An annual palliative care week awareness campaign highlights how palliative care can help people with a life-limiting illness to have a high quality of life to the end of life.

At South West Healthcare, three trees built by Emmanuel College have been set up in the foyer with colourful butterflies made by Allansford Primary School students.

An additional 300 handmade butterflies have been made to hang on the trees.

Community members who have lost a loved one are encouraged to come to the hospital and hang a butterfly on one of the trees in their memory.

"This year we're inviting members of our community to come into the main foyer of our Warrnambool Base Hospital and, in memory of someone who has died, place a handmade butterfly on one of the three trees made by Emmanuel College," Andrea Janes, nurse consultant coordinator for the South Western Regional Palliative Care team said.

"We're hoping people who participate in this initiative will also chat to our wonderful volunteers who are at display site, to learn more about palliative care.

"It's a nice way to remember the existence of those loved ones lost, and to know that just because they have died it doesn't mean they are gone. They still live on in our hearts and our memories.

"It's not just for people who passed away in palliative care but any person who has died, it's recognising that grief and that people are not alone."

There will also be a number of events taking place over the week, including massage therapy training for volunteers and a visit by Emmanuel College Year 10 students to learn about spirituality and cultural beliefs in healthcare, and how CPC supports patients' individual needs.

On Sunday there will be a Compassionate Hearts annual remembrance ceremony at the Flying Horse Warrnambool for the families of those who have died over the last year.

Community Palliative Care (CPC) currently has 113 palliative care patients across three local government areas ranging from their 20s to their 90s.

CPC continue to support families for 12 months after the patient passes away. Since Palliative Care Week 2018, 116 patients have died and CPC has supported their families - in addition to supporting its current 113 patients.

CPC has trained two lots of volunteers to further support these patients at home, 15 more from South West Healthcare, plus Colac and Hamilton palliative care services

CPC provided the first-ever Dignity Therapy training for staff to further enhance its 'My life, My memories' program conducted by volunteers recording patients life stories.

"We care for at least 120 people a year that go to heaven, and we support the families up until the first anniversary through the difficult time of grief.

"We have an amazing team of medical staff, counsellors and nurses and are supported by over 70 amazing volunteers.

"Palliative Care Week is about sharing the love and showing that there are people out there to support them."

National Palliative Care Week is supported by the Department of Health to raise awareness and understanding about palliative care in the Australian community.

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