What is palliative care?
Palliative care helps people with any life-limiting or terminal condition to live their life as fully and as comfortably as possible. It is not just for people with cancer.
Palliative care identifies and treats symptoms which may be physical, emotional, spiritual or social. It also provides practical and emotional support to family and carers.
Because palliative care is based on each individual’s needs, support and services will vary. They may include:
- relief of pain and other symptoms (e.g. vomiting, shortness of breath)
- resources (e.g. equipment needed to provide care at home)
- assistance to enable families to talk about sensitive issues or meet cultural obligations
- referrals to respite care services
- access to support services (e.g. home help, financial support)
- emotional, social and spiritual support
- counselling and grief support.
Palliative care may be useful at different stages of an illness, from the time of diagnosis to the final stages of life. It can be given alongside treatments given by other doctors and
is available for people of any age, including babies and children.
See our informative booklets for people experiencing palliative care or for those caring for a loved one at the end of life here:
Palliative Caring – Revised September 2024
My Palliative Care – Revised September 2024
What health professionals provide palliative care?
A range of health professionals generally work together to provide palliative care. This multidisciplinary team may include:
- doctors
- nurses
- social workers
- psychologists
- physiotherapists
- pharmacists
- occupational therapists
- speech therapists
- nutritionists
Generally, palliative care patients receive all of the care and support they need from this multidisciplinary team. However, some patients with complex symptoms that are difficult to manage may be referred to health professionals with specialist qualifications in palliative care.
How do you access palliative care?
Generally, the patient’s general practitioner makes a referral to specialist palliative care if it is required.
Where is palliative care provided?
Palliative care is provided at home, in a hospital or hospice, and at residential aged or disability care facilities.
Patients and their families are encouraged to decide where they would like palliative care to be provided, and palliative care teams will aim to achieve this when possible.
Many people indicate a preference to die at home. Achieving this depends on:
- the nature of the illness and amount of care the patient needs
- how much support is available from the patient’s family and community
- whether the patient has someone at home who can provide physical care and support for them.
PLEASE NOTE: Palliative Care WA does not directly provide palliative care services or organise access to those services. For more information on palliative care services in WA, please visit When you need help and advice. You will also find frequently asked questions on that page.
Palliative care explained in 19 languages
Palliative Care Victoria’s brochure about palliative care that has been translated into 19 languages. The brochure answers the following questions:
- What is palliative care?
- Who provides palliative care?
- Where can I receive care?
- Will I have to pay?
- What if I need to speak another language?
- What about my family?
- Where can I get more information?
Order printed copies of the brochures, or download electronic versions using the links below:
- Arabic – العربية
- Chinese (simplified) – 简体中文
- Chinese (traditional) – 中国传统的
- Croatian – Hrvatski
- Dutch-Nederlands
- Greek – Grčki
- Hebrew – עִברִית
- Hindi – हिंदी
- Italian – Italiano
- Karen – ကညီကျိာ်
- Macedonian – македонски
- Maltese – Malti
- Polish – Polski
- Russian – русский
- Serbian – Српски
- Spanish – Español
- Turkish – Türk
- Vietnamese – Tiếng Việt
- Yiddish – ייִדיש
This information is not clinical advice. Your health care decisions are best made in consultation with your doctor.
Coming events
View allNews and updates
View allHear all about Jean Kittson’s story as part of National Palliative Care Week 2025
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Conversations inspire and challenge at annual National Palliative Care sector breakfast 2025
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March CEO Roundtable for Palliative Care Communique now available
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CEO Roundtable for Palliative Care meets to discuss two Acts
At our March CEO Roundtable for Palliative Care meeting, 22 representatives from organisations with an interest in palliative care met to discuss latest developments in palliative care in the State….
National Palliative Care Week 2025 – What’s your plan?
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ACP Support Service reintroduced – four options available to WA community members
The Advance Care Planning Support Service (ACPSS) has been reintroduced as a trial thanks to funding from the WA Department of Health. The Palliative Care WA service is currently running…
Have you attended an ACP workshop and need further help?
Have you completed one of our Advance Care Planning (ACP) workshops and want assistance with completing your Advance Health Directive and other documentation? If yes, our new ACP Support Service…
Palliative care booklets – invaluable source of information
Copies of our Palliative Caring booklet and the companion booklet called My Palliative Care are proving to be an invaluable source of information for the WA community. These free WA-specific resources have…