Palliative care for culturally and linguistically diverse communities

You can use ‘end of life and palliative care’ services to help you and your family as you approach the end of your life. You can receive care in hospital or in your home. There are palliative care services that can help you and your family according to your cultural or religious beliefs.

The 2011 Australian Census of Population and Housing shows that Victorians come from more than 200 countries, speak 260 languages other than English at home, and follow some 130 religious faiths. Over a quarter of Victorians were born overseas and nearly half were either born overseas or have a parent born overseas.

You may be from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, or be a refugee or asylum seeker, but you contribute enormously to Victoria’s economic strength and social resilience.

Your community may have unique views, understandings and traditions about the end of life and loss, grief and bereavement. Healthcare workers come from a variety of different cultures and can provide care that is culturally appropriate for you.

Information in languages other than English

End of life and palliative care information in numerous languages is available on the Health Translations Directory. Languages include Arabic, B urmese, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Khmer, Karen, Serbian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Turkish and Vietnamese and many more.

Topics include family and carer information, the last days of life, advance care planning and helping people with a life-limiting illness to live well.

Audio podcasts that you can listen to are available in numerous languages from the podcast library at Palliative Care Victoria.

Further information is also available from the Palliative Care Advice Service.

Victoria’s end of life and palliative care framework

A summary of Victoria’s end of life and palliative care framework is available in Arabic, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Turkish and Vietnamese.

Further information is also available from the Palliative Care Advice Service.

More Information

• Palliative Care Advice Service
• The Victorian Government has established the Health Translations Directorythat has further resources in your language.
• Palliative Care Victoriahas a range of resources in community languages.
• You can also call Palliative Care Victoriaon (03) 9662 9644 and ask for more information.