In 2003, a small group of dedicated palliative care nurses, lead by Professor Margaret O'Connor, identified the need for a national palliative care nursing organization. Palliative Care Australia (PCA) provided initial seeding funding and administrative assistance to enable Palliative Care Nurses Australia (PCNA) to become a reality. The organization was officially launched at the Palliative Care Australia Conference in August 2005.

PCNA holds a National Palliative Care Conference every second year, since the very successful inaugural conference held in Melbourne in 2006.

Membership is available to any nurse employed in palliative care or who has an interest in palliative care nursing. Office Bearers and Committee Members are elected at the Annual General Meeting.

The Goals /Aims of the group are to:
• To foster the sustainability of the nursing workforce in palliative care
• To promote the professional development of nurses caring for people with a life limiting illness
• To provide opportunities for collaboration among members
• To facilitate knowledge, research, education and policy in palliative care
• To promote palliative care nursing in a changing environment

What I can expect from membership:
• Quarterly newsletter
• Access to the members area on our website
• Participation in on-line forum
• Opportunity to join sub-committees
• Opportunity to contribute to the development of palliative care nursing in Australia
• Opportunity to network with other palliative care nurses.