Australia’s first Palliative Care Volunteering Study Tour was held in Adelaide on 25–26 August 2025. The SA Palliative Care Volunteering Project is led by Palliative Care SA in partnership with Volunteering SA&NT, Southern Volunteering SA and Northern Volunteering SA. The project is funded by SA Health as part of the Palliative Care Connect program. Together, the partners proudly hosted the two-day Study Tour with eight volunteer services and over 30 participants and host site speakers. 

“In the larger Australian states, each palliative care service has a volunteer coordinator and volunteer team. However, in SA there is only one dedicated palliative care volunteering coordinator outside of the metropolitan area (in Mt Gambier). Our project is part of the Palliative Care Connect program, which aims to connect people with local palliative care supports. Early in the project we identified a gap in volunteering supports across country regions, and this Study Tour was developed in response to that need.”
A/Associate Professor Shyla Mills, CEO, Palliative Care SA 

Held over two days, the Study Tour provided an opportunity to: 

• Explore different palliative care volunteering service models and roles 
• Strengthen relationships between regional and metropolitan organisations 
• Strengthen connections between regional volunteering services 
• Reflect on their own service models and identify volunteer roles and activities that can be developed in their region 

Eight volunteer services participated in the Study Tour, including four from country SA: 

• EFNLHN Palliative Care (Port Lincoln) 
• Fleurieu (Victor Harbor) 
• Hills (Mt Barker) 
• Barossa (Gawler)

and four from metropolitan Adelaide: 

• Southern Adelaide Palliative Volunteer Services (SAPS) 
• Central Adelaide Palliative Care Volunteer Services (CAPCS) 
• Northern Healthcare Volunteer Association (providing volunteer services for NAPS) 
• Calvary Mary Potter Hospice Volunteer Association 

Prior to the Study Tour, country participants were asked to identify their learning objectives, which informed the design of the program. 

Day 1 focused on a Volunteering Masterclass delivered by Volunteering SA&NT, Northern Volunteering SA and Southern Volunteering SA, for both metro and regional services. In addition to learning about the latest best practice standards, policies, and systems in volunteering, participants engaged in collaboration and knowledge-sharing. 

A networking lunch was held midway through the day, with guest speaker Ms Erin Thompson, Member for Davenport, representing the Hon. Nat Cook MP, Minister for Human Services, and the Hon. Chris Picton MP, Minister for Health and Wellbeing. She spoke about the motivation and impact of volunteers, stating: “For so many volunteers, the motivation is as simple as it is powerful: the desire to help others. There is no expectation of reward or recognition – only a commitment to make life a little better for someone else.”

Day 2 featured an 80km guided bus tour across metropolitan Adelaide, showcasing four well-established palliative care volunteering services in action at: 

• Queen Elizabeth Hospital 
• Mary Potter Hospice 
• Modbury Hospital 
• Flinders Medical Centre 

At each site, country participants were given a tour and engaged with volunteer coordinators, managers, and volunteers who shared their systems, processes, knowledge and experiences. 

One participant reflected, “I am leaving with my cup full after these two days.” 

The SA Palliative Care Volunteering Project team will continue to support country participants over the next six months to establish their own palliative care volunteering services. 

This inaugural Study Tour showcased the diversity of activities undertaken by palliative care volunteers, from companionship to biography programs and much more in between. Participants left with a “smorgasbord” of ideas, and with the reassurance that support and resources are available from metropolitan colleagues. As one participant remarked: “It’s great to know what is available, so we don’t have to waste time reinventing the wheel.” 

This event marks an important step forward, laying the foundation for future initiatives that will continue to build knowledge, strengthen networks and expand opportunities for palliative care volunteering across the state and beyond. 

 

We sincerely thank everyone involved in making this event possible and acknowledge our funding within the Palliative Care Connect program, supported by SA Health and the Department of Health and Aged Care.