A lesson from the field: Challenges in providing palliative care to Aboriginal people in New South Wales

"I wouldn't want palliative care to come into my home because I'm looking after my grandkids and I'd be worried about what would happen to them." So said a woman from an Aboriginal community in NSW during a workshop held last year to implement the guidelines on providing culturally appropriate palliative care.

"What's the point of giving us good care at the end of our lives when we've had crap care the rest of the time" -a community member from HNE Health

"What's the point of referring? There's no such thing as a good death with cancer" -Aboriginal Health Worker in Greater Southern AHS.

"If I wasn't able to be there [at the time of death], a part of me would die. I would never heaL" -Elder, Greater Western AHS.

Mistrust, fear, anger, ignorance. We heard it all. Until 2005, my understanding of the difficulties faced by Aboriginal people in accessing palliative care was on an intellectual level. What I experienced during that year had the potential to overwhelm me. Yet, there were good stories too where things are going well, where non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal people work well together and where good solid bridges are being built to address the issues. I'd like to share my experiences with you.