Palliative Care ACT

What Palliative Care ACT does

Palliative Care ACT is a non-government, not-for-profit community-based organization and registered charity founded in 1985 in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Australia. Founded as a founding member of the national peak body Palliative Care Australia, it delivers volunteer-powered palliative care services across the ACT and surrounding region, serving individuals with life-limiting illnesses (cancer, motor neurone disease, end-stage organ failure, HIV/AIDS, dementia), their families and carers, healthcare professionals, and aged care residents. Its service portfolio spans home visiting, aged care facility support, hospital-based services, volunteer support at the Clare Holland House inpatient hospice (managed by Canberra Health Services), a non-clinical respite home (Leo's Place), an end-of-life services directory (DAISY), a Life Stories biographical recording program, advance care planning support, the PalliLearn online education initiative, and multilingual community resources in 19 languages. All services are provided free of charge to recipients.

The organization operates with a small professional staff of 13 employees supported by approximately 130 active volunteers, the latter providing the bulk of direct service delivery across homes, facilities, and the hospice. Its underlying "technology" is human-centered care delivery rather than software: structured volunteer training and coordination, supplemented by a content-driven website, online directory (DAISY), and online education courses (PalliLearn). The core platform architecture is community-and-partnership-based, anchored in longstanding collaborations with ACT Health, Canberra Health Services, Palliative Care Australia, and Palliative Care Victoria, plus a sponsor ecosystem of IT, marketing, financial, and community partners.

The revenue model is hybrid non-profit: ACT Government Health funding (channeled via Canberra Health Services) underpins operations, with diversified inflows from individual donations, bequests and gifts in wills, annual memberships, and community fundraising events such as movie nights and trivia nights. There is no pricing model for end-users — every service is free — and no equity, funding rounds, or M&A activity. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on direct engagement with patients and families, referrals from healthcare providers, awareness through digital channels (website, email newsletter, social media), and partnerships with aged care facilities and hospitals throughout the ACT region.

Name

Palliative Care ACT

Legal name

Palliative Care ACT

Website

https://pallcareact.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Palliative Care ACT is a not-for-profit founded in 1985 that delivers free, volunteer-powered palliative care services to individuals with life-limiting illness, their families, carers, and healthcare professionals across the ACT region of Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Palliative Care Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Hospice Serious-Illness / Community-Based Palliative Care (In-Home) (HSABAFAF), Community-Based Palliative Care (Home-Based Non-Hospice) (HLADAHAH), Volunteer & Companion Support Services (Hospice Volunteer Programs) (HSABAFAO), Hospice & Palliative Respite Care (HSABAGAG)

Keywords

• Palliative care services
• Community health support
• Volunteer caregiving
• End-of-life care
• Respite care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyneham

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: ACT Government Health funding through Canberra Health Services supports operational costs and service delivery.
2. Donations: Community donations from individuals, families, and organizations to support palliative care programs and services.
3. Bequests and Gifts in Wills: Planned giving through bequests and gifts in Wills to support long-term sustainability and programs like Leo's Place.
4. Membership: Annual membership fees for individuals wishing to support and engage with the organization.
5. Event Revenue: Fundraising events including movie nights, trivia nights, and community gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Palliative Care ACT delivers volunteer-powered palliative care services to people living with life-limiting illnesses, their families, and carers across the Australian Capital Territory. Its offerings include home visiting, residential aged care and hospital-based volunteer support, Life Stories biographical capture, advance care planning, the DAISY service directory, and Leo's Place non-clinical respite home, all provided free of charge. The organisation also runs the PalliLearn community education program and produces multilingual resources and toolkits to build death literacy.

Product overview

Palliative Care ACT operates as a non-government, not-for-profit community organization offering a comprehensive suite of palliative care services across the ACT region. The organization delivers its mission through volunteer-powered programs including Home Visiting Services, Aged Care Facility-based Services, Hospital Based Services, and support at Clare Holland House hospice. Core offerings include the DAISY directory of assistance services, the Life Stories Program for documenting client histories, Leo's Place non-clinical respite home, and Pallilearn online education. Additional services encompass Advance Care Planning support, educational resources including Palliative Caring booklets and themed toolkits, the Margaret Corden Scholarship, and multilingual community language materials. All services are provided free of charge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Palliative Care ACT: Core organization providing palliative care services, community education, and volunteer support in the ACT region.
• DAISY
• Leo’s Place
• Clare Holland House
• PalliLearn
• Life Stories

