APCC Assoc of Palliative Care Centres

29/04/2026

With gratitude to Times LIVE and Sunday Times ZA for publishing the Hospice Week article. Syndicated by Head Topics, the article is here: https://za.headtopics.com/news/hospices-warn-of-urgent-gaps-as-thousands-miss-out-on-82798444

According to the APCC, tens of thousands of South Africans are excluded from the physical, psychological, social and spiritual support that palliative care provides

29/04/2026

‘Bereavement Support course’
Struggling with offering support in difficult times?
Commencement dates for the next online course: 12 May – 21 July 2026.
The Face-To-Face course runs for a week but can be completed one day per week (for six weeks). The E-Learning course is approximately 2 hours per week over 12 weeks.
Face-to-face courses take place according to demand (when there is a minimum of 15 people signed up in specific regions), with a maximum number of 25 participants per training session.
The course is suitable for all professionals, qualified counsellors or experienced lay counsellors in work settings where bereavement support is required or would be potentially required across South African communities.
SACSSP – 29 CPD points for both face-to-face and e-learning.
For more information, please visit https://apcc.org.za/bereavement-support-course/

28/04/2026

Something meaningful is coming - and it starts with access to palliative care services.
As we fast approach Hospice Week 2026 (4–10 May), we're thinking about the thousands of South Africans who receive dignified, compassionate palliative care from APCC members every single day, whether they are insured or not.
Access to palliative care is not a privilege. It is a right. And this week, we want to shine a light on the organisations making that access real.
One of them is Stepping Stone Hospice, a member whose journey from the most humble of beginnings to achieving 5-Star COHSASA accreditation is a testament to what resilience, commitment, and heart can achieve when the goal is simply this - to reach those who need care most.
Their story, and so many others, will be front and centre during Hospice Week 2026.
Stay with us. Powerful stories are coming.
Learn more: apcc.org.za/hospice-week-2026

27/04/2026

On Freedom Day, we reflect on the meaning of freedom at life’s most vulnerable moments.

True freedom is not only political but also the assurance of dignity, compassion, and care without discrimination or needless suffering.

Supportive care for people with serious illness is about more than medicine.
It is about easing pain, providing comfort, and standing alongside families.
It honours each person’s values and choices, from the first diagnosis through the care journey.

This Freedom Day, we recommit to a South Africa where humane, compassionate support is part of what freedom looks like for everyone.

25/04/2026

04 May - 08 July 2026
This is a ten-week, online interactive course that includes both theoretical and practical components, utilising adult learning principles. It is designed for enrolled nursing assistants, social auxiliary workers, caregivers, and home-based carers.
The course provides a foundational overview of palliative care and introduces caregivers to its principles, ethics, and values.
Sessions will be offered based on demand, requiring a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 20 per training cycle.
Next course dates: 04 May - 08 July 2026
For more information, please visit https://apcc.org.za/introduction-to-palliative-care-course-for-caregivers/

24/04/2026

As Jacqui Kaye, CEO of Greendale House Palliative & Hospice Care , concludes an extraordinary chapter of service, the APCC extends its heartfelt thanks and deep respect.

Jacqui’s contribution to palliative care has been profound and far‑reaching. Through her leadership, compassion, and unwavering advocacy, she has helped shape not only Greendale House but the broader palliative care landscape in South Africa.

Her influence will continue to be felt in the standards she set, the lives she touched, and the values she upheld.

We honour Jacqui for her dedication, her humanity, and her steadfast commitment to care with dignity and grace. As she enters retirement, the APCC wishes her fulfillment, peace, and every happiness in the years ahead.

23/04/2026

The St Francis Hospice, Port Elizabeth Charity Shops are proof that second-hand can make a first-rate impact. Whether you pop into the Hospice Lane shop in Taybank, browse the rails at the Newton Park store, or wander through the Jeffreys Bay shop, you’ll find thoughtfully donated items waiting for a new home.

Every purchase helps support compassionate palliative care for patients and families, turning everyday shopping into something truly meaningful.
Good finds and good prices mean more when thrifting gives back to a better cause.

Discover more about the St Francis Hospice shops here:
https://apcc.org.za/the-thrift-shop-collective/st-francis-hospice/

21/04/2026

‘Bereavement Support course’
Struggling with offering support in difficult times?
Commencement dates for the next online course: 12 May – 21 July 2026.

The Face-To-Face course runs for a week but can be completed one day per week (for six weeks). The E-Learning course is approximately 2 hours per week over 12 weeks.

Face-to-face courses take place based on demand (when a minimum of 15 people are signed up in a specific region), with a maximum of 25 participants per training session.

The course is suitable for all professionals, qualified counsellors, or experienced lay counsellors in work settings where bereavement support is required or potentially required across South African communities.

SACSSP – 29 CPD points for both face-to-face and e-learning.

For more information, please visit https://apcc.org.za/bereavement-support-course/

16/04/2026

Palliative care is not only about life’s closing chapter.

It’s about helping people live each day with comfort, dignity, and connection.
Nonza’s journey with St Francis Hospice (Kouga) shows what compassionate, home-based care looks like in practice.

Too often, hospices are misunderstood as places only for the very end. In reality, APCC members focus on enhancing quality of life, with most care delivered in patients’ homes.

Her story reminds us of a powerful truth: with the right support, even the most vulnerable moments can be filled with meaning, gentleness, and humanity.

Read the full story here: https://apcc.org.za/st-francis-hospice-kouga/

St Francis Hospice (Kouga)Hospice: St Francis Hospice (Kouga) Name of patient: Nonza Written by: John Adam Diagnosis: Confidential Message: Hospices are often misunderstood as buildings where patients spend their final days. Our members actually focus on enhancing quality of life and 90% of the care...

14/04/2026

‘Introduction to Palliative Care for Professionals’
Ready to enhance your skills in compassionate care?
Commencement dates for the next online course: 11 May – 15 July 2026.

With an initial orientation, followed by 10 weekly sessions (face-to-face and online), this course is relevant for medical officers, registered professional nurses, social workers and allied healthcare workers.

Please note - The dates are dependent on confirming 10 or more registered participants. Organisations with 10+ attendees may apply for a potential discount.

For more information, please visit: https://apcc.org.za/introduction-to-palliative-care-for-professionals/

10/04/2026

SABC News aired a short discussion last night about DignitySA's call to legalise medically assisted dying. Joining the panel were APCC Chairperson of the Free State, Hanneke Lubbe, DignitySA Director Professor Joseph Raimondo, and the first deputy president of the South African Medical Association Trade Union Dr. Nkateko Mnisi.
https://youtu.be/cUR9F_qfrUg?si=_jSh5UioKbvfedw8

We are joined by Dignity SA Director Professor Joseph Raimondo, Chairperson of the Association of Palliative Care Centres (APCC) Hanneke Lubbe, and the first...