Sector news

These new guidelines provide structured recommendations that complement more detailed drug-specific deprescribing guidance, disease-specific therapeutic guidelines and non-pharmacological management resources. These guidelines were developed by a team of 72 experts, including consumer representatives, and were further shaped by feedback from public consultation and independent reviewers. A summary of the guidelines was published in the MJA. The detailed guideline is available at https://deprescribing.com.

palliMEDS contains prescribing information for medicines most useful to manage common end-of-life symptoms in the last weeks of life. A new update version adds paediatric prescribing* information strengthening  the capacity of primary care prescribers to deliver timely and effective palliative care for all patients.

The National Fuel Security Plan is in place to respond to the impacts to the aged care providers services and workers, particularly in regional areas.

For aged care providers
Providers experiencing immediate service impacts can contact their local Department of Health, Disability and Ageing network office for support:

• ACT office - Engagement.NSWACT@health.gov.au
• NSW office - Engagement.NSWACT@health.gov.au
• NT office - EngagementNT@health.gov.au
• QLD office - Engagement.QLD@health.gov.au
• SA office - Engagement.SA@health.gov.au
• TAS office - TAS.Office@health.gov.au
• VIC office - VIC.Office@health.gov.au
• WA office - Engagement.WA@health.gov.au

Support for older people receiving aged care
Please contact My Aged Care for assistance on 1800 200 422 for any support.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has opened a public consultation on the revised Code of Ethics for Pharmacists. Following an eight-month development process, this consultation is designed to provide opportunity for a broad range of individuals and organisational stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft revised Code. The public consultation closes on 17 April 2026 and can be accessed via: PSA Code of Ethics review.

National Palliative Care Week campaigns aim to raise awareness about palliative care and its benefits, and advocate to ensure quality palliative care is available for all, when and where they need it.

Palliative Care Australia has put out a Save the Date for 2026! This year they say, we’re getting to the heart of it. Big questions. Real answers.

The VCCC Alliance is undertaking the Care Plus Extend study, which is exploring the benefits of introducing palliative care earlier for people with advanced cancer. Available to patients with sarcoma, lung and colon cancer across regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne, the program integrates palliative care alongside active treatment, including via telehealth, to support symptom management, care coordination and quality of life. To learn more about the study and participating sites, visit the VCCC Alliance website.