Products and services

• DAISY Directory An online directory that connects patients, families, carers, and healthcare professionals with palliative care services such as support groups, respite care, grief services, advance care plans, funeral services, and financial planning resources across the ACT region.
• Home Visiting Services Trained volunteers provide companionship, comfort, and practical support to people with life-limiting illnesses in their own homes, including transport assistance, meal preparation, letter writing, reading, and hand/foot massages.
• Aged Care Facility-based Services Volunteers offer companionship and support to residents receiving palliative care in Residential Aged Care Facilities, including conversation, reading, massage, board games, letter writing, outings, and transport assistance.
• Hospital Based Services Palliative care volunteers provide personal care services and life stories support to patients in all hospitals across the ACT.
• Clare Holland House Volunteer Support Volunteers provide companionship, comfort, family support, transport assistance, mealtime help, letter writing, reading, and massage services at Clare Holland House, an inpatient palliative care hospice in Barton managed by Canberra Health Services.
• Life Stories Program Trained volunteers are matched with clients to help document their life stories, special memories, or particular life chapters. Stories are captured in audio recordings, printed books, or digital formats and delivered to clients and their families free of charge.
• Leo's Place Respite Home A non-clinical respite home providing day respite services for people living with life-limiting illness and their carers, offering a peaceful, home-like environment where guests can rest, recharge, and access support while maintaining independence.
• PalliLearn Community Education Program An online education initiative promoting palliative care knowledge, death literacy, compassion literacy, and community capacity to address serious illness, dying, death, and grief, covering palliative care fundamentals, care planning, self-care, grief conversations, and compassionate community building.
• Advance Care Planning Support Trained volunteers provide personalized support to help individuals complete their Statement of Choices document, guiding reflection on values and preferences for future treatment and care, and facilitating discussions with loved ones.
• Palliative Caring Resource Booklet An information booklet helping families and carers understand what is involved in caring for someone at end of life. Available electronically and as a printed A5 booklet, explaining options and referencing support services.
• Margaret Corden Scholarship An annual scholarship awarded to an individual or project that advances knowledge and expertise in palliative care, established from a bequest by Margaret Corden, OAM.
• Community Languages Program Bilingual brochures and audio files developed by Palliative Care Victoria and shared with Palliative Care ACT, covering palliative care information in 19 languages including Arabic, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Dutch, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Karen, Macedonian, Maltese, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, and Yiddish.
• Annual Toolkits for National Palliative Care Week Five toolkits issued annually during National Palliative Care Week covering workplace support for life-limiting illness, cultural death and dying practices, LGBTQIA+ inclusive care, and children's palliative care guidance for families and friends.

Quantifiable outcome

• 130+ volunteers providing services with high retention rates
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Palliative Care AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985Founding member of the national peak body for palliative care in Australia. Collaborates on national policy, standards, and advocacy for palliative care services.
• Canberra Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages Clare Holland House inpatient palliative care unit. Palliative Care ACT volunteers provide support services within the facility. Collaborative relationship for palliative care delivery in ACT hospitals.
• Blue ArcminorOthersIT support services provider serving Canberra and surrounding region since 2004. Provides IT support to Palliative Care ACT.
• William Cole FuneralsminorOthersFamily owned funeral business servicing the local community for over 23 years. Supports Palliative Care ACT as a sponsor.
• Bull and Bear Special AssignmentsminorOthersStrategic and operational change management consultancy providing advice to commonwealth, state and private sector organisations. Supports Palliative Care ACT.
• Content GrasshopperminorOthersMarketing agency offering marketing plans, social media, graphic design, email marketing, and digital advertising. Owned by Daniel Oyston with a Master of Marketing.
• Elvin GroupminorOthersFamily owned business offering concrete services and community involvement. Has worked on projects including The National Arboretum Visitors Centre.
• Palliative Care VictoriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped and shared bilingual brochures and audio files on palliative care which Palliative Care ACT uses to serve culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
• Community Partners (CHA, CACT, HCC, CO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health alliance partners collaborating on community health initiatives in the ACT region.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Silver Chain Group: Large Australian not-for-profit home health and palliative care provider delivering clinical and personal care across multiple states. Comparable to PCACT in palliative care mission but operates at much larger scale with paid clinical workforce.
• HammondCare: Major Australian independent health and aged care non-profit offering palliative care, dementia care, and home services nationally. Comparable to PCACT in palliative care mission and non-profit status, with a substantially broader service portfolio.
• BaptistCare: Large faith-based aged care and community services non-profit operating across multiple Australian states. Comparable to PCACT in non-profit home and community-based service delivery to elderly and vulnerable populations.

Direct peers

• Palliative Care Tasmania: Tasmania's peak palliative care body, also a member of Palliative Care Australia. Provides community education, volunteer services, and advance care planning support comparable to PCACT's portfolio.
• Palliative Care South Australia: State peak body providing palliative care education, volunteer support, and community engagement in South Australia. Mirrors PCACT's mix of community education, volunteer training, and direct service support.
• Palliative Care Northern Territory: Northern Territory peak body for palliative care, a state member of Palliative Care Australia. Comparable in scope and volunteer-supported community model, though it operates across a larger and more remote geography.
• Palliative Care Victoria: State-level peak body delivering volunteer, education, and community palliative care services in Victoria. Directly comparable to PCACT as a fellow state member of Palliative Care Australia with similar volunteer-led home visiting, respite, and community education programs.
• Palliative Care Queensland: Queensland's peak palliative care non-profit offering community education, volunteer programs, and advocacy. Closely comparable to PCACT in mission, scope, and volunteer-led community service model.
• Palliative Care Western Australia: WA's peak palliative care non-profit providing education, advocacy, and community programs. Operates with a comparable volunteer-driven, community-focused model serving a defined regional population.
• Palliative Care NSW: New South Wales peak body for palliative care, also a member of Palliative Care Australia. Provides community education, advocacy, and resources comparable to PCACT's mandate, with a similar non-profit, volunteer-supported operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pallcareact
• Facebookfacebook.com/PalliativeCareACT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/palliative-care-act
• Instagraminstagram.com/palliativecareact

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Palliative Care ACT