Palhelp

16/06/2026

Who do you know that deserves a medal for their kindness and their support of you or someone you know who has a palliative illness?
It's time to recognise the kindness and compassion we know of in our community.
It doesn't take a moment to nominate a person or a tem you know who is giving excellent palliative care support. Maybe it's you: nominate yourself.
Maybe it's a nursing or healthcare professional, a kind person in the care home you visit, a Palhelp volunteer or your friendly neighbourhood Palhelp Volunteers as a whole team.
Go on: give them a go at getting a palliative care award:
https://pallcaretas.org.au/tasmanian-palliative-care-awards/

Time to blow the trumpet to recognise the great work we do, like last year's award winner Maria (left) from our very own Whittle Unit volunteer support team.
Who will you nominate?

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.

28/05/2026

May saw the launch of the 2026 Tasmanian Volunteering Tasmania Awards. Palhelp has around 30 volunteers working across hospitals, community and bereavement support, providing 2000+ hours of time to support people living with a palliative condition and their families.
The Tasmanian Volunteering Tasmania Awards provide an important opportunity to recognise our people, our programs and our organisation. We have just marked National Volunteer Week and National Palliative Care week.
This is the International Year of Volunteers and it is more important than ever to make these contributions visible and valued so that our services remain in the minds of all those who make decisions about the future of services such as ours.
Please consider the people you know working at the front face of caring, who you might nominate and consider nominating Palhelp to shine a spotlight on our wonderful work.

This short video shares some hints and tips on how to nominate for ...

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

11/05/2026

How can one conversation change your care?
A good conversation about palliative care does two
things. It helps the people around you understand your
healthcare preferences, and it tells services what to prioritise.
That might include comfort, where you would like to be cared
for, cultural or spiritual needs, and who you want involved
in decisions, so care lines up with what matters most.
Go to Palhelp website to find out how we can help you have those important conversations at https://www.palhelp.org/need-help
Advice, tools and support at palliativecare.org.au

19/03/2026

We are sending our love and regards today to Professor Richard Scolyer, who continues to share publically the challenges he is facing as he lives with his Glioblastoma (Brain Cancer) illness, treatment and contribution to medical scientific research and knowledge, in the hope, one day, of understanding how to help people battle this cancer.
Palhelp is here to support people, in Southern Tasmania, with a palliative illness, through companionship, life stories biography work and assistance with Advance Care Planning.

04/03/2026

Grief can’t be fixed. We don’t ’get over it’. We live with it and learn to carry on. Some days grief will rise up to engulf you and that’s ok. It’s about living whilst acknowledging our grief.

01/03/2026

opportunity Care life balance # workplace trainer