End-of-Life Care Pathway in Australia

Staying Home When It Matters Most

When someone you love has been told they have three months or less to live, everything changes. The medical appointments, the conversations you never expected to have, the weight of decisions that suddenly need making. In the middle of all that, one thing is often very clear: they want to be at home.

Most Australians say they would prefer to die at home, surrounded by the people and things that matter to them. The End-of-Life Care Pathway exists to make that possible. It provides up to 16 weeks of intensive, fully funded palliative support so that people in Australia can remain at home with comfort, dignity, and the clinical care they need.

MD Home Care connects families in Australia with experienced palliative care providers who deliver this pathway. You should not have to spend these weeks searching for the right support. Let us help you find it.

What the End-of-Life Pathway Provides

The End-of-Life Care Pathway is a dedicated stream within the Support at Home program. It provides approximately $25,000 in government funding over up to 16 weeks, specifically for people who have been assessed as having a life expectancy of three months or less.

This is not a one-size-fits-all package. The funding covers a wide range of services that are put together based on what the person and their family actually need. The aim is simple: to keep the person comfortable, to manage their symptoms, and to support the people around them through an incredibly difficult time.

Nursing Care

Registered Nurses with palliative care experience provide regular home visits and are available for urgent needs. Nursing care under this pathway typically includes:

• Pain and symptom assessment and management.
• Administration of medications, including subcutaneous injections and syringe driver management.
• Wound care and skin integrity management.
• Monitoring and responding to changes in condition.
• Coordination with the person’s GP, palliative care specialist, and hospital team.
• After-hours nursing support when symptoms change or new concerns arise.

The nursing team becomes a steady, reliable presence during a time when everything else feels uncertain. They know what to expect at each stage and can prepare you for what is coming, which many families say is one of the most valuable things they provide.

Allied Health Support

Depending on the person’s needs, the pathway can include physiotherapy (positioning and comfort), occupational therapy (equipment like hospital beds and shower chairs), speech pathology (swallowing management), dietetics (nutritional guidance as appetite changes), and social work or counselling for emotional support and advance care planning.

Personal Care, Domestic Support, and Equipment

As the person’s condition progresses, the pathway funds personal care (showering, dressing, toileting), meal preparation, light household tasks, and overnight care. It also covers clinical equipment and consumables including hospital beds, pressure mattresses, mobility aids, continence products, and wound care supplies. Your provider arranges delivery and setup in your Australia home.

Pain Management and Comfort

Pain management is at the centre of end-of-life care. No one should spend their final weeks in unnecessary pain, and modern palliative care has effective tools to prevent that.

The nursing team works closely with the person’s GP and palliative care specialist to manage pain proactively. This includes regular pain assessments, medication adjustments as needs change, syringe driver management for continuous medication delivery, and non-pharmacological comfort measures like positioning and environmental adjustments. Family members also receive guidance on breakthrough pain management so you feel confident responding between nursing visits.

Beyond pain, the team manages other symptoms that commonly arise, including nausea, breathlessness, restlessness, anxiety, and fatigue. The goal is always comfort and quality of life.

Support for Families

End-of-life care is not only about the person who is dying. It is about everyone around them. Families carry an enormous emotional and practical load during this time, and the pathway recognises that.

Practical support includes respite for family carers, overnight care so family members can sleep, and help with household tasks that fall by the wayside when your focus is on your loved one.

Emotional support comes through counselling and social work services for family members, including help with anticipatory grief, family communication, and preparing children for what is happening.

After-death support continues after the person passes. Many providers offer bereavement support in the weeks following, helping with immediate practical tasks and emotional adjustment.

Advance care planning helps families have the conversations that matter, covering wishes regarding resuscitation, hospitalisation, and medical intervention. Having these discussions early, with professional support, reduces stress later.

Accessing the End-of-Life Pathway

The End-of-Life Care Pathway has priority access built in. When someone has limited time, waiting weeks for an assessment is not acceptable. The process is designed to move quickly.

1. Medical Confirmation: A doctor confirms that the person has a life expectancy of three months or less. This does not need to be an exact prognosis; a reasonable clinical judgment is sufficient.

2. Contact My Aged Care: Call 1800 200 422. Let them know you are requesting the End-of-Life Pathway. This flags the request as urgent.

3. Priority Assessment: An assessor visits promptly, often within days rather than weeks, to confirm eligibility and assess needs.

4. Choose a Provider: Once approved, you choose a palliative care provider. MD Home Care connects you with experienced end-of-life care providers in Australia who can start quickly.

5. Care Begins: Your provider sets up the care team, arranges equipment, and begins delivering services. The focus from day one is on comfort and on what matters to the person and their family.

If the person is being discharged from hospital, the hospital palliative care team can often initiate this process before discharge, so that care is ready when they arrive home.

Finding End-of-Life Care Providers Through MD Home Care

MD Home Care helps you browse and connect with providers in Australia who have specific experience in end-of-life care. When looking at providers, consider their palliative care experience (look for dedicated palliative teams), after-hours availability, family support services, and how quickly they can start.

“When we found out Dad had weeks rather than months, we panicked. We did not know how we were going to manage at home. The palliative care team that MD Home Care connected us with had a nurse at our door within two days. They managed his pain beautifully, they were there whenever we called, and they helped us through the hardest time of our lives with such kindness and professionalism. Dad got his wish. He stayed home.” - Sarah K., Australia

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the person have to be in the final days of life to access this pathway? No. The pathway is for people with an expected life expectancy of three months or less. It is designed to be accessed early enough to properly set up care, manage symptoms, and support the family through the entire period.

What if the person lives longer than three months? The pathway can be extended in some cases, or the person may transition to ongoing Support at Home services. No one is cut off from care because a prognosis turns out to be longer than expected.

Is there any cost to the family? The End-of-Life Pathway is fully government funded. Families should not be asked to pay for services delivered under this pathway.

Can the person still see their own GP? Absolutely. The palliative care nursing team works alongside the person’s existing GP and any specialists. They do not replace your doctor; they work with them to ensure the best possible care.

What if the person needs to go to hospital? If a hospital visit is needed, the care team coordinates with the hospital and resumes home care upon discharge. The goal is to minimise hospital time, but it is not about avoiding hospital at all costs. Sometimes a short hospital stay is the best option for symptom management.

Can care be provided overnight? Yes. The pathway funds overnight care when needed, particularly in the final days when symptoms can change rapidly and family members need rest.

Call 1800 953 253 to discuss end-of-life care options in Australia and get connected with a provider.

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About the End-of-Life Care Pathway

The End-of-Life Care Pathway is a fully funded, short-term palliative support program within the Support at Home system. It provides up to 16 weeks of intensive care for people with a life expectancy of three months or less, enabling them to remain at home with comfort and dignity.

End-of-life care providers through MD Home Care:

• Employ Registered Nurses with palliative care experience
• Provide 7-day-a-week availability including after-hours support
• Coordinate with GPs, palliative care specialists, and hospital teams
• Offer family support including counselling, respite, and bereavement care
• Arrange clinical equipment and supplies for home-based care

Regulatory Information: MD Home Care connects you with registered aged care providers. End-of-life care services comply with Aged Care Quality Standards, Support at Home program requirements, and the National Palliative Care Standards.

Last Updated: April 1, 2026