BCH Palliative Care Week
Every day in Australia, hundreds of people of all ages die from a terminal illness. Palliative care is about enriching the final months, weeks and days of someone’s life.
This week is Palliative Care Week and Bellarine Community Health (BCH) is challenging the community to begin a conversation about death, to think about their future and how they want to be cared for.
“We are incredibly proud to say that BCH supports more than two thirds of clients to die in their preferred place, with nearly 55% dying in their own homes,” says Karen Laing, BCH Executive Director of Adult and Aged Services. “This figure is significantly higher than the Australian average of 15% and shows the growing need in our community for palliative care support.”
The BCH specialist palliative care team is made up of four specialist Nurses and a Social Worker supported by a specialist Medical Officer and visiting Clinical Nurse Consultant from Barwon Health.
The team, working alongside the BCH Community Nurses, provide 24/7 care and support for up to 70 people with a life-limiting illness/condition in their homes at any one time. BCH works closely with GPs, specialists, counsellors as well as our own Occupational Therapists who support assessment and arrangements for essential equipment.
“Supporting someone to receive care and die in their preferred place requires good communication, access to information, relevant services and equipment,” says Ms Laing. “Consideration of the care setting, family and carer’s needs and whether the clinical needs of the person can be met, all inform the work done by our specialist palliative care team.”
The introduction of Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) in Victoria in 2019 has added a new element to the team’s work. VAD provides a safe and compassionate end of life choice to eligible people. Since its introduction, our Palliative Care team have supported several clients with a VAD permit to bring about their death at a time they chose.
BCH has also partnered with volunteer group Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine to run a bereavement group. The group has a coffee catch up and a walking group each month where people who’ve lost a loved one can develop connections to help reduce loneliness and discuss their grief in a safe environment.
The BCH palliative care team will also be conducting an information session at the BCH Ageing Well Hub in Drysdale at the end of the month to mark Palliative Care Week. This session will help people understand exactly what palliative care supports are available and all are welcome.
What: Palliative Care Information Session – BCH Palliative Care Team
Where: BCH Ageing Well Hub – 23 Palmerston Street Drysdale
When: Thursday 29th May 2025
Time: 10:00am
If you need support or want to talk to Bellarine Community Health about palliative care, please call 1800 007 224. Donations to support the Bellarine Community Health palliative care team are greatly appreciated.
You can find more detail about BCH Community Nursing and Palliative Care services HERE.
The Palliative Care Australia website can also be found HERE.
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