Understanding Palliative Care in Australia — A Complete Plain English Guide
Palliative care is one of the most misunderstood and most feared terms in the Australian health system — and yet it is one of the most compassionate, most comprehensive, and most genuinely helpful forms of care available. For families navigating serious illness, for people living with life-limiting conditions, and for anyone who wants to understand their options or the options available to someone they love — understanding palliative care properly can make an enormous difference. This is a complete plain English guide to palliative care in Australia — what it is, what it isn’t, who it’s for, and how to access it.
What Is Palliative Care?
The World Health Organization defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families who are facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness. It aims to prevent and relieve suffering through early identification, assessment, and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial and spiritual issues.
In plain English — palliative care is specialised medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and their family.
Palliative care provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms and affirms life and regards dying as a normal process.
What palliative care covers:
- Pain management and symptom control
- Emotional and psychological support
- Spiritual and existential support
- Practical support for daily living
- Support for family members and carers
- Help with planning and decision-making about future care
What Palliative Care Is NOT
Palliative care is not giving up. This is the most important misconception to address. Choosing palliative care is not giving up on treatment or on life — it is choosing to focus on quality of life and comfort alongside or instead of curative treatment. Many people receive palliative care alongside active treatment for their illness.
Palliative care does not mean death is imminent. Palliative care can be delivered at any stage of illness, can accompany curative treatments, and can be provided to patients in any health care setting. People can receive palliative care for months or years before the end of their life.
Palliative care is not only for cancer patients. Palliative care is available to anyone with a life-limiting illness, not just cancer patients. People living with dementia, chronic conditions or degenerative conditions can access palliative care services.
Palliative care is not the same as euthanasia. Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life and managing symptoms — it does not hasten or delay death. Voluntary assisted dying is a separate and distinct legal and medical process governed by specific legislation in each Australian state and territory.
Who Is Palliative Care For?
Palliative care is for anyone living with a life-limiting illness — at any age and at any stage of their illness.
Conditions that commonly benefit from palliative care:
- Cancer — the most common reason for palliative care referral
- Dementia — including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms
- Heart failure
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Motor neurone disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Kidney failure
- Liver disease
- Stroke
The scale of palliative care in Australia:
More Australians are receiving palliative care, with service use and expenditure continuing to rise across the health system. In 2024–25, around 15,900 people received Medicare-subsidised palliative medicine attendance and case conference services, with more than 78,000 services delivered nationally. Almost 4 in 5 people receiving services were aged 65 and over.
There was a 46% increase in palliative care-related hospitalisations between 2015–16 and 2023–24.
The demand for palliative care is growing — driven by Australia’s ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions that accompany ageing.
Where Is Palliative Care Provided?
Palliative care can be provided in a wide range of settings — and the most appropriate setting depends on the individual’s needs, preferences, and circumstances.
At Home
For many people — being cared for at home, surrounded by family and familiar surroundings, is the preferred option. Home-based palliative care is provided by specialist palliative care teams who visit the patient at home, working alongside the GP and other healthcare providers to manage symptoms and provide support.
Home-based palliative care typically includes:
- Regular visits from palliative care nurses
- Access to a specialist palliative care physician
- Medication management and symptom control
- Equipment and aids to support independence at home
- Support and education for family carers
- After hours support — most palliative care services provide 24-hour phone support
In Hospital
Hospital-based palliative care is provided by specialist inpatient units or by palliative care consultation teams who work alongside other medical teams. Hospital admission may be appropriate during periods of acute symptom management that cannot be managed at home.
Of the 107,500 palliative care-related hospitalisations, many ended with the patient dying in hospital in 2023–24.
In a Hospice
A hospice is a dedicated facility providing specialist palliative care in a residential setting — typically for people whose symptoms cannot be managed at home but who do not require acute hospital care. Hospices generally provide a more home-like environment than hospital, with a strong focus on quality of life, family involvement, and dignified care.
In Residential Aged Care
In 2021–22, people in permanent residential aged care with an appraisal indicating need for palliative care accounted for 2.0% of all people in permanent residential aged care.
Residents of aged care facilities may receive palliative care in place — supported by specialist palliative care teams who work with the aged care facility’s own staff. This allows people to remain in familiar surroundings with established relationships with care staff.
What Does a Palliative Care Team Look Like?
Palliative care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team — a group of specialists working together to address all aspects of the patient’s and family’s needs.
Palliative care is provided by a team of medical, nursing and allied health professionals. This team can also work with your doctor to provide services that will help you and your family and carers throughout your illness. Family members and friends or personal carers can also form part of your care team.
The palliative care team typically includes:
Palliative care physician — a specialist doctor with expertise in symptom management, pain relief, and end-of-life care
Palliative care nurses — the backbone of day-to-day palliative care — providing direct patient care, symptom monitoring, medication management, and family support
Social worker — providing practical and emotional support for patients and families — help with financial matters, accommodation, family communication, and accessing community services
Chaplain or spiritual care worker — providing spiritual and existential support — available to people of all faiths and none
Physiotherapist and occupational therapist — helping maintain function, independence, and comfort
Pharmacist — specialist advice on medications for symptom management
Dietitian — nutritional support and advice
Psychologist or counsellor — psychological support for patients and families dealing with the emotional challenges of serious illness
The Goals of Palliative Care
Palliative care aims to address four domains of the patient’s experience:
Physical — managing pain, breathlessness, nausea, fatigue, and other physical symptoms to keep the patient as comfortable as possible
Psychological — addressing anxiety, depression, fear, and the emotional challenges of serious illness for both patient and family
Social — supporting family relationships, practical needs, and social connection throughout the illness
Spiritual — addressing questions of meaning, purpose, and existential wellbeing — regardless of religious belief
How to Access Palliative Care in Australia
Palliative care can be accessed through a referral from your local doctor (GP), medical specialist or other health provider. In some states and territories, you or a family member may also be able to self-refer to palliative care services.
