Understanding the different roles in palliative care

When a loved one needs palliative care, it’s natural to have questions. Who will be looking after them? What kind of support can we expect? Who do we turn to when we need help? Understanding the roles of the people involved can make a difficult time feel a little less overwhelming.

Palliative care is a team effort between family and carers, with different professionals working together to provide medical care, physical and emotional support, and practical assistance. Each role exists to meet a specific need — whether it’s managing symptoms, offering comfort, or guiding families through difficult decisions.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the different roles a palliative care team may include so you know who to turn to and how they can support your family and you. When you understand the role of each professional, you’ll feel more prepared, more informed, and more reassured that your loved one is being cared for with expertise and compassion.

Whether your loved one is receiving palliative care in residential aged care or at home, this team-based approach ensures they have access to a full range of specialised support, tailored to their individual needs.

Palliative care doctor

A palliative care doctor is responsible for overseeing the medical needs and symptom management of individuals in palliative care. Their role is not about curing illness but about ensuring comfort, dignity, and quality of life. They work closely with nurses, allied health professionals, and families to create a care plan that reflects the patient’s needs and preferences.

Responsibilities of a palliative care doctor

Palliative care physicians (and, in some instances, surgeons) play a key role in ensuring that a patient’s symptoms are well-managed and that their care remains aligned with their wishes. They focus on reducing discomfort and improving overall well-being.

• Develop and oversee the medical treatment plan.
• Prescribe medications for pain relief, nausea, breathlessness, and other symptoms.
• Monitor the patient’s condition and adjust treatment as needed.
• Coordinate with nurses, allied health professionals, and other specialists to ensure holistic care.
• Support families by explaining medical decisions and answering concerns.
• Assist with advance care planning to ensure care aligns with the patient’s preferences.

When to turn to a palliative care doctor

A palliative care doctor provides ongoing medical support, but there are key times when their expertise is particularly important.

• If pain relief or symptom management isn’t working effectively.
• When discussing or adjusting treatment options and medication plans.
• If a loved one’s condition changes or deteriorates and new care measures are needed.
• When seeking guidance on how to manage symptoms at home or in a facility.
• If there are concerns about how complex care should progress as the illness advances.

Palliative care nurse

A palliative care nurse plays a vital role in providing ongoing care and for people with life-limiting illnesses. They work closely with doctors and other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients remain as comfortable as possible while also supporting families in managing care responsibilities.

Responsibilities of a palliative care nurse

Palliative care nurse practitioners provide hands-on support to manage symptoms, administer treatments, and help patients maintain dignity and comfort. Their role is both medical and personal, ensuring that the patient’s daily needs are met with care and compassion.

• Monitor and manage pain, nausea, breathlessness, and other symptoms.
• Administer medicine, injections, and IV treatments as prescribed by the doctor.
• Provide wound care and other medical treatments to prevent discomfort.
• Educate families on how to assist with care at home, including medication schedules and symptom management.
• Assist with mobility, hygiene, and personal care, ensuring patients feel clean and comfortable.
• Offer emotional support, helping both patients and families navigate the challenges of palliative care.

When to turn to a palliative care nurse

A palliative care nurse is often one of the most frequent points of contact for patients and families. These highly trained carers step in when hands-on medical care is required and can guide loved ones through difficult transitions.

• If a patient requires help with daily medical care, such as administering medication or managing symptoms.
• When a family caregiver needs guidance on how to support their loved one at home.
• If the patient’s comfort or mobility changes, requiring adjustments to their care plan.
• When additional personal care support is needed for hygiene, dressing, or repositioning.
• If symptoms become difficult to manage and a nurse’s expertise is needed to ensure comfort and relief.

Allied health professionals

Palliative care isn’t just about treating symptoms — it’s about helping people stay as comfortable, independent, and engaged as possible. Allied health professionals can visit palliative patients at home or in hospital, and work alongside doctors and nurses to provide practical, hands-on support, making everyday tasks easier and improving quality of life.

Our residential aged care homes offer many of these services, ensuring our residents have access to the care and equipment they need.

Responsibilities of allied health professionals

Allied health professionals offer specialised support for movement, nutrition, speech, and daily living needs. Their expertise is particularly important for people with progressive conditions that affect mobility, swallowing, or communication, such as cancer or neurological diseases.

Each allied health professional provides comprehensive support tailored to each individual’s diagnosis and circumstance, helping them to manage symptoms, maintain function, and stay engaged in daily life.

• Physiotherapists: Assist with mobility, strength, and pain relief through gentle movement and rehabilitation exercises. This is especially important for individuals receiving palliative care for Parkinson’s disease, where maintaining movement and coordination can improve comfort and independence.
• Occupational therapists: Help with daily activities like dressing, bathing, and eating by recommending adaptive techniques and assistive equipment. For those in palliative care for motor neurone disease, occupational therapists play a key role in making life easier as mobility and muscle control change over time.
• Dietitians: Provide nutritional guidance and meal modifications to help maintain strength and energy levels. This is particularly beneficial for people in palliative care for lung disease, where tailored nutrition can help manage fatigue and maintain overall well-being.
• Speech pathologists: Support patients with swallowing difficulties and communication challenges, which are common in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and stroke. Those needing palliative care for strokes may work with a speech pathologist to develop new strategies for eating safely and communicating more easily.

