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More than 300 people joined Palliative Care WA’s National Palliative Care Week Breakfast at Fraser’s in Kings Park, Perth, as well as satellite events in Albany, Bunbury and Karratha, to explore this year’s event theme: how the care we give shapes the grief that follows.
The event was opened by Health Minister Meredith Hammat, who joined people working across the palliative care sector, community members and those with lived experience to reflect on the relationship between end-of-life care, loss and bereavement.
A highlight of the morning was a conversation with Chris Hall AM, CEO of Grief Australia, on how to support someone through the illness, death and grief of a loved one.
Many of us hold back from reaching out. We worry about saying the wrong thing, intruding on private grief or making things worse, so we wait for the person to come to us. That wait rarely ends well. People grieving for the first time often do not know what help they need, or how to ask for it and silence from those around them can feel like absence at the very time connection matters most. The discomfort we feel is worth pushing through.
So rather than saying “let me know if you need anything”, Chris encouraged people to make specific offers. Name a task, suggest a time and make it easy to say no. You might drop soup and fresh bread over on Wednesday, offer to do the school run or pick up the shopping this week, put a load of washing on while you are there, or call on Sunday and let them know they need not pick up the call if they are not up to it. Small, concrete offers like these lift everyday burdens at a hard time and help someone feel supported. It also helps to check before you assume, and to let the person redirect you to what would actually help.
The breakfast also featured inspiring and thought-provoking contributions from:
Together with our exceptional MC, Di Darmody, the speakers created a moving and informative discussion about grief, resilience, connection and the importance of compassionate care.
We are grateful to Richard Lockwood, whose generous support enabled the event to be streamed to regional venues in Albany, Bunbury and Karratha. This allowed more Western Australians to participate in this important annual palliative care education and networking event.
Thank you also to our valued sponsors: Parkinson’s Western Australia, Silverchain, Brightwater, Cares Communities, Bethesda Health Care and PaSCE, whose support helped make the event possible.
We also extend our appreciation to Fraser’s Kings Park, Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury, Albany Golf Club and Karratha International Hotel for hosting our events, Helen Shanahan for the beautiful music, Sharon Wood-Kenney for her Acknowledging Country Together – Cultural Immersions, PAV for audio-visual support and the many staff and volunteers who helped deliver a successful event across all four locations.
The breakfast highlighted how the care and support provided before and after death can profoundly shape grief and bereavement outcomes for families, carers and those important to the person who has died. By bringing together expert perspectives and lived experience, the event encouraged attendees to reflect on the lasting impact of compassionate care, meaningful conversations and connection during life’s final stages.
As the peak body for palliative care in Western Australia, Palliative Care WA is committed to fostering these important conversations, increasing community understanding and strengthening access to information, support and services. This work supports our vision that all people with life-limiting illnesses or conditions, and those important to them, are supported to live, die and grieve well.
For more information about the support and resources available through Grief Australia go to: www.grief.org.au
