Shellharbour Palliative Care Provider Encounters Obstacles in Accessing New End-of-Life Support Funds
A dedicated palliative care business operating in Shellharbour is actively raising awareness about significant financial support available for older Australians who wish to spend their final months at home, while simultaneously navigating substantial access barriers within the newly implemented system.
Understanding the End-of-Life Pathway and Support at Home Program
The recently introduced End-of-Life Pathway provides eligible participants with a substantial sum of $25,000 disbursed over a twelve-week period. This funding is specifically allocated to individuals assessed by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner as having less than three months to live and who express a clear preference to remain in their own residence.
This initiative forms a crucial component of the broader Support at Home program, which officially commenced on November 1, 2025. This new program consolidates and replaces the previous Home Care Packages (HCP) and the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) schemes. Furthermore, the existing Commonwealth Home Support Program is scheduled to transition into the Support at Home framework, with this change slated to occur no earlier than July 1, 2027.
The overarching goal of these reforms is to empower older Australians to maintain their independence at home for as long as possible, fostering community connections and ensuring consistent access to essential health and wellbeing services. These structural changes directly respond to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which advocated for a more unified and streamlined approach to in-home aged care support.
Navigating Practical Roadblocks and Provider Hesitation
Jade Rowland, co-founder of Sisternightingale Home Nursing, acknowledges that the End-of-Life Pathway funding represents a "great change" in principle. However, she reports encountering practical difficulties that prevent some clients from utilising these vital resources.
"The primary issue we have identified involves clients who are already engaged with an existing care provider," Ms Rowland explained. "Some of these established providers are informing their long-term clients that they are not yet equipped or authorised to facilitate the end-of-life pathway, effectively blocking access."
This communication gap or operational delay from some private providers risks discouraging eligible individuals from pursuing the funding altogether, potentially leaving them without support that is legally available to them. Ms Rowland emphasises that once a doctor confirms eligibility, the responsibility falls entirely on the individual or their family to locate a provider willing and able to administer the funds.
"While it is fantastic that this financial support exists, there are undeniable roadblocks preventing seamless access for everyone who qualifies," she stated.
The Impact of Funding and Sisternightingale's Specialised Approach
The $25,000 allocation can facilitate a significant level of care. Sarah Rowland, a palliative care nurse and Jade's wife, detailed the potential impact.
"For a patient with only a few weeks remaining, this funding translates into substantial nursing hours, including overnight care and daily visits," she said. The couple currently provides care for a patient involving multiple respite shifts and daily two-hour visits, yet they anticipate not exhausting the full funding allocation during the care period.
Sisternightingale distinguishes itself by deploying only palliative-registered or endorsed enrolled nurses to client homes. The service offers comprehensive liaison with other providers, community palliative care teams, and the patient's extended healthcare network. Based in Shellharbour, they provide 24-hour clinical phone support and collaborate closely with families to develop personalised care rosters tailored to specific needs.
A Call for Community Awareness and Support
Jade Rowland has issued a heartfelt plea to the local community, encouraging anyone with questions about the End-of-Life Pathway to make contact.
"We want our community to remember the name Sisternightingale," she urged. "Please call us, even if it's just to inquire about the funding and how it works. If our service isn't the right fit, that's perfectly acceptable. We can still provide guidance on what to look for and direct people towards the supports that should be available to them."
The business remains committed to overcoming these systemic hurdles to ensure that every eligible individual in the Illawarra region can access the dignified, at-home end-of-life care they are entitled to under the new national program.
