Palliative care advice and support for health professionals
A number of states and territories have set up telephone support services to enable health professionals to access palliative care specialist support.
If a person’s care is already being managed by a palliative care service, then they should always be contacted first for advice. However, if the person does not have a palliative care service or advice is needed after hours, these contacts can be used:
ACT: information to come
NSW: Palliative Care After Hours Helpline 1800 548 225. Clinicians are advised to contact the closest teaching hospital and ask for the palliative care specialist on call. NSW Ambulance also has a palliative care service directory.
NT: Palliative Care Support: Top End – 08 8922 6761 / 1800 642 713 (After Hours); Central Australia – 08 8951 6762 / 08 8951 7777 (After Hours).
QLD: Service: Pall Consult 1300 PALLDR (1300 725 537) 24/7 palliative care advice hotline for doctors, NPs, paramedics and pharmacists; 1300 PALLCR (1300 725 527) – 24/7 hotline for nurses and allied health in all care environments.
SA: information to come
TAS: After hours telephone advice and support for health professionals (4:30pm to 10pm M – F, 8am to 4:30pm Weekends and Public holidays). Contact via Royal Hobart Hospital switchboard 03 6166 8308.
VIC: Palliative Care Advisory Service (7am – 10pm everyday) 1800 360 000.
WA: Palliative Care Outreach Service: 1300 55 86 55 – 24/7 Telephone Advisory Service for advice on pain and symptom management, medication advice.
National Projects
PEPA and IPEPA are part of The Palliative Care Education and Training Collaborative that is funded by the Department of Health. The Department of Health funds many national palliative care programs and the following links explain how this works:
- Australian Government Department of Health
- National Palliative Care Strategy
- National Palliative Care Projects
PaCE App
Palliative Care Education Directory App 
The palliative care education PaCE app is a web-based resource directory app to support the health workforce to access quality palliative care education content.
Palliative Care Australia
Palliative Care Australia is the national peak body for palliative care.
Palliative Care Australia represents all those who work towards high-quality palliative care for all Australians. PCA works closely with consumers, Member Organisations (across Australia) and the palliative care workforce, to improve access to, create governance and policy and promote the need for, palliative care.