South West Compassionate Communities Network

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Our 2025 AGM was a big hearted gathering. It was a chance to celebrate what an incredible year it has been. Read more on what we achieved in our 2025 Annual Report (see https://lnkd.in/gZ7D3zem)  It was also a chance to say thank you to all who contributed big and small across 2025. We took the opportunity to acknowledge Prof Samar Aoun AM, our co-founder and Chair for the past seven years who is stepping back from the committee. Prof Aoun AM will continue to provide leadership in championing Compassionate Communties as the founder and Chair of Compassionate Communities Australia. We also wish to thank our outgoing commitee members Angele Haydar, Dr Albert Yong and Sandy Wilton, our project officer Claire Warburton, and our Advance Health Directive volunteers Heather, Margie and Michelle.

Compassionate Connectors support people living with chronic or life-changing illnesses, their carers, and those who are grieving, by helping them map and grow their care networks. They identify what social and practical support is needed, and engage help from family, friends, community members, and local services. All our Compassionate Connectors receive training and are supported by our Coordinator who matches Connectors with the person in need based on where they live, their skills and interests. Our Compassionate Connectors meet regularly to share and learn from each other. You can find out more about this program at https://lnkd.in/gC6RETfd or by ringing 0493 104 120 This initiative was made possible with the support of Lotterywest. It is a partnership between the South West Compassionate Communities Network, Milligan and the Perron Institute.

The South West Compassionate Communities Network in Australia is one of the first along with Oasis of Hope in Kericho County and Getzo Zureki in Spain to be endorsed by Public Health Palliative Care International as a Compassionate Community. Each area presented their compassionate communities programme to a panel made up of members from PHPCI sharing how they started, their activities, resident engagement, impact and next steps. The three areas were able to demonstrate how they understood public health palliative care and in particular compassionate communities. The panel was really impressed with the examples that were shared and could see the dedication and commitment by all involved. An endorsement lasts for five years before an area needs to reapply and areas who achieve ‘Compassionate Community’ status have a logo they and their partners involved in the programme can use. Professor Luc Deliens, President of PHPCI said “we think it is important to recognise and celebrate the achievements of compassionate communities around the world and are pleased to announce the first three areas we have endorsed, each very different but doing some really important work.” Dr Emma Hodges who is Treasurer at PHPCI and leading the endorsement programme said “We are pleased to have started this endorsement programme which we will be continually reviewing, It was wonderful to hear some of the fantastic work happening globally to improve experiences relating to death, dying, loss and caregiving and celebrate these achievements with the endorsed compassionate community status.” Prof Samar Aoun AM, Chair of the South West Compassionate Communities Network said in response to their endorsement “We are very pleased to have been awarded by PHPCI the Compassionate Community endorsement status. It acknowledges our community sustained efforts since 2018 in leading and partnering for a public health palliative care approach in the south west of Western Australia, both in awareness raising and educational initiatives and a focus on systems change.”

This discussion will unpack what the new Aged Care Act could mean for everyday relationships between residents, their families, care staff, and communities — and how we can ensure compassion remains the foundation of the system.

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We are super pleased with how our Connector Hub project is progressing. Recently we held our first Compassionate Connector training in Bunbury. Compassionate Connectors visit people in their homes. They support individuals and families to identify and engage a caring network to meet their practical and social support needs. This involves mapping their existing assets and mobilising Caring Helpers from within their own naturally occurring networks (family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, social group). Where needed, Community Connectors enhance these networks by enlisting the support of formal services and community volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a Compassionate Connector please register please email connector@milligan.org.au or leave a message for Nat on 0493 104 120. This is a partnership with Milligan. and the Perron Institute and was made possible with the support of Lotterywest.

Interested in being able to better signpost people to the support they need then come along to this workshop where we explore how we can ALL be active citizens and help connect people to community!

It was so great to partner with the Milligan team at the Linkwest conference. We were super pleased to share our Connector Hub project and be inspired by all the amazing community initiatives happening across WA.

Wow that was a whole lot of fun! A huge thank you to the 80+ people who showed up to our Death Lingo Bingo fundraiser on the weekend. It showed how music is a great way to acknowledge death and celebrate life. Big thank you to, to our sponsors, the Bunbury Crematorium and Memorial Gardens, Palliative Care WA, Joes Pizza Withers, Joes Pizza Spencer Street, BREC, Sandy Wilton and the Parade Hotel Bunbury. Thank you also to Jason from Bamboozled Quizmasters our bingo master on the night.