Palliative Care Community of Practice

The Consortium

This Community of Practice is supported by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing through the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology Commonwealth Funding.

Catherine Laird

PhD (ClinPharm), BPharm, GradDipAppPharmPrac, GradCertAdvPharmPrac (GP), GradCertDiabEd

Catherine is an experienced Consultant Pharmacist and Credentialled Diabetes Educator with extensive expertise across community pharmacy, general practice, and aged care settings. She recently completed her PhD at the University of Technology Sydney, with research focused on optimising fracture prevention in Australian aged care facilities.

Catherine brings a strong commitment to quality use of medicines and patient-centred care, particularly in complex and vulnerable populations. Working extensively in regional communities, she understands the unique challenges faced in accessing healthcare and is passionate about improving equity, continuity of care, and health outcomes in rural and aged care settings. Her work includes conducting comprehensive medication reviews, collaborating closely with multidisciplinary healthcare teams, and supporting safe, effective medication management.

With over 20 years of pharmacy experience, Catherine is dedicated to enhancing quality of life and contributing to system-level improvements through research, education, and policy input. Her collaborative approach and strong regional focus position her well to support thoughtful, patient-centred decision-making in palliative care.

Robert Wojnar

BPharm (Hons), MClinPharm

Robert is a palliative care pharmacist and Education and Training Lead at Cabrini Health in Melbourne, and a Teaching Associate at Monash University. He has over 10 years of experience across tertiary and primary care settings, including a pilot role integrating a pharmacist within a specialist community palliative care service. He has contributed to the development of national deprescribing education as part of a Department of Health–funded initiative.

Robert has also contributed to policy work with Safer Care Victoria, including initiatives on anticipatory prescribing, opioid conversion, syringe driver compatibility guidance, and standards of practice for palliative care pharmacy services. His research interests focus on complex pain management, particularly the use of methadone for cancer-induced bone pain and continuous subcutaneous infusions in palliative care.

Jacqueline Meyer

B.Pharm MPS FANZCAP(Com. Pharm)

Jacqueline is an award-winning community pharmacist with over a decade of experience as a Managing Partner of two pharmacies on the Sunshine Coast. Throughout her tenure, she successfully developed and expanded these businesses into trusted hubs for health and wellbeing within their communities.

Her professional scope extends beyond community pharmacy, encompassing the delivery of pharmacy services to a local rehabilitation hospital and a palliative care hospice. In these roles, Jacqueline has worked closely with multidisciplinary teams, contributing to medication supply, participating in Medication Advisory Committee (MAC) meetings, and delivering education sessions for both patients and healthcare professionals. Her focus on collaboration and education has supported the safe and effective use of medications across diverse care settings. As an active preceptor for over 15 years, she has involved Intern Pharmacists in these expanded roles for Pharmacy and continues to have a passion for the advancement of the profession.

Jacqueline’s contributions have been widely recognised. She was named the PSA Queensland Pharmacist of the Year in 2023 and was a finalist in the Pharmacy Guild’s Pharmacy of the Year awards in 2022.

Bessie Wong

MPharm, GradCertPharmPrac, GradDipClinPharm, MClinPharm

Bessie is a Senior Palliative Care Pharmacist and Pharmacy Manager at Eastern Health Wantirna Hospital, with over 10 years of experience in hospital pharmacy. She leads the Eastern Health palliative care pharmacy portfolio, providing clinical oversight and contributing to medication management within the hospital palliative care setting. Bessie collaborates closely with community palliative care teams to ensure seamless transitions of care and continuity of medication management.

Bessie is actively involved in state-level initiatives, including contributing to the review of Safer Care Victoria guidelines on opioid conversion ratios and syringe driver compatibility. Bessie’s research focuses on deprescribing and medication safety in palliative care, with a current project exploring pharmacist integration into hospital based outpatient palliative care clinics. She has recently presented her research works at national conferences.

Passionate about education, Bessie trains and mentors pharmacists, medical professionals, interns, students, and nursing staff, ensuring the workforce is equipped to deliver safe, evidence-based palliative care.

Karalyn J Huxhagen

B Pharm FPS CredPharm (MMR)

Karalyn is a community pharmacist and a consultant pharmacist. Karalyn performs locum services, medication reviews and delivers quality use of medication programs mainly in rural and regional Australia.

Karalyn has a strong interest in immunisation and provision of injectables in community pharmacy,  pain management, palliative care, asthma and COPD, aged care, wound care, travel medicine , chronic disease programs and the health of aboriginal, Torres Strait and South Sea Islander people. Karalyn is credentialed in Mental Health First Aid, and she provides immunisation and vaccination services as a community pharmacist.

Karalyn provides services to several universities at undergraduate and post graduate level.

Karalyn is a prolific writer and provides articles relating to disease management and pharmacy services in both written, on line programs and podcasts.

Karalyn is a provider and presenter for the PainWise program.

Lorna Chess-Williams

BPharm (Hons) GradDipClinPharm MPS CredPharm (MMR)

Lorna has been a part of the Gold Coast Specialist Palliative Care team since 2011, with extensive experience in palliative care both in the UK and Australia. She is passionate about supporting patients and their families to achieve the best care possible through the optimisation of medications for management of their symptoms. Lorna’s focus is on resource development and education, as well as driving new initiatives to develop services now and into the future.

Professor Debra Rowett PSM

Debra is an Australian academic and pharmacist, currently serving as a Professor of Pharmacy within the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Adelaide.

She is a recognised leader in clinical pharmacy and medicines policy, with extensive expertise in the quality use of medicines, interprofessional healthcare practice, and health system improvement. Her research focuses on optimising therapeutic decision‑making, improving patient outcomes, and supporting evidence‑based prescribing through education and practice change initiatives.

Professor Rowett has held significant leadership roles nationally, including serving as President of the Council of Pharmacy Schools: Australia and New Zealand and as President of the Australian Pharmacy Council, where she contributed to accreditation standards and the advancement of pharmacy education.

In recognition of her contributions to pharmacy, healthcare, and professional leadership, she has been awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM).

Penny Liddell

BPharm, Advanced Clinical Pharmacist

Penny Liddell is a motivated pharmacist with a strong and diverse professional background and over 30 years clinical experience in community pharmacy, consultant pharmacy and academia.

With a strong interest in palliative care, Penny has worked to develop and evolve a full clinical pharmacy service to Hummingbird House, QLD only paediatric hospice and is currently working as an advanced pharmacist with the Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Statewide pharmacy service. Penny is passionate about expanding the role of the pharmacist within a multidisciplinary healthcare team and is actively involved in stakeholder and research groups across the palliative care space.

Through this Community of Practice, members can:

• Engage with clinical experts and experienced peers in palliative care pharmacy practice.
• Share and discuss real‑world case studies, challenges, and emerging issues.
• Participate in discussions on best practice, policy, and system improvement.
• Stay informed on current developments, national initiatives, and professional resources.
• Contribute to shaping PSA policy and advocacy priorities related to palliative care.
• Discussions within the group may help identify areas requiring further guidance, education, or advocacy. Members may be invited to participate in working groups, consultations, or reviews that inform and support PSA policy development and national palliative care initiatives.

The Palliative Care Community of Practice is open to pharmacists, interns, and students, and welcomes participation from both PSA members and non‑members. The group provides an inclusive, respectful, and professionally moderated space for learning, collaboration, and shared leadership in palliative care practice.