Sharing this important contribution from our Chair Professor Samar Aoun AM to the global conversation on Compassionate Communities. This newly published editorial helps cut through the myths and misconceptions we often hear at national and international levels. It clearly reinforces what Compassionate Communities is, and what it is not. A Compassionate Communities approach strengthens social connection, supports people through serious illness, caregiving, dying and grieving, and brings health and community systems together to improve wellbeing across the lifespan. At CCAus, we see firsthand how powerful it is when families, neighbours, community groups, volunteers, and services collaborate to create supportive environments where no one carries these experiences alone. As Australia faces growing social and health pressures, activating Compassionate Communities is both a practical necessity and a powerful civic movement. We invite you to explore our National Advocacy in Action Campaign and access the Advocacy Statements co-developed at our recent National Forum: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g4Q_fdtx Thank you to Professor Samar Aoun AM and Dr Yong Hao Ng for their leadership and shared commitment to community-led approaches to care, connection, and belonging.
Perron Institute Research Chair in Palliative Care, University of Western Australia; 2023 WA Australian of the Year; Chair, Compassionate Communities Australia.
Have you ever wondered what is all the fuss about Compassionate Communities? This just published editorial in Palliative Care and Social Practice addresses the myths and misconceptions we often hear at national and international gatherings. Compassionate Communities approach to care is not simply another model of healthcare delivery, nor does it replace palliative care services. Compassionate Communities identify and connect the extensive yet fragmented support systems that already exist —families, neighbours, faith-based groups, volunteers, community programs, and health and social care services—by weaving them into cohesive networks. This approach recognises that most caregiving happens outside of clinical settings, with family caregivers and social networks providing the majority of care. It is a practice committed to social and system change by way of building and enhancing community capacity and civic action for better end of life care. With populations ageing at scale and palliative care demands escalating, activating Compassionate Communities is both a moral imperative and a practical necessity. Healthcare professionals, policymakers, funders, and community members must unite beyond traditional boundaries to transform how societies support anyone experiencing caregiving, dying, and grieving. These issues affect absolutely everyone, so we invite you to get into the action with us by joining the National Advocacy in Action Campaign. Check Compassionate Communities Australia advocacy Statements developed through roundtable discussions at CCAus recent National Forum (https://lnkd.in/g4Q_fdtx). They are for everyone’s use to improve systems in your communities in settings such as: health services, home, hospices, local government, residential aged care, workplaces, and equity and diversity. Special thanks to my co-author Dr Yong Hao Ng for sharing the same enthusiasm and vision. Yong Hao is from National University of Singapore and we are delighted that he is spending one year with us as Post Doctoral Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia and Perron Institute. Public Health Palliative Care International; Compassionate Communities UK - Registered Charity 1167511; South West Compassionate Communities Network; Palliative Care Australia; Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care; Natalie Siegel-Brown; Proveda; Death Literacy Institute; John Rosenberg;Stephen Ginsborg;Harpreet Kalsi-Smith; Joanne Doran; Sherl Westlund FAIM MICDA;UWA Medical School