APCC Assoc of Palliative Care Centres

16/02/2026

‘Bereavement Support course’
Struggling with offering support in difficult times?
Commencement dates for the next online course: 24 February – 28 April 2026.
The Face-To-Face course runs for a week but can be completed one day per week (for six weeks). The E-Learning course is approximately 2 hours per week over 12 weeks.
Face-to-face courses take place according to demand (when there is a minimum of 15 people signed up in specific regions), with a maximum number of 25 participants per training session.
The course is suitable for all professionals, qualified counsellors or experienced lay counsellors in work settings where bereavement support is required or would be potentially required across South African communities.
SACSSP – 29 CPD points for both face-to-face and e-learning.
For more information, please visit https://apcc.org.za/bereavement-support-course/

15/02/2026

Childhood cancer is more than a medical diagnosis; it’s a life-altering journey that touches every part of a child’s world. Palliative care is about more than managing symptoms; it’s about creating a space where children can live with dignity, comfort, and hope.
Holistic care means supporting emotional well-being through counselling, play therapy, and creative expression, helping children process feelings and find happiness even in difficult times.
It also means standing beside families, offering guidance, coping strategies, and a compassionate community that strengthens resilience during an unimaginable journey.
Every child deserves this kind of care, a care that sees the whole person, not just the illness.
To find one of our members who offers palliative care for children, please visit this link (they are also listed in the visual) https://apcc.org.za/find-a-palliative-care-centre/

15/02/2026

Childhood cancer is more than a medical diagnosis; it’s a life-altering journey that touches every part of a child’s world. Palliative care is about more than managing symptoms; it’s about creating a space where children can live with dignity, comfort, and hope.
Holistic care means supporting emotional well-being through counselling, play therapy, and creative expression, helping children process feelings and find happiness even in difficult times.
It also means standing beside families, offering guidance, coping strategies, and a compassionate community that strengthens resilience during an unimaginable journey.
Every child deserves this kind of care, a care that sees the whole person, not just the illness.
To find one of our members who offers palliative care for children, please visit this link (they are also listed in the visual) https://apcc.org.za/find-a-palliative-care-centre/

11/02/2026

‘Psychosocial Palliative Care’
Looking to strengthen your expertise in holistic care?
Commencement dates for the next online course: 24 February – 28 April 2026.
Face-to-face courses take place according to demand (when there is a minimum of 15 people signed up in specific regions), with a maximum number of 25 participants per training session.
Aimed at psychosocial professionals, including social workers, psychologists and spiritual care practitioners, this course was developed to equip learners with appropriate skills, knowledge and attitude for incorporating psychosocial palliative care practices and principles. SACSSP – 22.5 CPD points for both face-to-face and e-learning.
For more information, please visit: https://apcc.org.za/psychosocial-palliative-care-course

09/02/2026

Healthy living isn’t just about food - it’s about comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
In palliative care, nutrition shifts from strict dietary rules to supporting wellbeing and reducing stress.
Illness places extra demands on the body, and standard healthy eating guidelines may not always apply. Patients often experience fatigue, loss of appetite, or changes in taste.
That’s why flexibility matters - the goal is not perfection, but nourishment that feels manageable and comforting.
Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Month is about promoting wellbeing in all stages of life.
For those in palliative care, that means prioritising comfort, dignity, and emotional support over rigid nutrition rules.
Every small step toward easing stress and providing nourishment counts.

06/02/2026

Thank you to Sunday Tribune for publishing this important article. It's a quick and essential read for anyone diagnosed with cancer, or for the loved ones of someone with a diagnosis. Palliative care is there to help! From the point of diagnosis.

On World Cancer Day, the vital role of palliative care in supporting cancer patients and their families is explored, emphasising a shift towards holistic, people-centred care.

06/02/2026

‘Introduction to Palliative Care for Professionals’
Ready to enhance your skills in compassionate care?
Commencement dates for the next online course: 23 February – 29 April 2026.
With an initial orientation, followed by 10 weekly sessions (face-to-face and online), this course is relevant for medical officers, registered professional nurses, social workers and allied healthcare workers.
Please note - The dates are dependent on confirming 10 or more registered participants. Organisations with 10+ attendees may apply for a potential discount.
For more information, please visit: https://apcc.org.za/introduction-to-palliative-care-for-professionals/

04/02/2026

Palliative care is still widely misunderstood as something offered only at the end of life. In reality, it is an interdisciplinary, whole-person approach that begins at diagnosis and continues alongside active treatment.
Unlike multidisciplinary teams that work in parallel, interdisciplinary teams integrate their skills, share decisions, and build a single care plan that supports every aspect of a patient’s wellbeing.
Pain specialists, nurses, social workers, counsellors, and spiritual care providers work together to ease symptoms, strengthen resilience, and support families through the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual impact of cancer.
Across South Africa, hospices and palliative centres walk alongside thousands of patients and tens of thousands of family members each year, proving that palliative care is not only about dignity at the end of life, but about quality of life at every stage of illness.
As World Cancer Day reminds us, cancer care must be people-centred. Palliative professionals are the quiet specialists, ensuring that no one faces the journey unsupported.

02/02/2026

This is a ten-week, online interactive course that includes both theoretical and practical components, utilising adult learning principles. It is designed for enrolled nursing assistants, social auxiliary workers, caregivers, and home-based carers.
The course provides a foundational overview of palliative care and introduces caregivers to its principles, ethics, and values.
Sessions will be offered based on demand, requiring a minimum of 15 participants and a maximum of 20 per training cycle.
Next course dates: 13 Apr – 17 Jun 2026.
For more information, please visit https://apcc.org.za/introduction-to-palliative-care-course-for-caregivers/

29/01/2026

This World Cancer Day, we’re highlighting the vital role of interdisciplinary palliative care teams in cancer care. Their support goes beyond medical treatment, helping patients and families manage pain, emotional challenges, and daily life from the moment of diagnosis.
Sophia’s story shows how palliative care restores dignity, offers practical help, and builds a caring community. As APCC’s Hanneke Lubbe says, palliative care is about people-centred support for both patients and loved ones.
Read more: https://apcc.org.za/stories-from-palliative-care-specialists/helderberg-hospice/sophias-cancer-survival-journey/

28/01/2026

With kind permission from Bush Radio 89.5 FM, the chat with Hanneke Lubbe is available to listen to here. Palliative care is often the hidden specialist for people with cancer and their loved ones. Hanneke details the interdisciplinary approach that palliative care takes and how the team provides 'whole-person' care. It's also not just for end-of-life - it's appropriate from the point of diagnosis to walk beside people on their cancer journey.
https://apcc.org.za/apcc-newsroom/bush-radio-hanneke-lubbe/

With kind permission from Bush Radio, the clip is available to listen to here: