Philip Donato MP and Andrew Gee MP joined reprersentatives from WNSW PHN, Orange City Council, Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre, and Orange Aboriginal Medical Service at the My Care Future project launch in Orange.
The My Care Future project, which will help the Orange and Dubbo communities to plan for their future health care, launched last week in Orange.
With funds of $462,000 from the Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN), the project will be delivered by Orange City Council in collaboration with the Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre, and the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service.
My Care Future responds directly to the growing need for palliative care education, advance care planning, and culturally safe support services in local communities.
Brad Porter, WNSW PHN CEO said the project follows a 2024 Palliative Care Needs Assessment which highlighted several key concerns from the community.
“Have you ever thought about what kind of care you’d want if you couldn’t speak for yourself? “Most of us haven’t—but these are the conversations we all deserve to have.
“Through this project, we want to address barriers to understanding and completing Advance Care Planning (ACP) and provide more support and education around ACP and palliative care,” Mr Porter said.
The project will include Community Hubs in Orange and Dubbo which will provide community education, train volunteers, develop partnerships with the local health sector and deliver workshops to encourage meaningful conversations about future care.
The peer led volunteer workforce will be complemented by a pilot program to deliver advanced care planning to First Nations communities, in partnership with the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service.
The project aims to increase death literacy, empower families to make informed decisions, and foster a stronger culture of care—where planning ahead is seen not as a burden, but an act of love and respect.