Palliative Care Australia

Palliative Care Australia is the peak national organisation representing the interests and aspirations of all who share the ideal of quality care at the end of life.

Specialist palliative care providers have specialist knowledge, skills and expertise in the care of patients, their families, carers and communities, who are living with and dying from a terminal condition.

Quality care at the end of life is realised when strong networks exist between specialist palliative care providers, primary generalist, primary specialist and support care providers and the community – working together to meet the needs of all people.

Vision
Quality care at the end of life for all

Mission
To influence, foster and promote the delivery of quality care at the end of life for all

What is palliative care?
Palliative care is specialist care provided for all people living with, and dying from a terminal condition and for whom the primary goal is quality of life.

Palliative and end-of-life care glossary of terms

PCA history
Palliative Care Australia was formed in 1990 as the Australian Association for Hospice and Palliative Care Inc.

Prior to this, an affiliation of committed individuals from a number of state palliative care associations met primarily to coordinate educational events on a national basis for the palliative care community. Such events included visits by international experts and the inaugural biennial Australian National Hospice Palliative Care Conference which was held in Adelaide in September 1990.

The Association's role broadened over the years to keep pace with the development of palliative care in Australia. The Association changed its name to Palliative Care Australia in 1998.

Palliative Care Australia works to address national palliative and end of life care issues, represent the area to the Federal Government and national media, and acts for the sector when dealing with other national peak bodies and professional organisations.

Palliative Care Australia works in collaboration with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing to implement the National Palliative Care Strategy and to raise awareness of palliative and end of life care, improve the understanding and availability of services across Australia, and encourage discussion to support improved knowledge networks.

PCA membership
Palliative Care Australia’s membership comprises the eight state and territory palliative care organisations and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine. These organisations created and share the vision, mission and aims of Palliative Care Australia and operate through a federated governance structure.

Together, the Palliative Care Australia members network to foster, influence and promote local and national endeavours to realise the vision of quality care at the end of life for all.

More information on PCA’s member organisations

Strategic plan
In 2008, PCA released its 2008-2011 strategic plan which sets out PCA’s vision, mission, principles, standards and strategic aims.

Annual report
Palliative Care Australia’s Annual Report provides a concise summary of PCA’s activities during the year in relation to our strategic plan.

PCA governance
The work of PCA is guided by a robust governance structure led by the PCA Board. The board is supported by a number of committees, each tasked with a specific focus and set of deliverables.

In addition, PCA consults with member organisations through the PCA Council. Palliative Care Australia also has a network ofrepresentatives whose expertise is invaluable in ensuring palliative and end-of-life care issues are on the agenda of various external committees and working groups.

The elements of PCA’s governance structure collectively contribute to the realisation of PCA’s four corporate strategic aims:

to be strategically independent with robust governance
to build and maintain effective and valued partnerships
to be well resourced and managed
to achieve targets, goals and contract deliverables.

PCA Board
Governance of PCA is invested in the PCA Board which is responsible for the operational and financial management of Members of the PCA Board are elected by secret ballot for a two year term at alternate PCA annual general meetings by delegates to the PCA Council.

President - Professor Margaret O'Connor AM
Vice President - Mr David Roach
Treasurer - Mr Stephen Carmody
Secretary - Mr Mark Cockayne
General Member - Professor Patsy Yates
President Elect - Dr Scott Blackwell
Co-opted Member - Mr Greg Sam
Co-opted Member - Dr Margherita Nicoletti

PCA Council
The PCA Board receives advice and information from the PCA Council, comprised of two delegates from each of PCA’s nine member organisations, and the President. The PCA Council is also a forum for PCA member organisations to discuss issues of national importance in palliative care.

Palliative Care Victoria
Dr Jane Fischer - Ms Odette Waanders

Palliative Care Council of South Australia
Dr Lawrie Palmer - Mr David Roach

Palliative Care Queensland
Dr Louise Welch - Ms Carol Hope

Palliative Care Northern Territory
Mr Fred Miegel - Ms Robyn Harrison

Palliative Care WA
Mr Stephen Carmody - Dr Scott Blackwell

ACT Palliative Care Society
Dr Andrew Skeels - Mr David Lawrance

Tasmanian Association for Hospice and Palliative Care
Ms Jenny Lowns - Ms Noni Morse

Palliative Care New South Wales
Mr Peter Cleasby - Ms Therese Smeal

Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine
Dr Mark Boughey - Dr Phillip Good