This event delves into the heart of non-clinical palliative care and the unique role of end of life doulas in navigating the delicate journey of dying, death, and bereavement. Presenters will also delve into essential topics such as advanced care planning, symptom management, understanding the deteriorating patient and managing dying. Designed for paramedics seeking to understand and support the end of life journey, this event promises to be an enlightening exploration of compassion, dignity and meaningful care at the end of life's journey.

Presented by: Jacqueline Williams and Karen Gower

Hosted by: Alisha McFarlane

Presenter Biographies

Jacqueline Williams

Jacqui commenced her Registered Nursing career over 40 years ago (1980 – 2023) with a particular interest in palliative care and grief and loss. During that time her career has been diverse, with opportunities to explore and engage in a variety of different roles as a clinician, manager, educator, project lead and researcher. During 2016 – 2017, Jacqui’s life was significantly influenced when six important people in her life died. Some expectantly, some unexpectantly. Along with her professional experience, Jacqui witnessed first-hand the importance of having a whole-of-community approach to supporting persons living with a life-limiting illness; and their family and friends. And the bereaved. As a consequence, in 2018, Jacqui commenced her business End of Life Transitions. Here, she provides End of Life Doula (EOLD) services locally, nationally, and internationally, including being one of Australia’s most active Death Café facilitators. Recognising that dying is a social event with a medical component, not a medical event with a social component, within the ‘non-medical’ role of End of Life Doula, Jacqui actively supports, guides and advocates for individuals and their support persons so that they can become more confident and comfortable to explore and have conversations related to the reality of their own mortality, and who and what matters most.

Karen Gower

Mrs. Karen Gower, RN, Grad Dip (Cancer Nursing), Master Nursing Science (NP), brings over three decades of experience in oncology and palliative care to her role as a Nurse Practitioner (NP). With a solid foundation in nursing since 1989, Karen's expertise was honed during her tenure as the Clinical Nurse Manager at Wesley Palliative Care Service from 2003 to 2013. In 2012, she attained a Master's degree in Nursing Science with a specialization in Nurse Practitioner. Transitioning to Blue Care - Metro North Community Service in 2013, Karen became the inaugural community-based NP for Blue Care, pioneering a new frontier in patient-centered healthcare delivery. Her career is marked by a relentless dedication to improving patient outcomes and expanding access to quality care in both clinical and community settings. In 2017, Karen joined the Metro South Palliative Care Service Queensland Health working part time delivering palliative care in the community. In 2019 she finished working with Blue Care and continued to work part time at Metro South Community Palliative Care Service covering the Greenbank to Beaudesert area until March 2023, and is currently on extended leave. It has been a privilege to journey with these clients and their families, supporting them with symptom and medication management to end of life and enabling them to remain in their place of choice – whether that be in their own home or in hospital.