is now available to download or order FREE hard copies via the Palliative Care Tasmania website. If you, a loved one, or someone in your community may benefit from this resource, we encourage you to access a copy. Hard copies are free of charge for all Tasmanians!
Check for all the activities took place during the National palliative Care Week 2026
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