Palliative care was put on the agenda in Launceston on Tuesday through a Wellness Information Day Mini Expo at Invermay.
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The event was part of National Palliative Care Week, which this year carries the theme of ‘what matters most’.
Volunteers, carers and service providers joined members of the community at The Boathouse cafe to celebrate the annual week of observance.
Palliative Care Tasmania chief executive Colleen Johnstone said all Tasmanians deserved to have a “good death”.
“We know what matters most to people is either dying at home or in their communities,” she said.
“They want to be free from pain while also maintaining their independence.
“This is why the work of our palliative care volunteers is so important.
“We wanted them to be the focus of the expo.”
Tuesday’s mini expo comes after the state launch of National Palliative Care Week at Parliament House on Monday.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson was joined by John Pauley and Angela Smith, who both have personal experience with palliative care.
Mr Ferguson said the government aimed to “strengthen the role of primary health providers” in providing palliative care.
“End of life care is so important, not only to an individual in their last moments, but also to their families in providing a caring, supportive environment,” he said.
“The state government is committed to ensuring Tasmanians receive the best health care, and this includes end of life care.
“Our Compassionate Communities policy framework, released last year, adopts a whole-of-community approach to palliative care.”
Ms Johnstone said while progress had been made, many people were still uncomfortable talking to their family about death.
“It’s still a difficult topic to broach in conversation, but the reality is that 85 per cent of us will receive palliative care at some point so it’s time to start talking about it now,” she said.