News & Media

CEO Announcement

CEO Announcement

After an extensive recruitment process and endorsement from the FPMT, Sophie Shrapnel has been appointed as the new permanent Chief Executive Officer of Karuna Hospice Service. Sophie has been with Karuna for 18 months, initially as the Community Services Manager and...

Honouring my Pa

Honouring my Pa

21 year old Angus lost his Pa (grandfather) Serge, a couple of years ago after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, followed by a stroke. Angus’ family were introduced to the Karuna team in January 2022, who provided specialist palliative and end of life care, so Serge...

Leaving a lasting legacy

Leaving a lasting legacy

Did you know gifts pledged in wills, account for 25% of all charity revenue? For Karuna, the gifts we receive in wills help us to provide specialised, home-based palliative care to patients and families through our clinical and spiritual care, service navigation, as...

Spiritual wellbeing

Spiritual wellbeing

Spiritual wellbeing has been a pillar of Karuna’s care since its conception in 1992. Venerable Pende Hawter’s vision was to provide community palliative care at home at no cost, to help alleviate the fear and suffering that comes with dying. When spiritual care is...

Karuna CEO update

Karuna CEO update

After six years as CEO and nine years as a Director on the Board, Mrs Tracey Porst has made the decision to step down from her roles at Karuna. Under Tracey’s valued leadership, Karuna has grown, evolved and broadened our service offerings to the community. She led...

2024 QLD Philanthropy Week

2024 QLD Philanthropy Week

This week we’re excited to celebrate Queensland Philanthropy Week! Philanthropy has played a significant role in Karuna’s history. From fundraising events to regular giving, to Gifts in Will and much more, philanthropic efforts over the years have enabled Karuna to...

Palliative Care Week 2024

Palliative Care Week 2024

This week we proudly celebrate National Palliative Care Week. When Karuna was founded in 1992 by Venerable Pende Hawter, he had a vision to offer the local community a specialist palliative care service based on Buddhist principles.Over the years Karuna has evolved...

My 1st Ironman

My 1st Ironman

My name is Angus. Last month I wrote to you about my Pa, Serge, a former Karuna patient. You might remember, that at the time I was preparing for my first Ironman 70.3. And my goal was to raise funds for Karuna as I trained, in honour of my grandfather. I’m so proud...

EVENT: Acting with Patience

EVENT: Acting with Patience

The world seems to be filled with outrage, impatience, intolerance, and division.💔 But do these really help us to find peace of mind and satisfactory outcomes? Join Karuna’s Spiritual Care Practitioner Venerable Tsultrim for a morning of discussion and...

Saka Dawa

Saka Dawa

Today (9 May) is the start of Saka Dawa, the most important month in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar. Concluding on 6 June, this is known as the month of merits, where all actions of body, speech and mind are multiplied hundreds of thousands of times. 🫶...