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National Close the Gap Day (16 March 2023) is an important annual event that serves as a National Day of Commitment and action on achieving health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The event is a call to action for all Australians to work towards closing the gap in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Resources to support palliative care on Country  

The National Palliative Care Project, caring@home for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families has today released a short film Uncle Gungalung’s journey: palliative care on Country, telling the story of a family from North-West Queensland.

Indigenous Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Kat Hooper vividly recounts the story of Uncle Gungalung, his family and the positive effects of being cared for on Country.

Palliative care that is delivered at home or on Country for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people represents best practice, patient-centred care that may improve outcomes for patients, families and communities.

Uncle Gungalung and his family were supported by palliative care clinicians. His family were trained using culturally appropriate caring@home resources, to help manage symptoms including giving medicines. This enabled Uncle Gungalung to achieve his wish of being cared for and passing on Country.

Free caring@home resources are available to clinical services Australia-wide. Hard copies can be ordered or downloaded from the website.caring@home for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families is committed to improving end-of-life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families and communities regardless of where they live.

www.caringathomeproject.com.au