Life is beautiful and like the butterfly, it is also fragile and finite.
The Society's mission is:
"To influence, foster and promote the delivery of quality care at end of life for all and to offer compassion and support to the terminally ill, their carers and their families."
The Society reflects Dame Cicely Saunders mission, You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life and we will do all we can to help you to die peacefully but also to live until you die.
Welcome
We are the palliative care advocate in the Australian Capital Territory. We believe everyone should have access to the best possible end of life care. We give voice to the interests, views and concerns of our community in the area of palliative care. Please take a moment and read about us and what we do.
Wallace Labryinth
Work has started on land at the rear of Clare Holland House overlooking Lake Burley Griffin. It will be built in a garden setting that complements the nearby newly-created Environment Meditation and Healing Garden which was established by the Canberra Interfaith Forum.
Walking a labyrinth can induce spiritual or emotional calm and inner healing for patients, families, carers, staff and volunteers. It aids reflection, provides enlightenment, and may help in decision making. It is a tool for transformation and a help to let go of grief, anxiety and stress.
A major donor for the labyrinth has been the family of Robin Wallace Brown, a respected member of the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery for the Brisbane Courier Mail for over thirty years.
His death in 2006 from Motor Neurone Disease made his family aware of the need for places of calm and reflection in times of stress.
For more information on the labyrinth, read the following flyer.
Wallace Labyrinth
Equipment Grant for Palliative Care Patients
The Australian Government has allocated one-off funding under the National Palliative Care Scheme for the purchase of equipment to support people who are dying in settings of their choice including their own home and residential aged care facility. ACT residents will benefit from the arrangements. See Media Release 1 December 2011.
Media Release
Margaret Corden Scholarship 2011
Margaret Corden Scholarship is awarded by the Council of ACT Palliative Care Society for projects advancing knowledge and expertise of palliative care.
The 2011 scholarship recipient is Ben Gilbert. Click here to read Ben's project.
2011 Recipient
We live in a society that doesn’t like to talk about dying, let alone plan for the care it would like to receive at the end of life, and we know that one of the greatest barriers to receiving quality care at the end of life is a lack of knowledge and preparation.
We are well aware that people don’t like to talk about the end stage of their lives and unless they have had some direct experience with palliative care, they tend not to know what support is available. This lack of understanding often extends to family or loved ones, who can be integral in decision making when the time comes.
It is true that the theme is confronting - Let’s chat about dying. Our first reactions to this statement may be ‘why’, or an outright ‘no’. Thinking about dying and talking about death is difficult for most Australians, it is not something that they want to do.
But although something is difficult, can we afford to ignore it?
Death is an experience we will all go through, and it is important that we have thought about the end stage of our lives, talked about it with our loved ones, and planned for it. We want to encourage people to think about where they would like to be when they die, who they want to be present, and importantly communicating this to family and loved ones.
26 Years Celebration
The Society was first established in 1985 and would you believe we celebrated our 25th anniversary last year?!
We are grateful to all those wonderful people including the Patron - Mrs Shirley Sutton, Mr Leo Sutton and many past presidents, council members, staff and volunteers for their contributions and vision. Without your foresight, dedication and commitment, we would not be here today. Thank you.
