Palliative Care Queensland has today released its pre-budget submission, targeting critical funding to enable the sector to increasingly ensure that all Queenslanders have access to vital information, support, choice and care at the end phase of life.
Taking a stepped approach to existing modelling undertaken with key organisations from across the state, Palliative Care Queensland is targeting an additional investment of $3.35 million in 2022-23 for the sector which will address specific gaps in the Queensland Government Palliative Care Reform program and help to improve access to quality palliative care and support for Queenslanders from diagnosis to bereavement.
CEO, Shyla Mills, outlined the sector’s funding request, “We are seeking $3.35 million in funding for the sector to allow Queenslanders access to quality palliative care from diagnosis to bereavement. One certainty in life is that we will deal with end-of-life, whether our own, a family member, loved one or friend. For the equivalent of $0.64 per Queenslander per year, six critical investment areas can be addressed. We recognise the value of the currently Queensland Government Palliative Care Reform program, particularly addressing Queensland Health service delivery gaps, but gaps remain in the whole community of care who are key providers of palliative care and this state budget submission targets that in a cost-effective, community inclusive approach.”
The six priority areas identified for new investment are:
- Ensure ongoing palliative care engagement and awareness-raising and sector policy inclusive of all sector agencies: Sustainable support for Palliative Care Queensland’s PalliWellbeing program
- Provide Palliative Care Public Education: PalliLearn and Last Aid
- Increase palliative care access from diagnosis: Serious illness conversation pilot project for specialist palliative care
- Nurture Compassionate Communities: Local compassionate communities grants program
- Focus on First Nations: Clinical Centre of Excellence for First Nations Palliative Care
- Improve grief supports: Statewide Bereavement Program
“We understand the budgetary and fiscal pressures that the State faces as it prepares to hand down its budget, however, we believe that the funding required represents a sensible and necessary investment in care for Queenslanders. The funding will enable programs to be tested, refined and when successful, further investments to be made a stepped approach to complement the reform.”
“With a rapidly growing and ageing population, it is imperative that the state takes a critical and holistic view of the sector’s needs and its ability to provide care and support to a growing population. At the budget, the government can bridge gaps in current care provision, build capacity across the health, social and community care sector to meet future needs and educate health consumers as to the role of palliative care, their choices and supports available, all for less than sixty-five cents per year. We think that this is a modest request and one that funding should be found to support,” said Ms. Mills.
A copy of the report can be downloaded at: https://palliativecareqld.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/PCQ-Pre-Budget-Submission-2022-23.pdf
