Allied Health (AH) is expected to play an increasing role in aged care and primary care settings in meeting the personal and clinical needs of older Australians approaching the end of their life. AH is a key part of palliative care provision but evidence about their role and practice is still emerging.

As part of the CareSearch Engagement Project, a background paper on the context of AH practice in Australia was produced for use by professionals, services, and AH organisations. Key findings of this white paper include the need to support AH with education and upskilling in palliative care, funding to support their work in palliative care, and more accurate data on the use of AH services. Download a copy of the white paper now (935kb pdf).

To celebrate the International Year of Nurses and Midwife, we are featuring a blog series to acknowledge and highlight their critical role in providing palliative care. In this blog, Alison McLarty from Quality of Care Collaborative Australia discusses her experience and provide practical insights in caring for paediatric patients at the end of life.

Music therapy is an allied health research-based profession practiced worldwide. To mark World Music Therapy Day on March 1, we feature a blog from Angela Delaney, Allied Health Clinical Education Coordinator in Paediatric Palliative Care at Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service. Angela explains what music therapy is, and the important role of music therapists in providing comfort and care for paediatric palliative care patients.

Australia has a diverse older population and it is important for those caring for older Australians to have access to evidence-based resources to ensure quality care is delivered to all older people, regardless of their specific background and preferences. Dr Georgia Rowley, Research Associate at ELDAC discusses the importance of understanding specific considerations when caring for older diverse Australians in an end of life context, and how ELDAC can provide resources to help.

It is estimated that 11% of the older Australian population are of diverse sexualities or genders (often referred to by using the acronyms LGBT, LGBTI or LGBTQ), yet we often do not see and celebrate our diverse older people. Claire Allen, National Program Manager of Pride of Health + Wellbeing discusses why older Australians who identify as LGBT are not a visible part of the community and ideas for aged care services to welcome and support them.