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From our Director
Professor Jennifer Tieman
RePaDD Director
As a Research Centre within Flinders University, we are expected to “build the University’s research capabilities and strengths and heighten research impact by providing a focal point for industry, community and international engagement in a specific area”. RePaDD has specific and purposeful mission which is to make a difference to care at the end of life. This appears such a simple research focus.
However, in reality, this mission is complex. While it encapsulates the critical role of palliative care, it also acknowledges the importance of communities, systems, families and society as well as the context, preference and needs of the individuals dealing with the reality of end of life. This diversity of possible research frames was on display at the European Association of Palliative Care Conference, held earlier in the year.
Two contrasting plenaries: “Artificial General Intelligence: Considerations for Palliative Care” and “Caring for refugees and migrants: what is the role of palliative care?” They highlighted the complexities of our global world and the rapidity with which change can occur. A breakfast session from the EAPC Reference Group on Ageing & Palliative Care articulated the need for ageing to be a priority in palliative care and for palliative care to be a priority in aged care. This was followed by an equally useful session on closing the evidence-policy gap in palliative and end of life care.
My selection of sessions did not mean that clinical issues were not well represented at the conference but that the array of research was striking and impressive. The palliative care discipline and research community has grown and now actively engages with the contexts within which palliative care and care at the end of life occurs. For me what was striking was the contribution and capability of the Australian clinical and research cohort at the conference and this included a set of Flinders and RePaDD researchers. They not only attended but presented and engaged with confidence, learning and sharing with peers from around the world.
RePaDD updates
RePaDD Seminar Series: Supporting People with MND at End of Life
RePaDD’s monthly seminar series continues to provide thought-provoking insights into key issues in palliative care. In July, we were joined by Dr Peter Allcroft, a respiratory and palliative care physician, who shared his clinical expertise and reflections on providing quality palliative care for people living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Dr Allcroft explored the unique challenges of supporting people with MND—from navigating rapid physical decline to managing complex symptom burdens and system-level care gaps. His presentation highlighted the importance of timely, person-centred care and the emotional and ethical dimensions of end-of-life decision-making in progressive neurodegenerative conditions.
This session was particularly valuable for clinicians, researchers and carers seeking to improve outcomes for people with complex, life-limiting illnesses.
📺 Missed it? Click the button below to catch up on past seminars.
New Paediatric Palliative Care Research Centre Launched
The Paediatric Palliative Care Centre of Research Excellence officially launched on 1 July 2025, marking a new chapter in improving care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Follow the team on LinkedIn.
Funded by the NHMRC, this national CRE brings together researchers, clinicians, consumers and advocacy groups to enhance care for babies, children and young people. Led by QUT’s Centre for Healthcare Transformation, the collaboration includes experts from Flinders University, UNSW, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Palliative Care Australia and Queensland Children’s Hospital. The CRE was established following recommendations from the Paediatric Palliative Care National Action Plan.
Flinders’ A/Prof Stuart Ekberg, CRE Director of Research, will lead a project to co-design a care pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with life-limiting conditions, supported by newly appointed Senior Project Officer Bianca Warner. The CRE will also engage with national stakeholders to identify key research priorities. Register for project updates via the CRE’s email list.
Held in Helsinki from 29–31 May 2025, the 19th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) brought together leaders in palliative care research, education, and clinical practice from around the globe. As Europe’s largest palliative care conference, the EAPC Congress is a key platform for advancing innovation and collaboration in care for people with life-limiting illness. This year’s program focused on diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and solidarity—priorities that resonate strongly with RePaDD’s mission.
Below, three RePaDD members reflect on their experiences at this year’s Congress:
Assoc. Prof Jason Mills
“It was a privilege to attend such a high-calibre event, where the latest research and international collaborations are front and centre. Highlights for me included participating in governance meetings for the NIH-funded RESTORE Trial, Last Aid International Research Group, and EAPC Public Health Reference Group. I also sat on the judging panel for the Palliative Medicine Paper of the Year. A standout moment was seeing Julie Ling receive the Floriani Award and speak so powerfully about the vital role of nursing in palliative care.”
Dr Claudia Virdun
“EAPC was an incredible networking opportunity—not only globally, but also among key Australian leaders in palliative care. I presented a poster on hospital palliative care transformation, connected with international collaborators, and found real affirmation for my research focus. The Junior Forum was especially valuable for early-career researchers like me. It’s made me even more passionate about building pathways for others to attend in the future.”
Dr Madeleine Juhrmann
“I was proud to present two posters—one of which was awarded Top 5 Best Posters—and to participate in a Taskforce meeting on emergency palliative care. The Congress sparked important reflections on how we adapt global innovations to local practice. From AI in care to models used in conflict zones, I came away inspired and more connected to our international research community.”
Community Events
RePaDD is pleased to share details of an upcoming community-led event that celebrates connection, kindness and shared purpose in end-of-life care and support.
The Compassionate Communities Collaborative Inc. invites you to its Mid-Year Gathering, a heartwarming afternoon that highlights local initiatives supporting people through grief, loss, and life’s later stages.
📍 Seaford Community Centre
📅 Wednesday 13 August
🕐 1.00 – 3.00pm
🥗 Light lunch provided | Bookings essential via Humanitix or by emailing compassionatecomcol2023@gmail.com
This gathering will showcase inspiring grassroots work by three community groups:
- Southern Vales Compassionate Communities – Compassion Cafés creating space for connection through conversation.
- Aldinga Bay – Death Cafés and Grief Support Groups offering safe, reflective environments for processing loss.
