Palliative Care Australia echoes Aged Care Inspector-General’s call to base access to palliative care on need, not life expectancy
05 Sep 2025
PCA CEO Camilla Rowland said the report highlights areas where aged care reforms have not fully met the Royal Commission’s vision, but it also acknowledges concerns raised by PCA.
“Palliative Care Australia strongly agrees with the Inspector-General that the 16-week limit for care under the End-of-Life Pathway risks people losing access when they need it most,” Ms Rowland said.
She also emphasised that access to palliative care should be based on need, not life expectancy. “The prognosis-based approach has not worked as intended in residential aged care and should not be relied on in the new system of aged care at home,” she said.
PCA supports IGAC’s recommendation that prognosis-based eligibility for palliative care pathways be independently evaluated.
Ms Rowland highlighted positive aspects of the new Aged Care Act, starting 1 November 2025, including:
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A right to equitable access to palliative care in the Statement of Rights
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New Quality Standards requiring aged care services to provide palliative and end-of-life care
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An expectation that all aged care services undertake advance care planning
She added that there is still work to do to make palliative care core business in aged care, including ongoing investment in workforce skills and mandatory palliative care training for all staff providing direct care.
“The report also shows the importance of having an independent watchdog to monitor the progress of aged care reforms,” Ms Rowland said.
Palliative Care Australia’s submission contributed to the development of the IGAC progress report.
Source: Palliative Care Australia
