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Death is a reality of life, but the circumstances can vary greatly as different groups have different needs.

01 Oct 2016... Victoria's end of life and palliative care framework is a guide for improving end of life and palliative care services. This summary is for consumers.

01 Apr 2018... While end-of-life care planning can be overwhelming, having the conversation and documenting your wishes early will help to provide clarity and ease potential conflict with family and friends at a time when emotions run high.

03 Dec 2018... This illustrated guide and accompanying video explain how to give medicine through a subcutaneous cannula using a step-by-step approach.  These guides are part of the caring@home package for carers. Caring@home resources are applicable Australia-wide for clinical services, health professionals and carers/families. 

31 Dec 2018... Nurses can use this brochure to introduce carers to how they can help manage breakthrough symptoms safely using subcutaneous medicines.  The brochure is part of the caring@home package for carers. Caring@home resources are applicable Australia-wide for clinical services, health professionals and carers/families. 

Palliative care helps those with an illness that cannot be cured by managing symptoms as well as providing emotional and spiritual support.

A brochure introducing advance care planning.

01 Apr 2018... The communication tools provide patients, family, carers with information about the dying process.

01 May 2021... Palliative care advice service nurses and doctors offer free, confidential advice to anyone in Victoria who needs information about living with or caring for someone with a life-limiting illness, palliative care, or end-of-life care.  Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for people and families living with life-limiting illnesses. This Advice Service is for everyone in Victoria.

31 Aug 2022... This guide provides information to help you prepare and complete your Advance Health Directive. This helps you to think deeply about future situations in which you are unwell and unable to make decisions about your health care. If this is distressing, please seek support from a family member, friend or health professional. The sections of this document cover information explains what an Advance Health Directive is and why it is helpful, provides a step-by-step guide to making an Advance Health Directive, answers other frequently asked questions, an example of a completed form, and a blank Advance Health Directive.

30 Dec 2022... A Values and Preferences Form can be used to make a record of your values, preferences and wishes about your future health and personal care (advance care planning). The form includes information on why it is useful, how it relates to advance care planning, and how it differs from an Advance Health Directive.

20 Feb 2021... End of life and palliative care explained: End of life and palliative care helps improve the quality of life for someone who has a life-limiting illness by offering services, advice, information, referral and support. End of life and palliative care offers emotional and practical support to families, friends and carers. Palliative care is not just for people nearing the end of their lives. You can receive palliative care at the same time as other treatments for particular conditions. End of life and palliative care in Victoria is based on person-centred care, which means you and your family are treated in the way you want to be treated.  Palliative care can help you plan your care, including using an advanced care plan. Any person can make a referral for themselves or someone else to palliative care.    

28 Aug 2018... This video guide has information on how to recognise and rate the distress caused by breakthrough symptoms. Nurses and carers should use this guide along with other resources in the package to train carers. Caring@home resources are applicable Australia-wide for clinical services, health professionals and carers/families. 

31 Dec 2018... This video is an introduction to the Caring@home resource pack for carers developed by BSPCC. Nurses and carers should use this guide along with other resources in the package to train carers. Caring@home resources are applicable Australia-wide for clinical services, health professionals and carers/families. 

This booklet provides essential information and support for substitute decision-makers of family members in residential care. As a decision-maker, you will be responsible for making choices regarding their treatment and care—a significant responsibility. By taking practical and emotional steps to prepare, you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions on behalf of your loved one when the time arises.  

26 Jun 2021... This translated brochure has information on Advance Care Planning and who can help make medical decisions for you if you are unable to. 

If you have never looked after someone who is seriously ill before, it can be overwhelming. People find they need information and resources to help them manage daily life as a carer. This could be about how to manage medications or access transport, how to sort out your finances, or how to find some support for yourself.

01 Apr 2016... The communication tools provide patients, family and carers with information about the dying process.

When you have a serious illness, there are things to consider. You may want to think about your quality of life. What is important now? Whether you continue to work, how things are likely to change and how you can prepare for them is important.

14 Aug 2019... This video explains what advance care planning means and why it is important. It has advice on what steps you can take to plan for your future health and personal care.

