It is the end of an era as we say a heartfelt farewell and thank Churchill Fellow AM as she retires from nursing and the palliative care sector.
Since bursting onto the nursing scene in 1982, Molly has embodied what it means to serve, to lead, and to innovate. Her career has spanned decades, roles, and organisations, each touched by her insight, her commitment, and her unmistakable passion for elevating care.
In 2009, Molly was awarded a Churchill Fellowship, which gave her the opportunity to explore how the arts can be used to support health promotion and open community conversations about death and dying. Through study visits to the United Kingdom and the United States, she spent time with artists, health professionals, educators and advocates who were using creative approaches to help communities engage with mortality, grief and end-of-life care.
The Fellowship reinforced ideas that would continue to inform Molly’s work: that people need to feel safe, respected and emotionally engaged to talk about death. The insights she gained flowed into her writing, performances, public speaking and governance roles, helping to normalise conversations that are often avoided. As Molly steps back from formal practice, we share this part of her story to acknowledge the role her Churchill Fellowship played in deepening her thinking and extending the reach of her work.
A Leader Who Shaped Palliative Care across Australia
Few people can genuinely say they changed the course of a field. Molly can, but she won’t, so we will do it for her!
Her influence on palliative care across Australia is woven into the very fabric of how care is delivered today. She has contributed in countless ways — through clinical leadership, service development, advocacy, and her dedication to ensuring dignity, compassion, and humanity remain at the heart of care for people at the end of life.
Her impact is not confined to palliative care alone. Molly’s voice, expertise, and guidance have played a vital role across broader health care in Victoria. She has been a regular conference presenter, has had three books published and co-authored and has toured two plays on dying and grief, in order to raise community awareness and interest in palliative care and inspire conversations in families and communities.
A Voice at the Table Where It Matters
Beyond her hands-on work, Molly has contributed at the highest levels of strategic and ethical decision-making. She has sat on key boards and committees, helping to guide the direction of:
- Palliative care policy and service development
- Voluntary Assisted Dying frameworks
- Broader health governance and advocacy
Her long-standing involvement with many palliative care services has made her a valued and respected member of a community that has benefitted immensely from her wisdom and perspective.
A Lasting Legacy in Cancer Care
Molly’s influence also stretches into cancer wellness and supportive care. As the inaugural General Manager of Integrated Cancer Services at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, she helped shape a space that integrates treatment, research, holistic support and the arts. This approach mirrors her belief in caring for the whole person.
A Recognition Well Earned
Molly’s contribution has been acknowledged far beyond the palliative care world. Her service across health, community, and public domains has been honoured with multiple state, national and international awards, including her appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) — a well-deserved recognition of her profound and enduring impact.
A Guiding Light for PEPA | IPEPA Victoria
We have been very lucky and honoured to have Molly guide and manage us in the PEPA | IPEPA Victoria space for the last three and a half years. Through her support, leadership, and unwavering guidance, we have grown our team, expanded our reach, and built strong and ongoing partnerships across the health sector and with external providers, all striving toward a shared goal: enhancing palliative care access and quality for all Victorians. Molly’s influence has shaped not only what we do, but how we do it.
A Legacy That Will Continue to Guide Us
As Molly steps into retirement and we say farewell, we do so with gratitude, admiration, and genuine affection. Molly leaves behind more than achievements: she leaves a legacy of compassion, leadership, and unwavering commitment to making care better for everyone.
Thank you, Molly, for everything you have given to patients, families, colleagues, organisations, and to the entire health community of Victoria. Your influence will continue to be felt for generations.
Farewell to a remarkable nurse, leader, advocate, and trailblazer.
However, Molly would like to reassure us that she will not “disappear” in her retirement, she’ll pop up somewhere when we least expect it, she’s not dead yet!