Palliative Care in Queensland Priorities for 2019

In 2018 Palliative Care Queensland (PCQ) held the inaugural Palliative Care in Queensland Summit to listen to key stakeholders providing palliative care and set an agreed advocacy agenda. This publication is for consumers, carers, service providers, organisations, peak bodies and government to use in their pursuit of quality end-of-life care for all Queenslanders.

The 5 priority areas identified for palliative care in Queensland for 2019 are:

Better Funding

• Needs-based funding: for example, packages of care instead of time-limited funding models
• Accessible funding: ensure funding is easier to access in a timely manner, particularly for home-based care and aged care
• Equitable funding: particularly for people in rural and remote areas and under 65 years

Improved Access

• Better access to specialist support in rural and remote areas
• Better access to home-based General Practitioners support (24 hours)
• Better access to Commonwealth Home Care Services for end-of-life care at home (including assistance with navigating My Aged Care)

Community Activation

• The development and implementation of a community awareness and engagement strategy, and campaigns to promote better understanding of palliative care and compassionate community models and initiatives
• Conduct statewide community asset mapping and share the results via platforms which are accessible for community members and service providers 
• Service providers to collaborate with community to ensure carers have appropriate support networks around them

Focus on Advance Care Planning

• Promotion of Advance Care Planning in all settings of care
• Standardisation of documentation across Queensland
• Improved access to documents for all who need them

Workforce Development

• Invest in professional development opportunities: from graduates to lifelong learners
• Improve mentorship and supervision
• Grow and train volunteers

PCQ recommends anybody who shares the vision of quality end of life care for all Queenslanders to use the priorities listed above in any way that progresses the quality palliative care agenda.


Palliative Care Queensland. Palliative Care in Queensland Priorities for 2019 (2.55MB pdf). Spring Hill (QLD): Palliative Care Queensland; 2019.


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