Southern Metropolitan Region Palliative Care Consortium Symposium
The 2026 Southern Metropolitan Region Palliative Care Consortium (SMRPCC) Symposium will bring together clinicians, researchers, and lived experience voices to explore contemporary issues in palliative and end-of-life care. This is a day long event which you can attend in person or online.
SMRPCC are delighted to announce that the symposium will be MC’d by Kellie Finlayson, an inspiring speaker, author, and passionate advocate for people living with chronic illness. Kellie is widely recognised for her work raising awareness of bowel cancer and for sharing her powerful personal story with honesty, warmth, and impact.
The program will feature leading experts and thought-provoking sessions across a range of presentations including:
- Little lives, big impact: leading change in paediatric palliative care- Assoc Prof Jenny Hynson
- The success of a life isn’t measured by time- Henry’s story- Jess Holmes
- Supporting people with alcohol and other drug use in palliative care- Assoc Prof Thileepan Naren
- Family estrangement at end of life- Professor David Kissane, AC
- Incarceration and palliative care- Professor Jennifer Philip
- The Support at Home End of Life Pathway- Lisa O’Driscoll
- The power of art therapy in palliative care- Gabby Wright
- Voluntary Assisted Dying – six years on- Panel Discussion led by Susan Jury
- Palliative Care as Core Health Infrastructure: Election Priorities and a Statewide Framework for Impact- Kelly Rogerson- Board Chair, Palliative Care Victoria
- Microlearning for Palliative Care Project-Katrina Midgley and James Stack
More speakers to be announced.
This full-day event will offer a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and reflect on how we can continue to improve care for people and families at end of life.