Nominations Open 24 August 2026
Awards recognise the individuals, teams, volunteers, researchers, and organisations making a meaningful difference in palliative and end-of-life care across Queensland.
As part of a newly aligned awards program with Palliative Care Australia (PCA), the PCQ Awards provide a pathway for outstanding achievements in Queensland to be recognised on the national stage
About the Awards
Recognition that extends beyond Queensland.
Palliative Care Queensland has refined its award categories to align more closely with the national Palliative Care Australia Awards Program.
From 2026, the awards will be held every second year, ensuring Queensland’s most outstanding contributors have the opportunity to progress to national recognition.
The 2026 awards celebrate excellence, innovation, leadership, research, community engagement, and compassionate care delivery across the sector.
Key Dates
2026 Awards Timeline
- 24 August 2026 – Nominations Open
- 21 September 2026 – Nominations Close
- Early October 2026 – Finalists Notified
- 30 October 2026 – Winners Announced At the Palliative Care Queensland Summit
This award recognises an individual, team or organisation who has made significant contributions to fostering compassion within the community. Characteristics of excellence include innovative practices, dedicated support and a passion for promoting empathy and understanding in all aspects of palliative care.
The recipient of this award will demonstrate exceptional service in creating a caring and inclusive environment for those facing life-limiting illnesses, mentoring others and demonstrating teamwork and respect for all individuals. This award celebrates those who champion compassionate palliative care, making a profound impact on the well-being of patients, families, and the broader community.
This award recognises an individual, team or organisation who has displayed excellence in delivering palliative care services in an aged care setting, residential and/or community. Characteristics of excellence include innovative practice, outstanding mentorship, inspirational behaviour, support and passion for their work, commitment to working in partnerships, excellent teamwork and respect for others.
The recipient of this award will show excellence in delivering palliative care services in an aged care setting and a champion for others in both the aged care and palliative care sectors.
This award recognises an up-and-coming leader for significant contributions to palliative care early in their working or academic life. Characteristics of emerging leaders include outstanding mentorship, inspirational behaviour, support, passion for their field of work, commitment to working in partnerships, teamwork, respect for others, persistence and pioneering developments. Emerging leaders are visible and accessible and positively impact on outcomes. They are motivational communicators.
The recipient of this award will show outstanding promise as a palliative care leader of the future and respected role exemplar for others in the palliative care sector.
This award recognises outstanding contribution to palliative care by a researcher in the first five years of their research career. The nomination must describe how their research will lead or has led to positive clinical outcomes for people experiencing palliative care. Research can be across any setting of care, so long as it is in relation to palliative care. If the nominee is not the lead or chief investigator, it must be demonstrated that they worked closely with a key researcher in palliative care as coinvestigator.
This award recognises an individual, team or organisation that has initiated an innovative practice, project or service that enhances the delivery of palliative care. Innovation in palliative care needs to be sustainable with demonstrable outcomes. The innovation can have taken place across any setting of care, so long as it has enhanced the delivery of palliative care.
Volunteers mean the world to us. This award recognises the exceptional contribution of a volunteer or volunteer team in improving the experience of a person/people with palliative care needs or their family. Palliative Care Queensland is proud to recognise those who selflessly and generously volunteer their time and skills to look after others, without asking for recognition or expecting anything in return.
This award recognises an individual or team who has made significant contributions to palliative care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Characteristics of excellence include innovative practice, support and passion for working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, mentorship of others, teamwork and respect for others.
The recipient of this award will show excellent service as a palliative care practitioner and a champion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with life-limiting illnesses, their families and communities.
This award recognises inspirational and outstanding teamwork.
This award rewards excellence by an individual in professional practice, leadership, research, education or policy and advocacy work.
This award recognises the outstanding contribution of an individual in either delivering outstanding palliative care services to people with life-limiting illnesses, and/or designing quality and enduring palliative care services/supports/education over an extended period of time.
