
Retreats 2021
Retreats 2021

Palliative Nexus
Improving equity, access, and quality of care in serious illness
Service Models for Serious Illness
Right care, Right place, Right time
Our research program designs new ways to deliver the best care for people with no time to waste






This study evaluates the effect of implementing early palliative care across a series of cancers as a clinical practice change. As people reach pre-defined transition points in their illness, they will, by default receive early palliative care.
Reducing variation and improving access will facilitate high-quality care in advanced illness for everyone.
This study examines the impact of early palliative care introduced at key transition points for people with high-grade glioma.
Using transition points as an indicator for palliative care integration will reduce variation and improve equity of care.
When there is more than one person waiting to be admitted to the palliative care service, a transparent, standardised and equitable system is required to make decisions about urgency. The RUN-PC tool was developed using mixed methods approaches and is now being implemented into practice across multiple sites of clinical care. RUN-PC offers a way of prioritising palliative care patients who present for care with complex and differing needs.
How do those in our community who have particular vulnerabilities fare when facing the end of life? This suite of studies examines palliative care provision for people experiencing a range of vulnerabilities including Indigenous Australians, prisoners, those who use illicit drugs, those with mental health disorders and the homeless. New and creative models of care are required for people experiencing vulnerability.
We are using mixed methods approaches to define objective transition points in an illness course which can be used as a prompt to integrate palliative care for people with serious illness.
Using transition points to standardize timing of palliative care integration will reduce variable and late referrals.
We are conducting a range of studies examining models of care for people with advanced non-malignant illness - now focusing on advanced respiratory and chronic kidney disease.
New models of care embedded in chronic illness management approaches are being evaluated for their relevance, responsiveness and sustainability.