End-of-life support
The Government has announced a number of new initiatives in the 11th National Palliative Care Week.
The Federal Government has marked the 11th National Palliative Care Week with $6.5 million in funding for palliative care initiatives.
The Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot announced an extra $3.5 million over three years to fund a project investigating ways to enable people requiring palliative care to remain at home with their carers.
The Palliative Care for People Living at Home is a joint initiative between the state, territory and Commonwealth governments.
“This new initiative will look at ways to improve and bring together existing clinical and nursing services, in-home support, in-house respite and training of carers,” said Mrs Elliot.
The Minister also launched a new website that provides practical information, support and advice to people with a terminal illness along with their families and carers.
The site has information for patients and families, clinicians and professional services.
It also contains links to other resources and provides tips on sensitive issues, like what to say to someone who has found out they are dying.
“This information site will be a crucial support tool for what is a very difficult and challenging time for so many Australians,” Mrs Elliot said.
The theme of this year’s National Palliative Care Week is ‘A Matter of Life and Death’.
“It is about the quality of life of those in palliative care and the lives of those caring for them,” said Mrs Elliot.
