Palliative care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: online resources

Palliative care is provided for someone who is really sick and not going to get better. The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life of patients – to provide comfort, and to help them be as comfortable and active as possible. It can help with relief from pain, suffering, and other symptoms that may be affecting the person.

Palliative care is not just about helping with physical concerns – it can also assist with social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual concerns. Supportive care for a person who is getting ready to finish-up is about health professionals working together to do what the person wants.  Palliative care services can help patients to remain in their community if that is what they wish. They can help family, carers, and community members learn how to care for someone who is finishing up.

Guided by an expert advisory group comprised of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people representing various organisations within the health sector across Australia, CareSearch has created online resources that will help build a path of cultural capability and understanding for supporting care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Care pages include information for providing culturally appropriate care for and sharing information with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, their families and communities.

You can access the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Care pages at www.caresearch.com.au.

Acknowledgements:  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group, PEPA & PCC4U (The Collaborative), Leigh Harris, Igneous Studios. CareSearch is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.