The Paediatric Palliative Care Centre of Research Excellence is a national collaborative of researchers, parents, clinicians and advocacy bodies, working together to improve the care of babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions in Australia through world-class research. We are proudly led by Queensland University of Technology's Centre for Healthcare Transformation, bringing together expertise from national leaders at Flinders University, University of New South Wales, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Palliative Care Australia, and the Queensland Children’s Hospital. In addition to these organisations, we collaborate with people with lived experience and clinicians across Australia and internationally.
Who we are
Our Vision
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Our vision is a nationally collaborative paediatric palliative care health and research sector which enables every baby, child and young person with a life-limiting condition, and those who love them, to receive the care they need. We aim to contribute valuable and rigorous research to the sector, deeply informed by families walking the path of caring for a seriously ill child, and the clinicians and community services who walk alongside them.
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Our Principles
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Listening to the Sector- Our research is built on a deep commitment to listening and responding to the needs of the sector, building from the roots of Australia’s Paediatric Palliative Care National Action Plan.
Connecting with Lived Experience- Family perspectives are critical to identify ideal solutions to the gaps, barriers, and challenges present in paediatric palliative care systems. Where possible, this should also include the voices of child patients and siblings.
Real Impact- Our work targets practical change, and strives to embed research into practice. We will work closely with service users and clinicians to ensure our projects meet this target.
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Our Aims
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To identify and act on the research priorities of the Australian Paediatric Palliative Care sector
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To improve access to, and quality of care through development of care models, communication tools, and improved measurement of core health service outcomes
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To foster a robust workforce of paediatric palliative care researchers in Australia
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To use research outcomes to inform service delivery and policy through collaboration and advocacy.
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Our Story
In 2021 Palliative Care Australia released the first Paediatric Palliative Care National Action Plan (NAP). Informed by literature review and extensive consultation with people with lived experience, advocacy groups, specialist paediatric palliative care services, community services, hospitals and government, this plan contains 18 recommended actions, aimed at improving the quality, access, information sharing, data, and research capability of Australia’s paediatric palliative care sector. The establishment of a ‘National Research Cooperative Group’ for paediatric palliative care was one of these recommendations.
Responding to this call to action, Queensland University of Technology's Centre for Healthcare Transformation, together with collaborators at Flinders University, University of New South Wales, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Palliative Care Australia, and the Queensland Children’s Hospital were successful in advocating for funding to establish the Paediatric Palliative Care Centre of Research Excellence (PPC CRE).
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The PPC CRE enables collective work to identify the research priorities of the sector, and address both these priorities and other actions already identified within the NAP. Harnessing national and international collaborations, the CRE will build capability of the paediatric palliative care research workforce, building local knowledge through the wisdom of national and international experts. Collectively, our voices enable greater engagement with policy and funding bodies who shape the future of paediatric palliative care in Australia.
Our Logo
Exemplifying that no two children, families, or communities are the same, our logo can be interpreted many ways. As the rays of sun bursting from the centre, it symbolises the joy that the children at the centre of our ‘why’ bring to those who know and love them, and the goal of paediatric palliative care to bring life to their years, when years can’t be added to their lives. This light lives on, through the families and clinicians who remember and advocate in their absence, like the rays of our logo extending out from an absent middle.
Some people see a flower; a symbol of growth and beauty, or a circle of people sharing one head – one common goal. The colours reflect the colourful and diverse people who make up the paediatric palliative care sector- children, siblings, families, healthcare workers, community services, researchers, advocates, and communities, and go alongside the colours of the Paediatric Palliative Care National Action Plan which underpins the development of the Paediatric Palliative Care Centre of Research Excellence.