For thirty years, National Palliative Care Week (NPCW) has opened conversations, raised awareness, and advocated for better access to and acceptance of palliative care, and improved quality of life at end of life!
In 2025, led by Palliative Care Australia (PCA) and our members around Australia, NPCW is asking a simple yet powerful question: "What's your plan?"
"It's a direct approach to 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," says Camilla Rowland, CEO, PCA.
"Last year's NPCW campaign engaged over 2 million Australians, sparking discussion about 'matters of life and death'. Building on that momentum, and as our community gets older, it is timely to better consider what the last phase of life could look like and take action."
With the support of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, in 2025, NPCW runs from Sunday 11 May to Saturday 17 May.
The theme 'What's your plan?" challenges and inspires different groups:
For individuals and families – it challenges them to think about their own future and quality of life, make informed choices, and decide how they want to be cared for.
For the health and care sectors – it prompts reflection on capacity, innovation, and readiness to meet growing demand in a community that feels empowered by end of life planning.
For government – it calls for accountability, opening an opportunity to discuss policy, investment, and strategy, and addressing the future palliative care needs of our community.
"Death remains a difficult subject for people to talk about, that's natural and human," Ms Rowland says.
"That reluctance, and lack of awareness and engagement contributes to a widespread misunderstanding of what palliative care is and what it can offer.
"Palliative Care Week is about changing that, it provides an opportunity to start those conversations, break down taboos, dispel myths, and empower the life and choices that need to be considered with terminal illness and ageing."
Events are being planned around the country, including the National Palliative Care Week Lecture on Thursday, 8 May, and the unique Palliative Care Story Exchange on Friday, 16 May, stay tuned for more details.
Check the PCA website for events happening near you, as well as a range of digital tools you can use to support NPCW, and advice around end of life conversations and planning.
"We are also excited to launch the new PCA Shop, where people can support our work and help spread the message and spirit of palliative care through a new range of orange heart t-shirts and caps," Ms Rowland says.
"And our partnership with 1000 Hearts allows people to purchase sewing kits to make their own pocket hearts to distribute to those receiving palliative care as well as those working and volunteering in the sector as a show of support."
Every day in Australia, 400 people of all ages die of a terminal illness. Every one of them could benefit from palliative care, NPCW honours that work and those people.
