PatientVR at Mercy Palliative Master Class 2026 in Albury–Wodonga NSW

PatientVR was proud to participate in the Mercy Palliative Master Class 2026: “Beyond Boundaries – Expanding What Palliative Care Can Be” . Held at The Cube Wodonga in the Albury–Wodonga region, the event brought together healthcare professionals, innovators, and community leaders to explore the future of palliative care in Australia.

The Mercy Health Palliative Care Master Class was held on Thursday, 12 March 2026, at The Cube Wodonga.

Advancing Palliative Care Through Education and Collaboration

The master class featured eight distinguished speakers who shared expert insights and practical case studies across key areas of palliative care. Topics included dementia and delirium management, brain cancer navigation, compassionate communities, culturally responsive care, and the role of spiritual support in improving patient wellbeing.

The theme for the day was “ Beyond Boundaries: Expanding What Palliative Care Can Be ”, with sessions covering dementia, delirium, brain cancer navigation, innovation, ethics, the evolving role of AI, compassionate communities, culturally responsive care, and spiritual support.

These discussions reinforced the importance of a holistic, patient-centred approach to care — one that supports not only physical needs, but also emotional, cultural, and psychological wellbeing.

The Role of Innovation and AI in Modern Palliative Care

A key theme throughout the event was the growing impact of healthcare innovation and artificial intelligence in palliative care. Speakers highlighted how emerging technologies are helping clinicians deliver more personalised, efficient, and compassionate care.

PatientVR was featured as part of this innovation landscape, demonstrating how immersive virtual reality can support patient comfort, reduce anxiety, and provide effective pain distraction in clinical and palliative care settings.

Dr Aaron Wong was one of the presenters, and we had the opportunity to demo PatientVR and discuss how virtual reality can help. We also received valuable first-hand feedback on Dr Wong’s experience using PatientVR for the first time.

Improving Patient Comfort with Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is rapidly gaining recognition as a valuable healthcare technology. PatientVR enables patients to experience calming, immersive environments that can help ease distress, promote relaxation, and enhance the overall patient experience — particularly in palliative care, where comfort is a top priority.

Strengthening Connections Across the Healthcare Community

Beyond the presentations, the event provided valuable networking opportunities with local healthcare providers and organisations across the Albury–Wodonga region. These connections are essential for driving collaboration and improving outcomes in palliative care services.

Looking Ahead

Events like the Mercy Palliative Master Class 2026 highlight the importance of continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration in healthcare. As technologies like virtual reality and AI continue to evolve, they will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of palliative care in Australia.

PatientVR is proud to support this transformation, helping healthcare providers deliver more compassionate, patient-focused experiences when it matters most.