National Palliative Care Week, Australia’s largest initiative to raise awareness of end-of-life treatment, finishes tomorrow. This year, Palliative Care ACT states, honours the ‘people at the heart of quality palliative care’: doctors, nurses, social workers and volunteers who provide end-of-life care.

ACT health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said: “All palliative care teams and volunteers play a crucial role in the ACT’s health care system, especially at this extremely difficult and vulnerable stage in someone’s life.

“Having skilled palliative care professionals and volunteers providing person and family-centred care can make a big difference in how someone experiences their final stages of life. I am grateful for each and every one of these dedicated individuals and the diverse range of palliative care services they deliver in the ACT.”

Canberrans have access to clinical and non-clinical end-of-life care options at home, in hospital, in aged care or in a hospice environment, the minister said.

“People who access palliative care services have a diverse range of needs and preferences,” Ms Stephen-Smith said. “This is why the government has prioritised and invested in different palliative care options for our community.”

In the 2021-22 Budget, the ACT Government invested more than $16 million over four years to expand inpatient beds and home-based palliative care services at Clare Holland House, Canberra’s only inpatient palliative care unit. (It transferred from Calvary to Canberra Health Services last year.) The Commonwealth Government and the Snow Foundation jointly paid for more inpatient and family spaces.

“Our palliative care services at Clare Holland House are tailored to each patient and are delivered by our team of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers and pastoral care professionals,” Todd Kaye, executive director of Allied Health and Palliative Care at North Canberra Hospital, said.

“We focus on supporting patients and families who are dealing with a life limiting illness. Our goal is to help people achieve dignity, comfort and maximise the quality of life as they progress into end of life.

“We are thankful to be able to do what we do every day and are humbled to be able to keep supporting clients and their families at a difficult stage of their life journey.”

The 2022-23 ACT Budget funded more than $15 million for a new 12-bed palliative care ward; a head contractor for construction will be appointed later this year. This new ward will complement the hospital’s Palliative Care Specialist Service, “enabling patients to receive specialist palliative care as they approach the end of their life in an environment that will help to ensure dignity and comfort,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

Last year, Leo’s Place, the ACT’s only non-clinical, home-like respite facility for carers and patients, providing day and overnight respite for people with a life-limiting illness, run by Palliative Care ACT, received $2.6 million from the government.

Every year, the government gives Palliative Care ACT $630,000 for its advocacy work and co-ordination of an extensive volunteer program; and Community Options $120,000 to support nurse-led coordination of in-home support services for people with end-stage illness, and their families.

“Thank you to all of our palliative care staff and volunteers who everyday support people in our community with a life-limiting illness when they need it most,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

Palliative Care ACT also launched a podcast series about  advance care planning, the role of paramedics in palliative care, and how to start a conversation about end of life care.