Professor Allan Kellehear Awarded OBE for Services to Palliative Care in King’s Birthday Honours

Compassionate Communities UK is delighted to congratulate one of its founders, Professor Allan Kellehear on receiving an OBE for his exceptional contributions to palliative care.

Professor Kellehear pioneered the public health approach to palliative care beginning in the 1990s in Australia. Since then, his vision has gained international recognition, evolving from small-scale initiatives into a global movement.

His work has influenced UK and international end-of-life care strategies, led to the formation of an international association, an international conference series, an international journal, and the mentoring of countless compassionate communities and cities locally and around the world.

He has also published the Oxford Textbook of Public Health Palliative Care, co-edited with Professor Julian Abel, now being translated into several international languages.

The OBE acknowledges his dedication to improving experiences of dying, loss, and care worldwide. His efforts continue to shape the future of compassionate care, ensuring communities are equipped to support individuals through life’s final stages.

This award comes at a critical time in the history of palliative and end of life care, particularly over public concerns over the funding required to provide health care for all who need it rather than the few who currently have access.  The prospective legislation for assisted dying has only sharpened this discussion over the need for greater access and quality of palliative care.

Allan’s work reminds us that 95% of the time that someone is seriously ill they spend in their communities, with their loved ones, work colleagues, animal companions, school friends, in the pub, or on their own.

We offer our happy congratulations to Allan

—————–