Banksia Palliative Care Service

Banksia Palliative Care Service Banksia Palliative Care Service provides client and family centred care, which is active and supporti

Starting the conversation about advance care planning is an important first step in ensuring a person’s preferences for ...
17/03/2026

Starting the conversation about advance care planning is an important first step in ensuring a person’s preferences for future care are known and respected.

Here are some conversation starters to help you get the ideas rolling about what’s important to being you.

Questions about me:
• Being able to _____ is the most important thing to me because _____.
• I was thinking about what happened to _____ and it made me realize _____.
• As part of my culture, values, and beliefs _____ is important to me because _____.

For more information visit: https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/start-planning/talk-starting-the-conversation... or Banksia’s website: https://banksiapalliative.com.au/medical-and-legal-planning/

This week is National Advance Care Planning Week. Advance Care Planning is something we are passionate about at Banksia....
16/03/2026

This week is National Advance Care Planning Week.

Advance Care Planning is something we are passionate about at Banksia.

Why? Because an Advance Care Planning helps us understand the people we are caring for. When we know what is important to our clients and their carers we can focus on providing care that respectfully aligns to their wishes.

Advance Care Planning is the process of planning for future health and personal care, so that individuals can document their values, beliefs, and preferences for care if they lose the capacity to make decisions.

The plan can be formally documented in an Advance Care directive https://www.health.vic.gov.au/advance-care-planning/forms -care-directive, but it can also just begin with conversations about what’s important to you.

Visit our website for more information: https://banksiapalliative.com.au/medical-and-legal-planning/

Meet James (pictured with Banksia’s CEO Michelle).In January 2025, James approached Banksia with a heartfelt offer - to ...
11/03/2026

Meet James (pictured with Banksia’s CEO Michelle).

In January 2025, James approached Banksia with a heartfelt offer - to donate a syringe driver worth $4,000 in memory of his beloved wife, Eva.

James and Eva met in London in 1968, travelled the world together in an old post office van, and eventually made Melbourne home. They were inseparable until Eva’s passing in November 2024.

James had noticed that the syringe driver used to assist Eva had been donated, and this inspired him to give back to the service that had supported them. Since then, James’ extraordinary generosity has funded three syringe drivers, a wheelchair, pressure care cushions, and professional training for our staff.

“I live with the pain of the loss of Eva every day… When you love someone as much as I loved Eva, you want to keep them alive in your thoughts, your words, and your actions.”

Thank you James. Your generosity demonstrates the powerful impact community support can have.

A quick whip around the building at 1.30pm on a Thursday does not yield a lot of staff to pose for a picture, when most ...
07/03/2026

A quick whip around the building at 1.30pm on a Thursday does not yield a lot of staff to pose for a picture, when most are on the road. But the small sample of women in this picture presents the diversity of skills that make up the work that Banksia offers our communities.

Here we have an Administrator, a Clinical Educator, a Nurse, a Physio, a Volunteer Coordinator, an Engagement Coordinator, a Social Worker, a Human Resources expert, and a CEO.

Today is International Women’s Day, and on this day we acknowledge the incredible contributions, achievements, and resilience of women everywhere — including the remarkable women within our own team.

This year’s theme – Give to Gain - reminds us that progress is built on equality, respect, and opportunity for all.

To our wonderful team — thank you for your contributions and for the work that you do with and for our palliative clients and their loved ones. We know that the impact you have on clients, families, and our community is immeasurable.
We encourage everyone to continue to champion inclusivity, challenge bias, and support one another — not just today, but every day.

Happy International Women’s Day!

If you or someone you know has a life-limiting illness we might be able to offer support. We offer free expert palliativ...
04/03/2026

If you or someone you know has a life-limiting illness we might be able to offer support.

We offer free expert palliative health care in the Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Banyule council areas to anyone who has been diagnosed with an illness that cannot be cured.

It doesn't matter what stage of the illness they're at, we can make life more comfortable - with pain management, mobility assistance, psychological support and by looking at the ways life could be better for longer.