01 Dec 2020... This fact sheet describes the practical benefits of palliative care services and aims to address what ethnic communities wish to know about it.

29 Feb 2024... The Palliative Care Victoria Glossary of Terms has been developed to help patients, carers, family members and staff to better understand and communicate terms and acronyms often used in palliative care. It is also designed to provide language professionals with access to accurate and culturally and linguistically appropriate palliative care terminology to ensure consistency both within and across languages. Each version has been professionally translated and tested with community representatives for accuracy and readability.

People vary in their knowledge and understanding of death and dying. Being informed can help you make the right decisions.

23 Oct 2023... This workbook can help you learn about advance care planning (ACP). It includes activities to help you gather your thoughts, get started and guide you through the process. Undertaking ACP requires you to think deeply about future situations in which you are unwell and unable to make decisions about your health care. If this is distressing, please seek the support of a family member, friend, or healthcare provider.

30 Dec 2022... This advance care planning (ACP) fact sheet helps you prepare for your future health and personal care. It explains why ACP is important, its process, and how it helps others understand your values, beliefs and preferences when you are no longer able to make or communicate decisions about your health and personal care.

Advance care planning is about planning ahead for your future healthcare, in case you are ever too sick to speak for yourself.

03 Jan 2017... Some things can help you to prepare as someone approaches the last few weeks and days of life. Having information can help you to make choices. People vary in what they know, understand and believe about death and dying. They also differ in what they want to know. Each individual should be as informed, or not, as they want to be. For many, knowing what to expect can help take some of the fear, distress and anxiety away. For others, having too much information gives them more things to worry about.

01 Sep 2023... Advance care planning information, including: Advance care planning information for individuals Advance care planning information for substitute decision-makers Advance care planning information for care workers Resources such as fact sheets, audio files, and videos are available. This resource is bilingual , featuring both an English version and a translated version for enhanced accessibility.

03 Mar 2020... The colour-coded labelling system acts as a safety check to ensure the correct medicine is given for each breakthrough symptom. Follow this link to download syringe labels and instructions for printing. This resource is part of the caring@home package for carers. Caring@home resources are applicable Australia-wide for clinical services, health professionals and carers/families. 

31 Dec 2018... The medicines diary is for carers to record all the subcutaneous medicines that are given to the person being cared for.  This resource is part of the caring@home package for carers. Caring@home resources are applicable Australia-wide for clinical services, health professionals and carers/families. 

23 Apr 2024... Audio, video, and written information about palliative care, including a bilingual brochure.  Although the English version of the podcast is not available, the multilingual podcasts contain roughly the same content as the brochure.

This guide will help support people with mental illness, their families and carers with the complex and diverse issues which might arise around advance care planning for the end of-life.

01 Jan 2020... This video explains advance care planning. Who will help make medical decisions for you, and how will they know what you want?

Even when it is expected, death can be a shock. Grief and loss can be felt in many ways.

01 Aug 2020... When someone is dying or has died, it can be a very difficult and stressful time. This booklet is meant to help. It provides support and direction during this time. It has information and practical ideas about things to do before and after an adult family member or friend dies.

06 Apr 2023... Video with information about palliative care in Auslan.

18 Mar 2019... This illustrated guide and accompanying video explain how to label a syringe correctly, open an ampoule and draw up medicine using a step-by-step approach.  An English video guide to an alternative ampoule opening technique is also available alternative ampoule opening technique here .  This guide is part of the caring@home package for carers. Caring@home resources are applicable Australia-wide for clinical services, health professionals and carers/families. 

31 Dec 2018... This handbook provides written and pictorial material with all the information a carer needs to help manage breakthrough symptoms safely using subcutaneous medicines. Using the caring@home package, you, together with your health care team, can help recognise and manage breakthrough symptoms if they occur. This handbook is part of the caring@home package for carers. Caring@home resources are applicable Australia-wide for clinical services, health professionals and carers/families. 

28 Aug 2018... This video guide has information on how to select the right subcutaneous medication for each breakthrough symptom to help keep the person you are caring for as comfortable as possible. Nurses and carers should use this guide along with other resources in the package to train carers. Caring@home resources are applicable Australia-wide for clinical services, health professionals and carers/families.