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Mount Druitt Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit is part of the fabric of western Sydney and recently it celebrated 25 years of providing comfort and care.

However, it’s not the walls of the building that hold the stories of those who’ve spent their final moments in the unit, it’s the staff and volunteers.

“The beautiful thing about this place is that it’s a massive team. Everyone comes to work and works so hard, but they also leave a bit of their soul here and a bit of their heart,” Nicole Winters, Aboriginal Supportive and Palliative Care Officer said.

Western Sydney Supportive Care Volunteer Service Volunteer Manager, Kylie Clark, said her palliative care volunteers were an important part of the celebration.

“Anne, Sue, and James have volunteered here since the Palliative Care volunteer service began in Western Sydney LHD seven years ago. Ray has just started volunteering this year and is finding it very rewarding,” said Kylie.

For Palliative Care Consultants like Jus Rakhr, the supportive nature of the team is something that makes the workplace particularly unique.

“The beautiful thing about this place is that it’s a massive team. Everyone comes to work and works so hard, but they also leave a bit of their soul here and a bit of their heart,” she said.

The celebration was also attended by Maria Lingam, WSLHD Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services.

“There is something very special and unique about the staff that work here in this unit. You work under extraordinary conditions – particularly when you work for patients at their most vulnerable,” said Maria.

These sentiments were echoed by General Manager of Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals, Brad Ceely, who spoke about the lasting impact of palliative care for all that it touches,

“One of the nice things about palliative care is that there is no limit to what we can do – there is that real out-of-the-box thinking in how we deliver care.”