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From our Director
Professor Jennifer Tieman
RePaDD Director
The last few months have seen RePaDD members and project teams connecting across the systems and communities. One of the key activities in this period was the Oceanic Conference where a very broad range of work from RePaDD researchers was on display across provocative panels, orals highlighting research findings, posters sharing project activities and study results.
RePaDD member Dr Priyanka Vandersman not only presented the Ian Maddocks plenary lecture but also won the Emerging Leader award at the gala dinner. Her successes were almost upstaged by the academic team’s imaginative inclusion of a yellow duck to profile Flinders postgraduate courses in palliative care.
Beyond all the excitement, one of the quiet pleasures of the conference was to connect with so many friends and colleagues who continue to contribute to palliative care and care at the end of life. The importance of palliative care in Australia and throughout Oceania was on display.
There are many other contributions in the last few months that also need to be acknowledged. Associate Professor Aileen Collier, together with colleagues from New Zealand and the UK, led a cross-cultural conversation that explored culturally responsive approaches to palliative care for underserved populations. Associate Professor Deidre Morgan was sharing her research at conferences and workshop in NSW and in Hong Kong. Associate Professor Jason Mills joined Dr Priyanka Vandersman in presenting on workforce well-being at Sundale’s palliative care conference. We also had a piece on grief, loss and well-being added to 'The Conversation' leading to radio interviews and conversations with aged care facilities. Our researchers are active in sharing the work we do with our clinical partners and our community.
The next few months look to be equally busy with more conferences and workshops as we finalise 2025 and plan for 2026.
RePaDD updates
Seminar Recap: Practicalities and Pragmatism in Palliative Care Clinical Trials
In early August, RePaDD hosted Dr Jessica Lee, palliative medicine physician and clinician-researcher at the Concord Centre for Palliative Care, for an engaging seminar on the challenges of running clinical trials in the “real (and messy) world” of palliative care.
Dr Lee, who is also a PhD candidate at the University of Technology Sydney, shared insights from her work exploring neuropathic cancer pain and her focus on implementation-ready, translational outcomes. Her presentation highlighted the unique complexities of conducting trials in palliative care settings — balancing scientific rigour with compassion, and research protocols with the realities of patient and family needs.
The seminar reinforced the importance of research that is grounded in practice, and the value of bridging the gap between evidence and the lived experiences of patients, families, and clinicians.
📺 Missed it? Click the button below to catch up on past seminars.
RePaDD at the Sundale Palliative Care Conference 2025
Earlier this week, RePaDD was proud to join Sundale Ltd on the Sunshine Coast for the Sundale Palliative Care Conference 2025. This special event brought together aged care staff, palliative care experts, and community voices to reflect on not just how we deliver palliative care—but why it matters.
RePaDD members Professor Jennifer Tieman, Associate Professor Jason Mills, and Dr Priyanka Vandersman presented alongside colleagues from the SPACE team, the QVAD program, and funeral care professionals. Together, they explored how to:
- Normalise death as part of life
- Embed palliative care as core to aged care
- Support families with compassion and clarity
- Sustain staff wellbeing in challenging roles
👏 We thank Sundale for their leadership and commitment to building a thoughtful culture of palliative care, and we are proud to have supported such an important program.
📖 Read more in Dr Vandersman’s blog: From Research to Reality: Supporting Aged Care to Build a Culture of Palliative Care
RePaDD at the Oceanic Palliative Care Conference 2025
The Oceanic Palliative Care Conference in Brisbane brought together clinicians, researchers, policy leaders, carers, and community voices from across the region to share insights, challenges, and opportunities in palliative and end-of-life care.
RePaDD was proud to have a strong presence throughout the program, with members leading keynote addresses, workshops, posters, and research presentations.
Conference highlights included:
Dr Priyanka Vandersman delivering the prestigious Ian Maddocks Guest Lecture, sparking powerful discussion about bereavement support in aged care and calling for systems change to better support families. Priyanka was also recognised nationally, winning the Emerging Leader award from Palliative Care Australia.
