Senate Inquiry into Palliative Care

On 23rd November, the Senate approved a motion put forward by Rachel Siewart, chair of the Senate's Community Affairs Reference Committee, to initiate an Inquiry into the state of palliative care in Australia.

This is an exciting opportunity to further raise the profile of palliative care in Australia and to send a comprehensive message to the Australian Government about palliative care.

The terms of reference for the Inquiry are broad; addressing access, the needs of minority groups, resources, workforce, national standards, advance care planning, funding and research. The range of issues reflects those outlined in PCA's National Palliative Care Consensus Statement. PCA is coordinating a comprehensive submission to this Inquiry and it is important to us that we work collaboratively with service providers, consumers and people with an interest in palliative care to put forward a powerful, well researched and consistent case. An opportunity like this will not come our way again. I urge you all to take this chance to inform your Parliament about palliative care in your place in this country.

PCA is seeking submissions into the Inquiry regarding the terms of reference:

• the factors influencing access to and choice of appropriate palliative care that meets the needs of the population, including people living in rural and regional areas, Indigenous people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disabilities, and children and adolescents;
• the funding arrangements for palliative care provision, including the manner in which sub‐acute funding is provided and spent;
• the efficient use of palliative, health and aged care resources;
• the effectiveness of a range of palliative care arrangements, including hospital care, residential or community care and aged care facilities;
• the composition of the palliative care workforce, including: its ability to meet the needs of the ageing population and the adequacy of workforce education and training arrangements;
• the adequacy of standards that apply to the provision of palliative care and the application of the Standards for Providing Quality Care to All Australians;
• advance care planning, including: avenues for individuals and carers to communicate with health care professionals about end‐of‐life care, national consistency in law and policy supporting advance care plans, and scope for including advance care plans in personal electronic health records; and
• the availability and funding of research, information and data about palliative care needs in Australia.

PCA and PCCSA welcome your contribution to the joint PCA and Member Organisations' submission, but remind you that you may also make a personal submission. Please forward any information, feedback, comment or information to inform PCA's submission to Dr Ian White, PCA Policy and Communications Manager: ianw@palliativecare.org.au or Tracey Watters (Executive Officer PCCSA) twatters@pallcare.asn.au or visit http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/palliative_care/index.htm

Contact Us

Tel: 08 8291 4137
Fax: 08 8291 4268
Email: pallcare@pallcare.asn.au