Step 1 — Talk to your GP The most straightforward path to palliative care is through your GP. If you or a family member has a life-limiting illness and you think palliative care would help — raise it with your GP. There is no need to wait until the end of life — early palliative care referral is associated with better outcomes.
Step 2 — Ask your specialist If you are under the care of a specialist — an oncologist, cardiologist, neurologist, or other physician — ask them about palliative care referral. Most specialist teams have established relationships with palliative care services.
Step 3 — Contact Palliative Care Australia Palliative Care Australia is the peak national organisation for palliative care — their website includes a national palliative care service directory that allows you to find services in your local area.
Palliative Care Australia: https://palliativecare.org.au
National Palliative Care Service Directory: https://palliativecare.org.au/find-a-service
Step 4 — Contact My Aged Care For older Australians accessing palliative care in the context of aged care — My Aged Care is the starting point for accessing government-funded aged care services, including palliative care support at home and in residential care.
My Aged Care: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au Phone: 1800 200 422
Advance Care Planning — Why It Matters
Advance care planning is the process of thinking about, talking about, and documenting your wishes for future medical treatment — particularly in situations where you may not be able to speak for yourself.
Why advance care planning matters:
- Ensures your wishes are known and respected
- Reduces the burden on family members who might otherwise have to make difficult decisions without knowing what you would have wanted
- Reduces the likelihood of unwanted medical treatment
- Gives you a sense of control and agency over your future care
The key documents:
Advance Care Directive — a legal document recording your wishes about future medical treatment, including what treatments you do and do not want
Enduring Power of Attorney (Medical) — appoints a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you lose capacity
Statement of Choices — a less formal document recording your values, preferences, and wishes to guide your care team and family
How to start: Talk to your GP, your family, and your palliative care team about advance care planning. The Advance Care Planning Australia website provides state-specific information, templates, and support.
Advance Care Planning Australia: https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au
Supporting a Loved One Receiving Palliative Care
For family members and carers supporting a loved one receiving palliative care — the experience can be both deeply meaningful and deeply challenging. Here are some practical tips.
Be present Simply being there — sitting quietly, holding a hand, being available — is often the most valuable thing you can do. You do not need to have the right words. Presence matters more than words.
Ask what they need Rather than assuming what your loved one needs — ask them directly. People receiving palliative care often have very specific preferences about how they want to spend their time and who they want around them.
Accept help Caring for a seriously ill person is physically and emotionally exhausting. Accept offers of help from family, friends, and community — and ask for help when you need it. You cannot support someone else if you are depleted yourself.
Seek support for yourself Carers often neglect their own emotional needs. Palliative care teams include social workers and counsellors who can support family members as well as patients — and Carers Australia provides support specifically for carers.
Carer Gateway: https://www.carergateway.gov.au Phone: 1800 422 737
Talk about what matters If your loved one is willing — conversations about what matters most to them, what they are proud of, what they are grateful for, and what they hope for can be profoundly meaningful for both of you. These conversations can be difficult to start but are rarely regretted.
Palliative Care vs Voluntary Assisted Dying
Palliative care and voluntary assisted dying are two separate and distinct things — and it is important to understand the difference.
Palliative care aims to improve quality of life and manage symptoms — it neither hastens nor delays death. Excellent palliative care can significantly reduce suffering at the end of life without shortening it.
Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is a legal process — available in all Australian states as of 2023 — that allows eligible people with a terminal illness to request medication to end their own life. It is subject to strict eligibility criteria, multiple assessment processes, and legal safeguards.
The two approaches are not mutually exclusive — many people who access voluntary assisted dying also receive palliative care. The choice between them, or the decision to pursue both, is deeply personal and should be made with full information and professional support.
Where to Get Help and Support
Palliative Care Australia Australia’s peak palliative care organisation — information, resources, and a national service directory. https://palliativecare.org.au
My Aged Care The starting point for accessing government-funded aged care services including palliative care support. https://www.myagedcare.gov.au Phone: 1800 200 422
Advance Care Planning Australia Resources and support for advance care planning — including state-specific templates and guides. https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au
Carer Gateway Support specifically for carers — practical advice, emotional support, and connection to local services. https://www.carergateway.gov.au Phone: 1800 422 737
Beyond Blue Mental health support for people experiencing anxiety or depression related to serious illness or caring. https://www.beyondblue.org.au Phone: 1300 22 4636
Grief Australia Support for those experiencing grief and bereavement. https://griefaustralia.org.au
The Bottom Line
Palliative care is not about giving up — it is about living as well as possible for as long as possible. It is one of the most compassionate and most comprehensive forms of care available in Australia — and it is available to anyone with a life-limiting illness, at any age, at any stage of their illness, and in any care setting.
If you or someone you love has a serious illness — talking to your GP about palliative care is not a sign of defeat. It is a sign of wisdom, of love, and of a genuine commitment to quality of life.
Are you or your family navigating palliative care? The Good Years Club community is a safe and supportive space to share your experiences and ask questions. You are not alone 💙
👉 Join The Good Years Club Community — https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Fw4FHNpJr/
