Heidi’s legacy: community palliative care at work in regional Australia

ABSTRACT

Advances in the management of chronic diseases, combined with an aging population, have escalated the prevalence of people with life-limiting conditions and demand for palliative care. In Australia, this has prompted calls for change in policy frameworks, service systems and funding models that underpin care. The complex social, cultural and policy transformation required to enact these changes has been problematic. This paper reports on qualitative research into a unique, Australian Community Palliative Care program reflecting these aspirational changes. The research examined the program design and its implementation through the perspectives of program staff and volunteers.

KEYWORDS:

• Palliative care
• end-of- life care
• life-limiting illness
• social work in palliative care
• critical social work in health
• community palliative care