Carers, families and friends

Palliative care explained

What is palliative care?
Palliative Care Australia explains what palliative care is and what it involves, including care for the person with a life-limiting illness, their friends, family and carers.

Living, dying and grieving well: a guide to palliative care
Palliative Care Victoria developed the Living, dying and grieving well booklet which explains palliative care and how it and can help improve your quality of life, at any stage of your illness.

CareSearch: Palliative Care information for patients, carers and families
Palliative care information and resources for patients, carers and families – check out this CareSearch link.

Palliative care information in community languages

Palliative Care Victoria provides information about palliative care in languages other than English

 

Caring for someone with a life-limiting illness

Carers Victoria – Support for Carers

Carers Victoria is a statewide voice for family and carers representing and providing support to carers in Victoria.

Palliative Care Victoria – Carer Support

Carer Support Information Booklet provides a range of information and resources, tips and strategies for family and carers of people diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.

Australian Government – Payments for carers
The Australian Government Services Australia explains the payments available to carers, based on the eligibility criterion.

Victorian Government – Carer Card Program

The Victorian Carer Card Program provides eligible cardholders with access to discounts and benefits from a variety of businesses, local government and community organisations.

Victorian Government – Companion Card

The Victorian Companion Card is for people with significant and permanent disability who have a lifelong need for a high level of support to participate in community events and activities. The card allows a person’s carer free entry into participating venues and events.

Palliative Care Australia – How can I support my friend or family member?

This brochure published by Palliative Care Australia provides strategies for helping someone you know who is living with a terminal condition.

Carers Kit – safe use of equipment

The Loddon Mallee Carers kit is a series of information sheets providing step by step instructions on use of a range of equipment to aid carers when caring for a person with a life limiting illness.

CareSearch – Looking after someone with a life-limiting illness

Information to help with your caring role, including how to look after someone and practical resources to assist with caring for someone with a life-limiting illness.

End of life and palliative care at home

Victoria’s Better Health Channel has a range of information for carers around palliative care and end of life at home.

Caring for someone near the end of life

Cancer Council of Victoria has a range of information about facing end of life

Understanding the dying process: an information booklet for families

This booklet explains the dying process and the physical and emotional signs and symptoms that may be present. It also explains the practical things that need to be done after someone dies.

Australian Government Services Australia – What to do following a death

This webpage provides information on what you need to do when someone dies, what to prepare before you die.  Payments, information and help for grieving family members.

Grief and Bereavement

Palliative Care Australia – Understanding grief
This booklet explains what grief is, thoughts and feelings and physical reactions a person can experience when grieving and where to find further help.

Grief Australia

Grief Australia is an independent, not for profit organisation providing evidence-informed counselling, training, and research to collectively strengthen the nation’s response to grief. Its website has a range of resources and services: