But it isn’t just about death and dying - it affects how you live.

That's the message Armidale Hospital medical professionals during National Palliative Care Week in a bid  to encourage more people to think about how advance care planning will improve their life.

Palliative nurse Kim Taylor said palliative care was a important conversation for every individual to have with their loved ones or medical team.

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“It’s national palliative care week and we run a barbecue yearly in conjunction with biggest morning tea,” Ms Taylor said. “It’s still a little bit of a taboo subject and the theme for the last couple years has been about starting the conversation if you are faced with a life limiting illness about what you would want and who you want with you.

“We want to put it out there.” National Palliative Care Week runs from May 20-26 and is aimed at raising awareness and understanding about palliative care in the local community as well as Australia wide.

Palliative care is defined as specialised care and support for people with a life-limiting illness, and their families and carers. “We say we are in the business of helping people live well – no matter how much time they have left,” Ms Taylor said. 

“We are a self-referral service so patients, family or friends can ring us and we will take anybody with a life limiting illness.”

The lunch was hosted by palliative care nurses at Armidale Hospital on Tuesday, which included cakes and a sausage sizzle.

The luncheon also raised money for the Cancer Council’s biggest morning tea. 

Ms Taylor said the palliative care nurses in the community wanted people to utilise the service.

“The need in the community outweighs what our service can provide but we are a seven-day a week and 24-hour service,” she said.

The theme for this year’s National Palliative Care Week is ‘What matters most?'. 

Australians are being asked to share what matters most to them, talk to their loved ones and doctors and plan now to receive the end-of-life care they want later.