- Care4Men – Men’s conversation groups in retirement villages, promoting peer support and emotional wellbeing.
Whether you're curious about Compassionate Communities, looking to get involved, or simply wish to connect with others who care about improving the experience of ageing, dying and bereavement—this is a meaningful opportunity to engage.
Member's Updates
Associate Professor Jason Mills was recently elected to the Council of Public Health Palliative Care International and will serve on the Scientific Committee for the next PHPCI Conference in Taipei City. This follows his ongoing research and educational involvement in progressing the field over the past decade.
More recently, he delivered an invited workshop at the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Conference in Malaysia with Associate Professor Libby Sallnow (University College London), entitled Public Health Palliative Care: How to apply it in practice.
Last month Jason was invited to join the International Workgroup on Death, Dying and Bereavement at its 33rd Meeting in Fremantle, WA. Together with thanatology research luminaries including Professors Kenneth Doka and Carl Becker, they critically examined (among other projects) contemporary practices around different ritual aspects of grieving and public education to support grief literacy. A review paper and subsequent call to action will be published in the OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying.
Dr Claudia Virdun has been appointed to the Palliative Care Nurses Australia Scientific Conference Committee for the 2026 conference—an exciting opportunity to help shape the national conversation on nursing and palliative care.
She has also been invited to deliver a plenary presentation at the 23rd Annual CPCRE Research Conference (Brisbane, 31 October) on the theme "Translating Research into Practice: Barriers, Challenges and How to Win", and recently presented at St Vincent’s Hospital Medical Grand Rounds in Sydney on “Dying to improve – can PREMs help?”.
Dr Georgina Rowley and her research team presented their important work at the 19th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) in Finland this May. Their poster, "Models of palliative care for minoritised populations: A scoping review", highlighted the need for more appropriate and consistent models of care for culturally and linguistically diverse adults.
This timely research underscores the importance of equity in palliative care delivery and contributes to the global conversation on inclusive, culturally responsive care. Well done to the team on sharing this work with an international audience.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Dr Priyanka Vandersman on being selected to deliver the Ian Maddocks Guest Lecture at the upcoming 2025 Oceanic Palliative Care Conference, taking place in Brisbane from 10–12 September.
This prestigious lecture honours Professor Ian Maddocks and recognises emerging leaders in palliative care.
A Senior Research Fellow at RePaDD and digital health researcher, Priyanka’s work focuses on strengthening end-of-life care in aged care through the ELDAC project at Flinders University.
Her presentation will explore how digital tools and compassionate, evidence-informed practices can support families—even after death.
This is a well-deserved honour, and we’re proud to see Priyanka’s leadership acknowledged on this national stage.
Project updates
End-Of-Life Essentials
A new animated video launched by End-of-Life Essentials offers healthcare professionals practical, compassionate strategies for responding to bereavement with patients, the families of patients, and themselves.
‘Responding to Grief and Bereavement’ draws on real family experiences and forms part of a new Bereavement education module aimed at improving end-of-life care in hospital settings across Australia.
ELDAC
Taste for Pleasure Initiative - comfort at the end of life
At the end of life it’s often the smallest gestures that leave the most lasting impact: a kind word, a gentle touch, or the familiar taste of a favourite drink.
Dr Olivia Farrer has written a blog about the Taste for Pleasure initiative which highlights the vital role of food, flavour, and comfort in supporting quality of life at the end of life.
CareSearch
An evaluation of the CareSearch Clinical Evidence Summaries is currently underway as part of a broader multi-methods study. The study explores educators’ views on the value of clinical evidence, their use of the CareSearch Clinical Evidence Summaries, and their perceptions of its impact on learning outcomes for both students and clinicians. Insights from this work will help ensure CareSearch continues to support high-quality, evidence-informed education in palliative care.
Published research
Understanding the acute care context to inform palliative care improvements: a qualitative study of hospital-based multidisciplinary clinicians.
Virdun C, Singh GK, Yates P, Phillips JL, Mudge A.
A study which explores the clinician, team, and organisational factors that influence how effectively palliative care can be integrated into hospital settings. Read more
Investigating the use of strengths-based approaches for health research in rural communities: A scoping review.
Mills J, Freeman M, Skaczkowski G, Gunn KM.
A work that offers valuable insight for anyone designing or conducting rural health and palliative care research—pointing to new, more empowering pathways forward. Read more
Healthcare Professionals' Advice to Guide End-Of-Life Care Education Delivery in Hospitals: A Qualitative Study.
Winsall M, Devery K, Phelan C.
A paper that identifies five core themes—shared across medicine, nursing, and allied health—on delivering high-quality end-of-life care in hospital settings. Read more
‘Early planning makes for a good death’: residential aged care nurses’ views on caring for those in the last months of life.
Vandersman P, Tieman J.
This study highlights the complexities of recognising early decline and the challenges of providing quality palliative care in resource-limited settings. Read more
Developing patient journey maps with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living with dementia or cognitive impairment and their carers: protocol.
O'Brien P, Sinclair C, Kinsey I, Zanker J, Juhrmann M, Smith R, Thompson S, Bessarab D, Lo Giudice D.
An important study that uses a culturally adapted patient journey mapping approach to better understand how people navigate complex dementia care systems. Read more
Assessing the value of online palliative care information.
Nicholls S, Tieman J.
An evaluation of CareSearch, a vital source of evidence-based palliative care information, with stakeholders calling for greater visibility, accessibility, and user relevance. Read more
You can catch up on all of the publications by our members at the RePaDD website.
Want to contribute to RePaDD Updates?
Please submit your story or feedback to repadd@flinders.edu.au
