In the vast, remote regions of Northern Queensland, a groundbreaking initiative is transforming end-of-life care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“Every family deserves to care for their loved ones at home, no matter where they live,” says Charlene McCall, clinical nurse and team lead of the Pop-Up Palliative Care Service, launched in late 2022 by the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service.

This groundbreaking program addresses critical gaps in end-of-life care for remote communities, bringing compassionate, culturally sensitive support directly to patients. It allows individuals to remain connected to their homes, families, and cultural practices during their final days.

Through a community-driven approach, the service is transforming palliative care in these regions. By combining cultural understanding with flexibility, it meets the unique challenges of remote areas while respecting the people and traditions it serves.

The origins and evolution of Pop-Up Palliative Care

The Pop-Up Palliative Care Service was born from a deeply felt need within the community, says Charlene. “We saw the gaps in the system and realised that palliative care was inaccessible for many in our region,” she says.

Initially, the service started as a small pilot project, aiming to provide mobile care to patients who could not access traditional facilities. But the need was overwhelming, and quickly led to the service’s transition into a full-time operation, allowing them to expand their reach and deepen their impact.

Throughout this evolution, the team has remained committed to a community-driven approach, consulting closely with families and local elders to understand the cultural and practical needs of the community, which in turn has shaped the service’s structure and overall mission. By embedding community input into every step, the service ensures it aligns with the values and needs of those it serves.

Brining it home

Access to palliative care has long been a challenge for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, who often face geographical isolation, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and cultural insensitivity in traditional healthcare settings. The Pop-Up Palliative Care Service is directly addressing these issues by providing care where it’s needed most—at home.

Central to this success is the inclusion of First Nations staff, whose cultural knowledge ensures care respects traditions and spiritual practices.

“We respect the traditions and beliefs that guide how our people view death and dying,” says Charlene. “It’s about ensuring that care is not just clinical, but also honours spiritual and cultural practices.” This commitment to cultural sensitivity is evident in every aspect of the service, from care planning to family support.

A model of success

With 87 percent of patients now able to receive palliative care closer to home, compared to previous models where patients were often transferred to urban hospitals, the small-by-comparison service is having a big impact. It’s a sizeable shift that’s improved not only health outcomes, but also the emotional wellbeing of patients and their families.

There are, it seems, endless stories of the positive impact their end-of-life care is having. But for Charlene, one patient story rises above the rest.

“We brought home a patient with end-stage renal failure who was given only weeks to live. Her sister, a community elder, cared for her and made sure she had things like traditional bush tea, and nine months later, she was still with us,” says Charlene.

“Getting her home to [her] community was medicine in itself, being home with family. And that is the key to it; that's where we see the positives.”

Later, when her sister also fell ill, the two chose to stay together at home. “We brought two hospital beds into one house so they could spend their final days side by side. It was one of the most special moments we’ve ever witnessed.”

The service also supports families in a hands-on way by offering 24/7 coverage in each community and personalised care plans. Family members are actively involved in decision-making, which empowers them and provides peace of mind during an often challenging time.

The team behind the service

In recognition of their innovative approach and the impact they’ve had on the communities they serve, the Pop-Up Palliative Care Service was nominated for a National Palliative Care Award in 2023 — less than a year after implementing the service full-time.

“Our model of care is very much a person focused and community focused model, and I think that's why it works so well, because we engage with our community members, we engage with the family, and we have a lot of deep conversation around what each person's requirements are and what they need from us,” says Charlene.

“The nomination wasn’t just for us—It was for the clinicians, and carers in the communities we serve,” Charlene reflects. “It’s a recognition of how our service is helping to change the face of palliative care in remote Australia.”

Nominations for the 2025 National Palliative Care Awards close on 19 June, 2025, more information and nominations HERE.