Referrals can be made by anyone. Find out more information on our website: https://banksiapalliative.com.au/admission-criteria-for-referrals/

Banksia’s Registered Nurse Charlotte wrote her first book about death at just 11 years old! End-of-life has always been ...
04/03/2026

Banksia’s Registered Nurse Charlotte wrote her first book about death at just 11 years old! End-of-life has always been her thing.

She focused her nursing studies on palliative care, has trained to be a death doula and closely follows emerging research - including psilocybin trials supporting people experiencing end-of-life anxiety. If there’s something to learn about death and dying, Charlotte wants to know.

“I love working with people in their homes. I want to share knowledge about death and give it back to community and help normalise the dying experience. Death is something everyone experiences, yet our knowledge about how to manage death has been handed over to the medical system”.

Charlotte believes that when families are supported to experience a good death at home, it strengthens their confidence and capacity to face future losses with greater wisdom and acceptance.

“I believe we can build compassionate communities, where families, neighbours and friends all play a role in caring for one another.”

In March Charlotte will begin an honors degree exploring death literacy in the LGBTQIA+ community. You go girl!

If someone you know is living with a life-limiting illness in the Nillumbik, Banyule or Whittlesea areas, and you think palliative care could help them live better, for longer, visit our website to learn more or make a referral: https://banksiapalliative.com.au/
We'd be delighted to help.

Feeling overwhelmed?Take a moment just for you - a calm, guided space to breathe, relax, and slow down.Join us next each...
02/03/2026

Feeling overwhelmed?
Take a moment just for you - a calm, guided space to breathe, relax, and slow down.

Join us next each Tuesday afternoon for a Mindfulness & Relaxation Session. It will be a gentle, welcoming experiences, designed to support you no matter how you're feeling.

This is a free online program offered each Tuesday from 2.30 - 3pm. There's no need to book - just follow the link from our webpage and meet us in the space at 2.30pm:
https://banksiapalliative.com.au/mindfulness-and-relaxation-sessions-online/

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Every first Friday of the month, Banksia offers a social group gathering at Bundoora Homestead Arts Centre café.The next...
26/02/2026

Every first Friday of the month, Banksia offers a social group gathering at Bundoora Homestead Arts Centre café.

The next is coming up on Friday 6 March ✨🌿

This group is open to all family and friends of former Banksia Palliative Care clients. It's intention is to connect people with others who share the lived experience of caring for a loved one who has died. It’s an opportunity for a cuppa and informal conversation about life and loss.

The group meets at the café . Those who are interested can take a walk together through the gardens at the end of the meetup.

This group meets on the first Friday of each month and is facilitated by a Banksia social worker and volunteer.

To learn more or register your attendance, please visit: https://events.humanitix.com/bereavement-social-group

Yes. Palliative care works alongside other treatments that are aimed at relieving symptoms, such as radiotherapy for pai...
25/02/2026

Yes. Palliative care works alongside other treatments that are aimed at relieving symptoms, such as radiotherapy for pain. Palliative care does not replace these treatments.

Palliative care supports your overall care, taking a holistic approach to your wellbeing. Banksia considers all aspects of your health while you still have contact with your usual GP and the treatments you may be receiving from them.

For more answers to palliative care questions, visit our Questions and Answers page on our website: https://banksiapalliative.com.au/questions-and-answers/

If you have been thinking about how good it would be to volunteer in palliative care, now is the time to reach out to us...
23/02/2026

If you have been thinking about how good it would be to volunteer in palliative care, now is the time to reach out to us!

Banksia is running Volunteer Information Sessions on 17 March and 14 April. We will tell you all about what Banksia does and how you can make a difference in the lives of those who are living with a life-limiting illness.

If you live in the Whittlesea, Nillumbik and Banyule council areas we could be a great fit for you!

Find out more from our website: https://banksiapalliative.com.au/become-a-volunteer/

Address

472 Lower Heidelberg Road
Melbourne, VIC
3084

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