National Advance Care Planning Week (16–22 March 2026) is an ideal opportunity to deepen your understanding of advance care planning and strengthen your confidence in supporting people to plan ahead.
Why advance care planning matters
Advance care planning helps ensure a person’s values, preferences and goals of care are respected, even if they are unable to speak for themselves. Health professionals play a vital role in initiating conversations early, supporting individuals to document their wishes, and helping families navigate decisions with clarity and confidence.
Get involved during ACP Week
Free state-wide or national webinars
RePaDD Online Seminar: From conversation to care: Advance care planning conversations and cultural influences on end-of-life decisions
This RePaDD seminar, held during National Advance Care Planning Week (16–22 March 2026), explores how meaningful conversations can shape care at the end of life.
When | Speakers | Find out more |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 17 March 2026, 12:30pm–1:30pm ACDT | Stuart Ekberg, Associate Professor (Research) Yumi Naito, Casual Academic |
WA Department of Health End-of-Life Care Program
Advance Care Planning Week webinar
Understand the benefits of early engagement with advance care planning for health systems, health professionals and patients. Professor Liz Reymond will deliver a keynote presentation on the findings of her groundbreaking study on the associations between advance care planning and hospital use and costs in the last 6 months of a person’s life.
| When | Speakers | Find out more |
|---|---|---|
Wednesday 18 March 2026 | Professor Liz Reymond, Director of the national caring@home project, Co-Director of the Queensland Health Statewide Office of Advance Care Planning and the PallConsult clinician support service, Metro South Health Queensland. |
Palliative Care Australia
- New Community of Practice supporting implementation of the National Palliative Care Standards
- Series of monthly live webinars for Community of Practice members
| Webinar - Standard 2: Developing the care plan | ||
|---|---|---|
| When | Speakers | Find out more |
Thursday 19 March 2026 | Guest speakers include Dr Catherine Joyce, National Manager, Advance Care Planning Australia | National Palliative Care Standards - Palliative Care Australia |
Free online learning
Build your knowledge and confidence through short online modules. Each learning campaign takes only 10–15 minutes and is ideal for busy clinicians.
Start learning today: Learning | Advance Care Planning Australia
Running an education session?
Our team is here to help. We can provide tips, resources and guidance to support you in delivering engaging learning sessions for health and aged care professionals.
We offer free, high‑quality education and support, including customised workshops tailored to your setting, jurisdiction and workforce needs.
Contact education@advancecareplanning.org.au
Real-life stories to share with colleagues
Help spark meaningful conversations by sharing these short videos:
- “A document that speaks in the silence”: Paul and Heather’s story of planning ahead | Advance Care Planning Australia
- “You don’t know until you ask”: Christina’s story of care, clarity and planning ahead | Advance Care Planning Australia
- “It’s never too early”: Marie shares why planning ahead matters | Advance Care Planning Australia
These stories demonstrate the powerful impact of planning ahead, for individuals, families and clinicians.
Resources to support your practice
Access practical tools to help integrate advance care planning into routine care:
- Factsheet for health professionals
- Guidance on discussing voluntary assisted dying within advance care planning
- Advance Care Planning Australia conversation starter
- Planning ahead made easy guide to share with consumers
- ACP Week 2026 YouTube playlist of real-life stories
- ACP Week resources and events: www.acpweek.org.au
- Subscribe to the monthly eNews for health and aged care professionals
- Free advice and starter packs:
- National Advance Care Planning Advisory Line 1300 208 582
- Available 9am – 5pm (AEST) Monday to Friday
- email acpa@advancecareplanning.org.au