Access to palliative care with a life-limiting illness

Referral to palliative care can be helpful at any point with a life-limiting illness. There are different ways you can be referred.  Raising the subject of palliative care can be hard. You and your family may find this, and so will some health professionals. Talking about death and dying can be stressful because many people feel it is easier to avoid the subject.

Timing of referral

It is more helpful if you are referred early. For example, from the first diagnosis of a terminal illness. This referral can come from a health professional. You or your family members can ask to be referred. You can talk to your doctor about your need for support. You can contact your local palliative care service to ask them about referral.

Visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: How to get palliative care

How to get palliative care

Your right to care

The National Palliative Care Strategy and for older adults the Australian Statement of Rights, remind us that every person, including someone approaching the end of their life, requires compassion and care that recognises who they are and what matters most to them.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care defines key dimensions of person-centred care that individuals have a right to expect including:

  • respect,
  • understanding what is important to the person, their family, carers and support people,
  • and collaborative decision making towards goals of care.

Similarly, healthcare organisations are expected to model seven key attributes of person-centred care including:

  • Comprehensive care delivery where patients are engaged as partner in their care,
  • Clear purpose, strategy and leadership,
  • A person-centred culture,
  • Person-centred governance systems with clear accountability at all levels,
  • Strong external partnerships for seamless transitions and coordination of care,
  • Person-centred technology within built environment,
  • and a culture for continuous quality improvement.
Statement of Rights

Statement of Rights (182kb pdf)

Last updated 30 April 2026