Dr Claudia Virdun presenting her poster on clinician perspectives of barriers and enablers to quality hospital-based palliative care.
Professor Jennifer Tieman and colleagues sharing research on Ambulance Wish programs, contributing to broader conversations about dignity, meaning, and community connection at the end of life.
Associate Professor Deidre Morgan highlighting the value of palliative rehabilitation through both pre-conference and main program sessions.
Together, these contributions demonstrate the breadth and depth of RePaDD’s work—spanning bereavement, workforce education, consumer collaboration, hospital care, and innovative service models.
By sharing evidence, engaging with practice, and listening to lived experience, RePaDD members continue to shape how palliative and end-of-life care is understood and delivered—ensuring that compassion, quality, and dignity remain at the heart of care.
Building Connections Across Nations
In September, RePaDD was proud to host two important events that deepened conversations on culturally safe palliative care for older people in South Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. These events, led by Associate Professor Aileen Collier, were part of a Catalyst grant project in collaboration with the University of Auckland and the University of Leeds.
On Monday 15 September, Flinders University welcomed researchers, clinicians, and community members for the seminar Palliative Care for Older People in SA and Aotearoa, NZ. With international guests including Rangimahora Reddy, CEO of the Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust, visiting Kaumātua, and colleagues from the University of Auckland and University of Leeds, the seminar explored culturally responsive approaches to palliative care for underserved populations. The day featured keynote presentations, panel discussions, and moving cultural contributions, including a Waiata shared by our New Zealand guests. The seminar was recorded and can be viewed on our website.
This was followed on Wednesday 17 September by a Research Yarning Roundtable at Yitpi yartapuultiku, Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Port Adelaide. Facilitated by A/Prof Aileen Collier and colleagues, the roundtable brought together experts from Aboriginal Health (NALHN), the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Palliative Care Association (NATSIPCA), the University of Auckland, the Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust, and the University of Leeds. Together, participants considered how to strengthen networks, share knowledge, and co-design culturally safe models of care and telehealth to improve equity and access for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Māori in Aotearoa.
These events mark important first steps in a collaborative process, guided by Indigenous voices and lived experience. We thank all presenters, partners, and especially the Elders and Kaumātua whose wisdom and generosity made these conversations possible.
Member's Updates
Dr Olivia Farrer attended the National Allied Health Conference in Adelaide in August, presenting two pieces of work. A poster presentation summarised findings from a systematic review exploring the evidence supporting allied health best practice in palliative care through a gerontological lens, and an oral presentation highlighting barriers and enablers for cultivating confidence in palliative care delivery, from the perspective of allied health clinicians and tertiary educators. Both projects are now also published, and available to read in full via the published research section below.
PhD student Yumi Naito presented at the 9th Advance Care Planning International Conference in Singapore (24–26 September 2025), presenting her research “Cultural Influences on End-of-Life Decision Making for Older Adults in Japan.”
This important work draws attention to the role of culture in shaping end-of-life care and decision making, offering insights that can inform the adaptation of advance care planning in Japan and in other societies with family-centred traditions. Congratulations to Yumi for contributing these valuable perspectives to an international audience.
In August, Dr Priyanka Vandersman presented at the Health Information Community (HIC) – Nursing and Midwifery in Digital Health conference, delivering her paper 'Digital tools, human care: nurses’ insights into supporting people at end of life.' Her contribution highlighted the critical role of digital innovation in supporting quality care at the end of life.
Just weeks later, Priyanka was honoured to deliver the prestigious Ian Maddocks Guest Lecture at the Oceanic Palliative Care Conference 2025 in Brisbane, where she explored the emotional complexities of bereavement in residential aged care and the systems needed to better support families.
