When someone you love receives a life-limiting diagnosis, the first few days can feel like a blur. You might not know what palliative care services are available, who to call, or where to even start. That uncertainty is completely normal, and it’s exactly why PalAssist exists.
PalAssist is a free nurse-led palliative care service funded by Queensland Health and delivered by Cancer Council Queensland. Our registered nurses and allied health professionals support families across the state with information, referrals, and emotional care, 7 days a week.
So to help you get started, this guide covers what palliative care includes, how to find providers near you, and who will be on your care team. We’ll also explain when aged care or end-of-life care might be the right option.
What Palliative Care Services Offer People Living with a Life-Limiting Illness
Palliative care services focus on comfort, symptom relief, and emotional support for patients and their family members. That care extends to the people around the patient too, because when someone you love is unwell, the whole family feels it.
A specialist palliative care team will typically help with physical symptoms, emotional well-being, and practical day-to-day needs.
- Pain and Symptom Relief: Palliative care doctors and nurses work closely with your family to manage pain, nausea, fatigue, and other symptoms. That could be a nurse visiting your home to adjust medication, or a specialist reviewing the care plan at the hospital.
- Emotional and Practical Support: Family members often carry a heavy load during these times. Palliative care services can connect you with counselling, respite, and community support so the weight doesn’t fall on one person.
- Care at Any Stage of Illness: The care can begin as soon as someone receives a life-limiting diagnosis (yes, even during active treatment). The team works alongside other health professionals to make sure comfort stays a priority throughout.
Many families don’t realise how broad palliative care services are until they experience them firsthand. And that early access often brings the most relief for everyone involved.
How to Find Palliative Care Providers in Your Area
If your loved one has received a life-limiting diagnosis, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is, “Where do we go for help?” The referral process can feel overwhelming at first, but a few clear steps can point you in the right direction.
Ask Your GP for a Referral
Frankly, your GP is the best person to start with. Once you book that first appointment, they can assess your loved one’s needs and build a care plan. They will also refer you to specialist palliative care services at your local hospital or in the community if needed.
Typically, most patients get a palliative care referral through their GP or a hospital doctor.
Search Government Directories
You can also find a palliative care provider through the Australian Government website by entering your location and care needs (at no cost to you or your family). Queensland Health lists regional palliative care services and contact details for each health district as well.
Call PalAssist for Guidance
If those first two steps feel like too much right now, PalAssist’s registered nurses can talk you through your options over the phone. They’ll explain what services are available in your area and help you understand how referrals work.
When you’re ready, you can contact the team on 1800 772 273, seven days a week.
The Health Professionals on Your Palliative Care Team
Once you’ve found a provider, the next thing you’ll want to know is who will be involved in your loved one’s care.
A palliative care team brings together specialists across medical, emotional, and practical areas, so no single person has to carry all of that responsibility.
- Doctors and Specialist Consultants: Palliative care doctors lead the medical side of treatment. In practice, that means they assess symptoms, adjust medication, and work with your hospital team to manage pain and discomfort.
- Nurses and Allied Health Professionals: Registered nurses often become the most familiar faces for families during palliative care (depending on your loved one’s needs). Alongside them, allied health professionals like physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and social workers look after physical and emotional wellbeing.
- Counsellors and Spiritual Care Workers: Grief, stress, and spiritual concerns affect both patients and carers. That’s why most palliative care teams include counsellors and pastoral care workers who provide a safe space to talk through those feelings.
Families we’ve spoken with through PalAssist often say the care team gave them structure on days when nothing else felt certain. And for many, just knowing who to call and when made the hardest weeks feel a little more manageable.
When End-of-Life Care or Aged Care Services May Be the Right Step
There often comes a point where a patient’s disease progresses and the focus of care shifts toward comfort rather than cure. When that happens, end-of-life care becomes part of the conversation between families and their palliative care team.
Aged care services can also play a role at this stage, particularly for older patients. These services cover things like daily personal support, in-home assistance, or residential aged care. If the person you’re caring for is eligible, your palliative care team or hospital social worker can help arrange an assessment through My Aged Care.
Alongside these steps, it’s worth looking into advance care planning so your family can document your loved one’s wishes while those conversations are still possible. And more often than not, families tell us they wish they’d started earlier.
From what we’ve seen with Queensland families, those who access end-of-life care services sooner tend to feel more prepared when difficult decisions come up.
Palliative Care Services in South Australia and Other States
Every state and territory in Australia runs its own palliative care services, so what’s available will depend on where a person lives. In South Australia, for example, families can access specialist palliative care through SA Health and local community health services.
For families with a loved one living interstate, the process will look a little different. CareSearch and Palliative Care Australia are good places to start, and both offer national directories and resources to connect you with the right specialists. It’s one of those things you’ll want to check early, because each state handles referrals in its own way.
These resources also cater to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, so families across Australia can find care services that match their situation.
Now that you have a clearer picture of how palliative care works and where to find support, the next step is reaching out.
How Palliative Care Improves Quality of Life for Families
You don’t need to have all the answers right now. Even one conversation with a palliative care team at your local hospital can set things in motion. That talk can lead to referrals, resources, and a better quality of life for your loved one.
If you’re a family member or carer in Queensland affected by a life-limiting illness, PalAssist’s registered nurses can talk you through your options and connect you with palliative care services at no cost.
Contact PalAssist on 1800 772 273 (7 am to 7 pm, 7 days) or visit our site to access free, confidential support.
