22 July 2025

Recently, the Northern Adelaide Palliative Care Service (NAPS) bade a heartfelt farewell to esteemed Nurse Consultants, Cathie Jeffs and Robin Barbaro. Both left an indelible mark on NAPS – Cathie since 2007 and Robin since 2012 – contributing to significant advancements in palliative care.

Two females sitting on a bench outside
Pictured (L-R): Robin Barbaro and Cathie Jeffs.

The biggest change Robin witnessed was the introduction of voluntary assisted dying (VAD).
“I’ve nursed people who chose to have control over where and when they died,” Robin shares. “I’ve nursed people who wanted the option of taking VAD and didn’t use it in the end. Then there were patients who, on moral grounds, would never seek VAD. I respect every person’s choice. What’s important, is having it.”

This person-centred approach also stands out for Cathie who notes the integration of technology, pharmacology, and allied health, as well as the inclusion of music, art and psychological support. These have shaped a more holistic and compassionate approach to end-of-life care, blending science and art for the benefit of patients and families. Both women began their Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) careers in clinical roles, advancing to positions of leadership and research. As Advanced Nurse Unit Manager, Robin is proud to have navigated her team through the “extremely testing” challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver end-of-life visiting rights with “the utmost compassion.” While Cathie’s involvement in national and international research projects, such as Brilliance and Care Plus, helped define gold standards in palliative care.

Both women leave a legacy of innovation, empathy and unwavering dedication to holistic care. As Cathie notes, “my training years spent caring for World War 1 and 2 Veterans taught me the honour of teamwork and camaraderie, and the sacredness of respect of service.” Robin closes, “This is what we practice in palliative care – by learning from our patients’ stories.”