QUALITY USE OF COMMUNITY
PALLIATIVE CARE MEDICINES
PROJECT
Improving safe, timely and coordinated access to palliative care medicines across Australia.
The project aims to increase access to quality and timely end-of-life care for patients who choose to be cared for at home and, if possible, die in their preferred place.
This project is informed by national and international evidence demonstrating the importance of timely access to core palliative care medicines, standardised prescribing practices, and collaboration between prescribers, pharmacists and nurses to support quality end-of-life care in the community.
Over the next two-and-a-half years (July 2025-December 2027), the project partners will utilise their respective expertise and networks to create a multi-layered health professional education strategy for the national implementation of the National Core Community Palliative Care Medicines List.
Reference: Tait P, Aylmer K, Christie L, Cooper K, Fong L, Lin C-C, Marinucci A, Reed K, Taylor G, Tremlett M, Tuffin P, Reymond L. A National Core Community Palliative Care Medicines List for managing end-of-life symptoms. Australian Journal of General Practice. 2025;54(9).
“Caring for my mum at home during her final days was incredibly complex and emotional.
Having a healthcare team that understood our situation and ensured urgent palliative medicines were on hand made all the difference.”
~Leah~
Our collective aims are to:
- Enhance capability and confidence of health professionals in community settings and residential aged care homes
- Promote medicines safety and reduce avoidable hospitalisations.
- Support patients to receive end-of-life care at home
Our audiences will include:
- General Practitioners & Nurse Practitioners
- Domiciliary & Aged Care Nurses
- Pharmacists & Pharmacy Assistants
- Consumers & Carers
Together, we will deliver:
- Pharmacists Education Module
- Educational Products for Prescribers and Nurses
- End-of-Life Care Imprest System templates
- Consumer and Carer Information
- Pharmacy Aware Campaign
- Communities of Practice for Pharmacists and Aged Care Nurses
- Evaluation Framework and Plan
SUPPORTING QUALITY PALLIATIVE CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
Palliative Care Community of Practice
In support of National Palliative Care Week (10-16 May), the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is launching its new Palliative Care Community of Practice (COP) in collaboration with Palliative Care Australia, Ageing Australia, and caring@home, recognising the essential role that pharmacists play in providing timely, compassionate end-of-life care. PSA National President, Professor Mark Naunton MPS, said the Palliative Care COP was designed to support pharmacists to optimise medication management and to ensure patients receive quality end-of-life care that is safe, effective, and respectful.
The 4 medicines every pharmacy should have for palliative care
A new National Core Community Palliative Care Medicines List outlines the essential medicines community pharmacies should stock to support people at the end of life. By improving timely access to treatments for symptoms like pain, breathlessness and nausea, the initiative aims to help more Australians receive care where they prefer including at home. Developed by Palliative Care Australia in partnership with key sector organisations, the list identifies four medicines critical in the final stages of illness.
Building pharmacists' confidence in community palliative care
Supporting timely access to palliative care medicines starts with a confident workforce. Developed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia as part of the Quality Use of Community Palliative Care Medicines (QuM) Project, this free online education module helps pharmacists understand Australia’s National Core Community Palliative Care Medicines and their role in providing safe, person-centred care at the end of life. The module is available free to pharmacists, interns and pharmacy students and contributes one hour of CPD.
Strengthening prescribers’ capability in palliative care and anticipatory prescribing
Supporting people’s choice to die in their place of residence requires a workforce confident in palliative care, anticipatory prescribing and symptom management. Developed by caring@home as part of the Quality Use of Community Palliative Care Medicines (QUM) Project, the End of Life Care Hub provides practical, evidence based resources to strengthen prescribers’ capability in delivering community palliative care. This free online education supports prescribers to deliver safe, person centered care through CPD accredited learning and practical tools. The Hub includes activities such as the Anticipatory Prescribing in Terminal Phase Care Mini Audit, FastTrack learning modules and clinical resources designed to build confidence in anticipatory prescribing, symptom management and the quality use of palliative care medicines.
Four medicines, one list - Professor Liz Reymond
Most Australians say they want to die at home. But when symptoms escalate in those final days, families often find themselves at the pharmacy with a script that can’t be filled. At least not straight away.
Pharmacists, your role matters more than ever in palliative care
Help your community access the medicines and services they need by making sure your pharmacy is ready and visible.
- Stock the essentials – the four medicines from the National Core Community Palliative Care Medicines List.
- Update your service offerings – register or refresh your listing on the National Health Services Directory.
- Watch and learn – a quick 2-minute video shows you how simple it is.
Your commitment makes a difference. Lets ensure people know where to turn when it matters most.
Bringing quality palliative care home
For many Australians, the preference at the end of life is simple – to be cared for and if possible, to pass away at home, surrounded by familiar comforts and loved ones.
Yet, timely access to essential palliative medicines in community settings remains a persistent challenge, particularly for older Australians living at home or in residential aged care.
Quality Use of Community Palliative Care Medicines Survey
The Quality Use of Community Palliative Care Medicines Project survey has now closed.
The survey invited registered nurses working in residential and home and community aged care to share their experiences with palliative care medicines. The findings provide valuable evidence to inform the development of practical education and resources that reflect real-world practice.
Insights from the survey will help shape the Quality Use of Community Palliative Care Medicines micro-credentials and support the development of resources designed to build confidence, strengthen knowledge and support best-practice end-of-life care.
As part of the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology Program the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has funded The Quality Use of Community Palliative Care Medicines Project. The Project will be delivered through a consortium, led by Palliative Care Australia (PCA) in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Ageing Australia and caring@home.
THE CONSORTIUM
THE PROJECT ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS
A new Project Advisory Group (PAG) has been formed to support the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) in Community Palliative Care project.
The group includes representatives from general practice, nursing, pharmacy, people with lived experience, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and multicultural backgrounds, as well as rural and remote health, policy, and safety experts.
Their contributions will help shape education programs and resources developed under the project to ensure they support health professionals and carers providing home-based palliative care to people in the terminal phase of life.
The PAG group members are from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, World Wellness Group, the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA), the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP), and Brisbane South Primary Health Network and consumer representatives.
The group brings together:
- Clinical leaders in general practice, nursing, and pharmacy
- Consumer and carer voices
- Cultural diversity, including Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and multicultural representation
- Rural and remote health perspectives
- Policy and safety expertise
This diverse range of skills and experience of the group ensures the project is inclusive, evidence-based, and responsive to the needs of all Australians.
Click on each member’s name to read their bio.
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CEO The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing and Aged Care Council (NATSIAACC)
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