Our vision at Palliative Care NSW is that Palliative Care is understood, valued and accessible to all, with equity at its heart. Our purpose is to lead, support and advocate for the development & provision of quality palliative care across NSW.
An important part of our advocacy role is to provide feedback to the NSW Government on priorities that should be considered each year as the state budget is developed. These submissions, to be effective, must demonstrate the positive impact the investment will have on individuals, the community, and the workforce, as well as positive economic or broader health system impacts.
This budget submission acknowledges that decision making by governments will be informed and influenced by economic evaluations and the comparison of costs and outcomes. We must be able to demonstrate that not only are we positively impacting the lives of individuals and their families, but that palliative care is cost-effective and/or cost-saving. For palliative care, some of the most effective ways investment impact can be demonstrated is through markers such as reduced hospital admissions, ambulance call outs, and reduced acute hospital stays. Any data services can collect and share on this is invaluable.
While it can be frustrating that this message does not always have cut through, we see this pre-budget submission as an opportunity to start a conversation with Ministers, Members of Parliament and their policy teams. Conversations raise awareness of palliative care, generating allies and supporters.
Our budget submission is informed through our ongoing engagement with members, the sector, stakeholders, and the community. While there are many priority areas we could focus on, these five were identified for this year. I am always open to hearing your thoughts and feedback on these priority areas or future areas of investment you believe we need to be advocating for.
Kirsty Blades
CEO
Executive Summary
Palliative Care NSW (PCNSW) submits this pre-Budget proposal to address critical and growing gaps in palliative and end-of-life care across New South Wales. As patterns of mortality shift toward chronic and non-malignant disease, population ageing accelerates, and pressure on NSW public hospitals intensifies, the current system requires targeted reform and investment. This submission outlines five priority areas that together aim to improve equity, quality, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of palliative care in NSW.
Priority Area 1 – Equitable access to palliative care
OUTCOME SOUGHT
Equitable and early access to palliative care for all NSW residents with a life-limiting illness whether malignant or non-malignant
Current specialist palliative care (SPC) models remain disproportionately oriented toward cancer, despite non-malignant conditions now accounting for the majority of deaths in NSW. As a result, people living with dementia and other chronic conditions experience delayed or inadequate access to palliative care, leading to unmanaged symptoms, avoidable hospital presentations, and poor end-of-life experiences. PCNSW seeks statewide implementation of the Supportive Care for Chronic Disease model, proven in Hunter New England LHD to significantly reduce emergency department presentations and unplanned hospital bed days while improving patient and carer outcomes. Investment of $8.4 million per annum would deliver substantial system savings through hospital avoidance and improved equity of care.
Priority Area 2 – Holistic and person-centred care
OUTCOME SOUGHT
Address gaps in volunteer service areas to ensure people with life-limiting illnesses, their family, and carers are holistically supported through illness and bereavement.
Palliative care volunteers play a critical role in addressing psychosocial distress, social isolation, and carer burden, yet access to volunteer services remains inconsistent—particularly in rural and regional NSW. Many people not connected to SPC services are currently excluded from volunteer support altogether. PCNSW proposes targeted funding to establish and manage volunteer services in identified gap areas through an expansion of its existing Volunteer Services Support Program. An investment of $950,000 per annum would strengthen community-based care, improve wellbeing, and deliver strong economic returns, with evidence showing every dollar invested in volunteering yields approximately $5.60 in social and economic benefit.
Priority Area 3- Skilled & Confident Care Delivery
OUTCOME SOUGHT
Prevent unnecessary hospital admissions for palliative care by building confidence, competency, and capacity of the aged care workforce.
Nearly half of older Australians who die expected deaths are admitted to hospital in their final weeks of life, often due to a lack of confidence and capability within aged care settings. Inconsistent access to education, fragmented cross-sector collaboration, and inequitable workforce development are contributing to avoidable hospitalisations and system strain. PCNSW seeks funding for a dedicated Aged Care Palliative Care Guidance Manager and scholarships for aged care clinicians to complete accredited palliative care education. These initiatives would improve workforce confidence, support compliance with standards, and reduce avoidable hospital admissions at modest cost with clear system offsets.
Priority Area 4 – Subacute Palliative Care
OUTCOME SOUGHT
That all people in NSW, their families and carers are able to be cared for in the place of their choosing, with more dedicated subacute palliative care units for those who are unable to remain at home and do not wish to die in an acute hospital setting.
While most people prefer to be cared for and die at home, many ultimately require inpatient care. In the absence of sufficient subacute palliative care units, patients are frequently admitted to acute hospital wards that do not align with their needs or preferences and are significantly more costly. PCNSW supports continuation and expansion of capital investment in dedicated palliative care units, building on the NSW Government’s existing $93 million commitment. Replicating this investment would reduce acute bed block, lower costs, and improve dignity, comfort, and outcomes for patients and families.
Priority Area 5 – Peak body sustainability
OUTCOME SOUGHT
Palliative Care NSW continues to support the community, members, the sector, stakeholders and the NSW Government with trusted information, education and advocacy.
As the peak body for palliative care in NSW, PCNSW plays a vital role in advocacy, workforce support, community education, and system integration. Despite serving the most populous state, PCNSW receives the lowest per-capita government funding of any state palliative care peak body. Demand for community education, professional support, and trusted information now exceeds current capacity, particularly in regional and rural areas. Increased recurrent funding is required to align PCNSW’s role with NSW Government priorities in public health, prevention, and person-centred care, and to mitigate risks associated with misinformation and unregulated providers.
Download the 2026-2027 NSW Pre-budget submission by clicking HERE