Palliative care for community

Helping people with a life-limiting illness to live as well and as long as possible

Palliative care - couple on beach

Palliative care helps people with a life-limiting illness to live as well and as long as possible, by managing pain and other symptoms to ensure their quality of life is maximised. It is high-quality healthcare and support for patients and their families and carers. It identifies and treats symptoms that may be physical, emotional, spiritual or social. This palliative care for community webpage provides information on Murray PHN’s The Caring Circle project, the Carer Network Strategy and resources for community members.

Current projects: The Caring Circle

The caring circle. Greater choices for at home palliative care

Murray PHN’s The Caring Circle project aims to improve the health and end-of-life care journey of people in rural and remote Victoria living with a life-limiting illness (like dementia, diabetes and heart failure). It also aims to provide resources and supports for their carers.
We bring communities together to discuss people’s wishes and goals for their end-of-life when they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves.
Our project is funded by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care’s Greater Choices for at Home Palliative Care measure.

Project focus

The Caring Circle project aims to:

  • raise the importance of planning ahead and having people’s end-of-life wishes respected and documented
  • enhance early identification of people living with life-limiting illnesses accessing general practice services
  • engage early advance care planning discussions and care planning in the community
  • expand professional development opportunities in palliative care for health service providers to improve system capacity.

For more information

Last Update: May 10th, 2024

Murray PHN acknowledges its catchment crosses over many unceded First Nations Countries, following the Dhelkunya Yaluk (Healing River).

We pay our respects and give thanks to the Ancestors, Elders and Young people for their nurturing, protection and caregiving of these sacred lands and waterways, acknowledging their continuing cultural, spiritual and educational practices.

We are grateful for the sharing of Country and the renewal that Country gives us. We acknowledge and express our sorrow that this sharing has come at a personal, spiritual and cultural cost to the wellbeing of First Nations peoples. We commit to addressing the injustices of colonisation across our catchment, and to listening to the wisdom of First Nations communities who hold the knowledge to enable healing. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.