Palhelp

11/09/2026

I's been a full on couple of days at the Palliative Care Tasmania conference, 'End of Life Ecosystems' over the past two days. I've been reflecting on the presentations about how we are all part of a compassinate response to end of life, all of us from neighbours, friends and family through to the acute hospital services. 95% of care happens outside of the contact that people have with health services.

It was amazing to hear about the dedicated people and amazing services nominated for palliative care awards this year. Check out the PCT website to find out all about the award winners.

Closer to home, I was very proud of our Palhelp finalist Karen, pictured here, receiving her nomination certificate. Karen has been our busiest 'Lifestory' biographer, spending hundreds of hours helping people to make a record of their lifestories, through a process of listening, recording, transcribing and lightly crafting thier words as a permanent legacy of their lives.
Thank you to Karen and to all of the finalists and winners of this year's awards. The compassionate work you do is truly humbling.

12/08/2026

Congratulations to our very own volunteer Karen, who has been chosen as a finalist in the Palliative Care Tasmania 2026 Awards, for her volunteer work. Congratulations!

12/08/2026

The Palhelp team is delighted that we have been nominated for the 2026 Tasmanian Palliative Care Awards under the category - Outstanding Team/Service Delivering Palliative Care and End of Life Care.
We couldn't have done it without you! Thank you to our compassionate volunteers and our nominators. Fingers crossed!

26/06/2026

NEW for palhelp: access to Safewill Legal's free online wills service. HOw good is this!

21/06/2026

2,000 hours of care—and counting This year, Palhelp volunteers will spend more than 2,000 hours simply being there. Sitting, walking, talking. Listening to life stories. Supporting people across Southern Tasmania who know their time is now limited—and helping them keep living as fully as possible. We’ve helped people create legacy life-stories for their families. We’ve walked alongside those grieving the loss of a loved one. These moments aren’t medical—they’re deeply human. And they matter....
Emily visits patients every week, who have just receive a shattering life-limiting diagnosis. She helps them as they try to process this life-changing news: what about my family, who will take are of my dog when I'm gone, how will I tell my daughter? People just need someone to talk to at the hardest tie in their life and Emily is there for them, and so is Jo, Emma and Kristie. They are there not just for these people who have just been given terrible news, but for the others, who may have no-one else to hold their hand, in their final hours.
A palhelp volunteer is a special person: with your donation we can have more Emily's, Jo's and Josh's, to be there for more palliative patients, every day.
Please give what you can - so we can be there for them. Donate now as we urgently need to train up more volunteers: https://www.palhelp.org/donate

21/06/2026

Is it time to sort out your affairs? Palhelp is offering a free online
Will making service. We've partnered with Safewill to offer you a new free service. Click on the link to access the offer and make your lasting Will. You'll be relieved to have it all sorted out, for your loved ones.
It's a simple guided online process. A lawyer from Safewill calls you back to check with you that everything is as you want it. The Will can be downloaded or posted out to you for signing and witnessing. Done!
https://wix.to/KMfKVG3

10/06/2026

Palhelp would like to pay tribute to Professor Richard Scolyer AO - My Uncertain Path, who died on Sunday June 7th, after a very public struggle with brain cancer, first diagnosed in 2023. Richard, an internationally acclaimed clinician, educator and medical science researcher and world-renowned melanoma pathologist endured and fought his cancer at every turn as part of medical research to advance scientific knowledge of cancer. He wrote a letter to us all, to be published after his death, in which he says:

'Perhaps the greatest lesson to come from these last three years is that cancer does not define us. It may be the current road we are travelling, but it is not our entire journey.
A terminal cancer diagnosis does, however, provide clarity as to what truly matters. It shines a spotlight on the importance of relationships, on true friendship and on selflessness.'

Here is a link to an interview Richard gave on 'A Current Affair, in March 2025:
Hero Doctor’s Heartbreaking News: Richard Scolyer, Former Australian of the Year interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D9_mlLZPdI

Vale Richard Scolyer and our condolences to his family in Tasmania and interstate.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/health/other/richard-scolyer-cycled-500km-in-four-days-just-weeks-before-he-died/ar-AA25CVBs?ocid=BingNewsSerp

If you or someone in your family needs support because of a palliative medical condition, please reach out to us: 03 6231 9249 or go to our website: https://www.palhelp.org/
We're here to support you.

Just 11 weeks before he died, Richard Scolyer cycled 500km in four days. In his last major TV interview, the celebrated pathologist tells Australian Story the secret to a fulfilling life and his doctor reveals the huge risks he took to try new brain cancer treatment.

14/05/2026

Today, I’ve been so fortunate to attend Volunteering Tasmania’s symposium ‘Future of Volunteering’. A day of focussing on the volunteer aspects of our support for community. Lots of tips for me on how to improve how Palhelp communicates with and supports our volunteers!
Great connections with volunteer involving organisations and people.

14/05/2026

What a beautiful, compassionate response from Tiara, to the need in our community for grief support.

There are many different types of grief and people experience it in different ways. if you would like help with how to deal with grief, we have a new monthly Grief Resources workshop run by Tiara, a Grief Support Practitioner. They will be held on the 4th Monday of the Month from 1pm - 2pm and everyone is welcome.

11/05/2026