02/08/2026
I am currently transitioning into providing palliative care 🧡
Many people think palliative care is something provided only by specialist doctors and nurses, and only in the final days of life. Neither is quite true.
The World Health Organization describes palliative care as an approach that aims to improve quality of life for people experiencing serious illness, and for those close to them. While specialist palliative care teams provide expert medical care for complex needs, a palliative approach can be embraced by many others.
GPs, aged care workers, disability support workers, spiritual care practitioners, volunteers, family members and end of life doulas can all contribute to comfort, dignity and quality of life in ways that complement medical care.
Understanding palliative care as both a specialist service and a philosophy of care helps us recognise that supporting someone at the end of life is a shared responsibility.