Associate Professor Stuart Ekberg showcased his expertise in health communication at two major September conferences. At the 9th Advance Care Planning International Conference in Singapore, he delivered a plenary, “The Science of the Art: Conversation Analysis and Advance Care Planning”, highlighting how conversation analysis reveals the subtleties of end-of-life discussions and supports more compassionate care. At the Oceanic Palliative Care Conference 2025 in Brisbane, he co-facilitated “Reflect, Write, Revise”, a workshop on capturing and ethically sharing the voices of patients, families, and clinicians. Stuart’s work underscores the vital role of communication research in shaping respectful, person-centred palliative care.
Project updates
CareSearch and palliAGED
Future-Ready Aged Care at OPCC 2025
The CareSearch and palliAGED team attended the 2025 Oceanic Palliative Care Conference (OPCC) in Brisbane from 9–12 September. Dr Seth Nicholls presented findings from the evaluation of palliAGED resources, highlighting how to support an aged care workforce ready for the future. Professor Jennifer Tieman represented palliAGED on a panel discussion exploring palliative care aged care program intersect.
End-Of-Life Essentials
Recognising when a patient is dying is important for providing high-quality end-of-life care.
Join End-of-Life Essentials and a panel of experts as they share insights, strategies, and patient perspectives that matter most:
- Facilitator A/Prof Kim Devery, EOLE Project Lead
- Jeanette Lacey, End-of-Life Care Nurse Practitioner
- Jessica Brown, Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Consultant
- Linda Magann, Clinical Nurse Consultant
ELDAC
More than a podcast
When you need practical and trustworthy information on palliative care, ELDAC's short new podcast series can help. Each episode offers clear, accessible guidance for aged care workers navigating complex end-of-life situations.
You can read more by Jon San Martin, Aged and Palliative Care Nurse, about the What to do, When and How podcast series
Photo - Dr Kristin Bindley, Lara McIntyre and Jon San Martin.
CarerHelp
CarerHelp have developed a new factsheet: 'Things to consider before you call an Ambulance.'
When caring for someone with a serious illness, deciding whether to call an ambulance can feel overwhelming. This factsheet provides practical tips and support to help families feel more confident and prepared when it matters most.
palliAGED
Supporting workforce wellbeing when caring at the end of life
In this blog, Professor Jennifer Tieman, Director of RePaDD, explores aged care staff experiences of loss and the importance of recognising and supporting their work. It highlights practical ways organisations can foster wellbeing, strengthen workforce resilience, and improve quality of care.
Published research
Drawing on gerontological approaches to inform allied health best practices in palliative aged care.
Yeo ZWE, Tieman J, George S, Farrer O.
This white paper reviews allied health interventions in aged care, showing how dietitians, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists can enhance nutrition, function, and quality of life for older adults, and highlighting their vital role in palliative and end-of-life care. Read more
Evaluating the impact of online health information: A scoping review of measures.
Damarell R A, Christian C, Juhrmann M, Tieman J.
This scoping review maps how the impact of online health information (OHI) is defined and measured in research, highlighting that current evaluation practices often overlook meaningful outcomes such as knowledge, behaviour change, and broader organisational or societal benefits. Read more
Experiences of allied health clinicians and tertiary educators working in and teaching palliative care - a qualitative study.
Yeo ZWE, Tieman J, George S, Farrer O.
This study explores how music therapy supports people living with palliative care needs in Australia, highlighting its role in enhancing quality of life, wellbeing, and person-centred care. Read more
Top 10 consumer and healthcare professional priorities for research in the field of quality use of medicines in people living with dementia.
Reeve E, Cowan K, Kalisch Ellett L, Sinclair R, Pietsch A, Pietsch T, de la Perrelle L, Deimel J, To J, Daly S, Whitehead C, Hilmer SN, Chenoweth L, Gilmartin-Thomas J, Sawan M, Nguyen TA, Tan E, Sluggett JK, Quirke LS, McEvoy AM, Ailabouni N.
This paper explores the impact of a volunteer-delivered telephone support program for older people receiving palliative care at home, finding it can reduce loneliness, enhance wellbeing, and provide meaningful support for both patients and families. 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
