Sector Links
Palliative care advice and support – who to call
A number of jurisdictions 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.
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 fund many national palliative care programs and the following sector links explain how this works.
The Federal government Department of Health funds many National Palliative Care Programs which PEPA and IPEPA work closely with. Click the links below to learn more about Palliative Care education, training, quality improvements and advance care planning support for all Australians.
- Gwandalan palliative care
- Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care measure
- caring@home: Symptom management for palliative patients
- CareSearch Palliative Care Knowledge Network
- Palliative care aged care evidence (palliAGED)
- Palliative Care Curriculum for Undergraduates (PCC4U)
- Palliative Care Online Training
- Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC)
- Advance Care Planning Australia
- The Advance Project
- Talking End of Life with people with an Intellectual Disability
- End of Life ESSENTIALS: Education for Acute Hospitals
- End of Life Direction for Aged Care (ELDAC)
- End of Life Law for Clinicians (ELLC)
- Quality of Care Collaborative for Australia in Paediatric Palliative Care (QuoCCA2)
PEPA and IPEPA have participants who are members of various National Registration bodies and Professional Colleges. Through these organisations health workers/professionals qualify for Continual Professional Development (CPD) hours for PEPA placements and workshops. For more information about CPD see the links to the professional bodies below.
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.