Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs References Committee.

The Australian Government’s Support at Home reforms are a critical opportunity to embed palliative care as core business in in-home aged care. However, long wait times for assessment, package allocation and service commencement undermine access to timely palliative care and end-of-life care at home - leading to avoidable hospitalisations, premature residential aged care entry and additional strain on carers.

PCA recommends predictable release of home care packages, and changes to the design of the Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway, namely:

• publication of anticipated Priority Review timeframes to enter the program
• removal of the 16-week maximum timeframe
• creation of an exemptions process for those who outlive this timeframe.

PCA also calls for a national monitoring framework and biennial independent reporting on palliative care access, quality, workforce training and outcomes in aged care. These steps are essential to ensure equitable, timely access to palliative care across the aged care system.

Inquiry into aged care service delivery