Palliative care is provided to those whose illness cannot be cured. It is about supporting people to live well while they manage their illness.

Palliative care concentrates on maintaining quality of life by controlling physical symptoms, such as pain or sickness, and helping with the emotional, social or spiritual needs that people may have. It supports both the person who is dying and their carers and family.

Palliative care is an important public health issue. The World Health Organization’s definition of palliative care is used worldwide including in Australia.

This page was created in 1 December 2007