Receiving a diagnosis of a life-limiting condition, such as advanced cancer, can be overwhelming, but help is available. Palliative care is specialised healthcare that provides holistic care for people living with a life-limiting illness and their loved ones. It focuses on symptom management and maintaining or improving quality of life through physical, emotional, social and spiritual support. Palliative care does not aim to hasten or delay death; rather, it helps people live as well as possible for as long as possible¹˒².
For many people, the term “palliative care” is associated with the very end of life. While palliative care plays an important role at this stage, it is much more than end-of-life care. Early access to palliative care can help people manage symptoms, maintain quality of life and receive support for the physical, emotional and practical challenges that often accompany advanced cancer. It can also provide valuable support for families and carers. Consistent with this evidence, Palliative Care Australia recommends that palliative care be available to all people with active, progressive and advanced disease, including those receiving ongoing active treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy³.
Despite the recognised benefits of palliative care, many people do not access these services until late in their illness. AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) data indicate that while around two-thirds of people who died from cancer received specialist palliative care*, the median time from first access to specialist palliative care services to death was approximately one month, while the median time from first access to community-based outpatient palliative care services to death was around 11 weeks¹.
What is palliative care and where does it take place?
Palliative care is tailored to each person’s individual needs and should take a person- and family-centred approach3. Many aspects of care, including symptom management, can be provided by a general practitioner (GP) or the treating specialist, such as an oncologist.
When a person’s needs are complex, persistent or fluctuate over time, care may be coordinated by a specialist palliative care multidisciplinary team. This team brings together health professionals with expertise in palliative care and may include GPs, geriatricians, medical specialists, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals3.
Palliative care can be provided in a range of settings, including public and private hospitals, specialist palliative care services, residential aged care facilities, general practices and in the community. Care may be delivered on either an inpatient or outpatient basis, depending on a person’s circumstances and preferences. Some people may also benefit from short-term respite care, which offers temporary additional support for both people with life-limiting illnesses and their families or carers.
Palliative care is about living as well as possible, for as long as possible. By addressing physical symptoms and providing emotional, social and practical support, palliative care can help people with advanced cancer and their loved ones focus on what matters most to them. If you or someone you care about is living with a life-limiting illness, consider speaking with your healthcare team about whether palliative care could be beneficial.
*Refers to people whose underlying cause of death was cancer and who died in Australia between July 2019 and June 2020. Specialist palliative care (SPC) services include palliative care provided in hospital, outpatient clinics and consultations with palliative medicine specialists, based on AIHW definitions.
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Palliative care and health service use for people with life-limiting conditions. Web report. Canberra: AIHW; 2024. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/palliative-care/palliative-care-and-health-service-use-for-people-with-life-limiting-conditions. Accessed 8 July 2026.
- Palliative Care Australia. About Palliative Care Australia. Canberra: Palliative Care Australia. Available from: https://palliativecare.org.au/about-pca/. Accessed 8 July 2026.
- Palliative Care Australia. Palliative Care Service Development Guidelines. Canberra: Palliative Care Australia; January 2018. Accessed 8 July 2026.