Boost to palliative care in the bush

The Federal Government will provide $6.5 million to improve the coordinated delivery of palliative care to rural Australians with terminal illnesses.

The Federal Government will provide an extra $6.5 million in funding to provide more coordinated palliative care for rural Australians with a “life-limiting illness”.

A statement from the office of the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot said the funding will be divided among the 36 Divisions of General Practice in all states and territories to support their efforts to develop a coordinated approach to caring for rural people at the end of their lives.

“As our nation ages so will the number of people needing palliative care. This is about delivering the most efficient way to provide care and quality of life for all Australians,” said Mrs Elliot.

“To successfully achieve this, end-of-life services individually provided by doctors, nurses, hospitals, local government and within the community need to be coordinated and linked to ensure the very best outcomes for dying people and their families.

“This is about dying with dignity and in comfort.”

Mrs Elliot said the package acknowledges the vital role played by GPs in delivering palliative care to rural communities.

Fifteen divisions from four states – New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia – have been selected for the first intake of the project.

They include:

– Bendigo and District Division of General Practice (Vic); 
– Central Highlands General Practice Network (Vic); 
– Eastern Ranges General Practice Association (Vic); 
– General Practice Association of Geelong (Vic); 
– Central Queensland Rural Division of General Practice (Qld); 
– Sunshine Coast Division of General Practice (Qld); 
– Capricornia Division of General Practice (Qld); 
– Mackay Division of General Practice (Qld); 
– Southern Division of General Practice (SA); 
– Eyre Peninsula Division of General Practice (SA); 
– Limestone Coast Division of General Practice (SA); 
– Riverina Division of General Practice (NSW); 
– Barwon Division of General Practice (NSW); and 
– Tweed Valley Division of General Practice (NSW)

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