Plenary recording now available

Kelli Stajduhar, Jackie Robinson, Merryn Gott and Stella Black closing Merryn’s plenary in Montréal

By Merryn Gott

I was honoured to deliver a plenary address at the recent 50th Anniversary Palliative Care Congress in Montréal, reflecting on whose voices have shaped palliative care over the past 50 years and whose voices remain missing from the evidence that informs policy, practice, and future service development.

The presentation explored the importance of listening beyond the patients and communities most visible in research, drawing on examples from Te Arai's work with communities who are underserved by palliative care, including people experiencing homelessness, people with learning disabilities, and people in prison settings.

At a time when evidence increasingly informs artificial intelligence and healthcare decision-making, I argued that we must broaden whose experiences shape the future of palliative care if we are to achieve equitable outcomes for all.

The plenary recording is now available to watch on YouTube:

Watch the presentation here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSlt67kA5Mk

Ngā mihi to the conference organisers for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation, and to the many Te Ārai researchers, students, advisors, collaborators, and community partners whose wisdom and experiences continue to shape this work.