Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

To move:

That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 12 September 2012:

The provision of palliative care in Australia, including:

  (a)   the factors influencing access to and choice of appropriate palliative care that meets the needs of the population, including:

     (i)   people living in rural and regional areas,

     (ii)   Indigenous people,

     (iii)   people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,

     (iv)   people with disabilities, and

     (v)   children and adolescents;

  (b)   the funding arrangements for palliative care provision, including the manner in which sub-acute funding is provided and spent;

  (c)   the efficient use of palliative, health and aged care resources;

  (d)   the effectiveness of a range of palliative care arrangements, including hospital care, residential or community care and aged care facilities;

  (e)   the composition of the palliative care workforce, including:

     (i)   its ability to meet the needs of the ageing population, and

     (ii)   the adequacy of workforce education and training arrangements;

  (f)   the adequacy of standards that apply to the provision of palliative care and the application of the Standards for Providing Quality Care to All Australians;

  (g)   advance care planning, including:

     (i)   avenues for individuals and carers to communicate with health care professionals about end-of-life care,

     (ii)   national consistency in law and policy supporting advance care plans, and

     (iii)   scope for including advance care plans in personal electronic health records; and

  (h)   the availability and funding of research, information and data about palliative care needs in Australia.