Most people want to spend their final months at home, surrounded by family. Government-funded care can make this possible — with the right support in place.
Pain and symptom management
Nursing visits to manage pain, nausea, breathlessness and other symptoms at home. Coordination with the palliative care team and GP.
Personal care
Help with showering, dressing, and personal hygiene — delivered with dignity and sensitivity to changing needs.
Emotional and psychological support
Counselling and support for both the person receiving care and family members navigating a difficult time.
Family carer support
Practical help and education for family carers. Respite visits so carers can rest. Support in the weeks following bereavement.
Allied health
Physiotherapy for comfort and mobility, occupational therapy for home safety, and speech pathology for eating and swallowing difficulties.
Care coordination
A care coordinator to liaise between the GP, specialist palliative care team, hospital, and home care services — reducing family burden.
If care is needed urgently for someone with a terminal illness, there is an expedited pathway through My Aged Care. Contact them and explain the situation is palliative or end-of-life.
My Aged Care — 1800 200 422
Request an urgent assessment — explain it is palliative
Your GP — Your regular GP
Ask for a referral to the local specialist palliative care team
WithSally — withsally.com.au/get
We can help coordinate provider matching while you navigate the system
Home care packages (Levels 1–8 under the Support at Home program) can fund palliative care services at home. Higher levels (5–8) provide $64,754–$78,106 per year (2025–26 rates — Source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care), giving families the budget for intensive end-of-life care.
What your package budget can pay for
Palliative assessments are prioritised. When contacting My Aged Care (1800 200 422), tell them the situation is urgent and palliative. An expedited assessment pathway exists for people with terminal illness — do not wait for the standard queue.
~70%
of Australians prefer to die at home
Source: Palliative Care Australia
Nov 2025
Support at Home program launched
Replacing the previous HCP system
Expedited
ACAT pathway for terminal illness
Contact My Aged Care urgently
Most Support at Home providers can deliver palliative care services — but expertise varies significantly. Specialist palliative care teams (through public hospitals and hospices) focus on symptom management and operate separately from home care packages. Both work best when they work together.
Questions to ask any home care provider
Before signing a service agreement, ask these directly:
Advance care planning documents what a person wants if they can no longer speak for themselves. It removes uncertainty and reduces pressure on family members at the hardest time. A Support at Home provider can work alongside advance care planning — the two complement each other.
Advance Care Directive
A legally binding document (in most states) that records a person's wishes about medical treatment and end-of-life care. Must be completed while the person has decision-making capacity.
Enduring Power of Attorney
Appoints someone to make financial and legal decisions on behalf of a person if they lose capacity. Separate from medical decisions.
Enduring Power of Guardianship
Appoints someone to make personal and lifestyle decisions — including medical treatment decisions — if the person loses capacity. Laws vary by state and territory.
Free support: Advance Care Planning Australia offers free guidance on completing advance care planning documents. Call 1300 208 582. Interpreting services available.
WithSally helps families find providers experienced in end-of-life and palliative home care. Gentle, independent guidance — at no cost to families.
Get guidance — free