When to turn to allied health professionals

Dedicated allied health professionals step in when a person’s mobility, speech, or ability to perform daily tasks begins to change. Their goal is to maximise comfort and independence, even as the condition progresses.

• If walking, movement, or balance is becoming difficult.
• When a loved one struggles to eat or swallow, requiring a modified diet or therapy.
• If speech or communication is becoming harder, and alternative strategies are needed.
• When daily tasks like dressing, bathing, or using the toilet require extra support.
• If home adjustments — like wheelchair access, ramps, or adaptive equipment — could improve comfort and safety.

Social worker

Serious illness can bring up difficult emotions, tough decisions, and unexpected challenges — not just for the person receiving care, but for their whole family. A palliative care social worker helps ease some of that burden, offering practical guidance and emotional support to ensure families have the information, resources, and help they need. Whether it’s sorting through paperwork, organising respite care, or simply listening when things feel overwhelming, social workers are there to help families navigate this aspect of the journey with confidence and support.

Responsibilities of a social worker

Social workers play a crucial role in ensuring families feel supported, informed, and prepared for the road ahead. They provide both practical assistance and emotional reassurance, helping families make decisions that align with their loved one’s needs and wishes.

• Provide emotional support through counselling, helping families process feelings of stress, grief, or uncertainty.
• Assist with advance care planning, making sure a patient’s medical and personal preferences are documented and respected.
• Help families access financial aid and government benefits that may assist with the cost of care.
• Offer guidance on legal matters, such as power of attorney, aged care applications, and navigating health care systems.
• Coordinate respite services, allowing primary caregivers to take a break while their loved one receives professional support.
• Refer families to bereavement support and grief counselling, helping them prepare for loss and adjust afterwards.
• Work alongside your palliative team, ensuring the team works together so that families can depend on them to meet their emotional and practical needs.

When to turn to a social worker

A social worker can step in whenever a family needs extra support or guidance, whether it’s early in the palliative care process or as new challenges arise.

• If you need help understanding financial aid, government benefits, or aged care funding.
• When sorting through legal paperwork, such as care applications or advance directives.
• If family members are feeling overwhelmed and need emotional support.
• When arranging respite care to give family caregivers a break.
• If you need assistance finding bereavement counselling or grief support services.
• If a loved one’s needs vary and you need guidance on the availability of funding resources.
• If you’d like to connect with community organisations and volunteer groups that offer practical or emotional support.

Spiritual care practitioner (Chaplain / Pastoral carer)

Towards the end of life, many people start reflecting on what matters most to them — their relationships, their beliefs, and the legacy they’ll leave behind. This can be a deeply personal journey, and for some, having a trusted person to talk to can bring comfort and clarity. A spiritual care practitioner, also known as a chaplain or pastoral carer, provides gentle, non-judgmental support, helping individuals and families find meaning, reassurance, and peace in whatever way feels right for them.

Responsibilities of a spiritual care practitioner

Spiritual care is not just about religion — it’s about supporting a person’s sense of self, beliefs, and emotional well-being in their final stage of life. A spiritual care practitioner offers guidance, comfort, and presence, whether someone follows a faith tradition or not.

• Provide emotional and spiritual support, whether through faith, personal reflection, or simply listening.
• Help individuals and families describe and process emotions, including fear, uncertainty, or grief.
• Offer guidance on cultural or religious end-of-life rituals, ensuring final wishes are respected.
• Lead prayers, blessings, or readings for those who find strength in spiritual traditions.
• Be a comforting presence, offering words of reassurance in difficult moments.
• Support families after a loved one’s passing, helping them navigate grief and loss.

When to turn to a spiritual care practitioner

A spiritual care practitioner may provide guidance and support whenever someone is seeking comfort, reassurance, or connection, regardless of religious background.

• If your loved one would find peace in spiritual or faith-based support.
• When family members need a familiar presence for comfort, reassurance, or space to talk through their emotions.
• If end-of-life rituals, prayers, or traditions are important to your loved one.
• When struggling with grief, uncertainty, or difficult emotions about a loved one’s passing.

Grief and bereavement counsellor

Losing a loved one is one of life’s most profound and personal experiences. Even when a passing is expected, the grief that follows can feel overwhelming, unpredictable, and deeply personal. A grief and bereavement counsellor provides gentle, compassionate support, helping families and individuals navigate the emotions of loss — whether before, during, or after a loved one’s passing. Their role isn’t to take the pain away but to offer guidance, reassurance, and a space to process grief in a way that feels right.

Responsibilities of a grief and bereavement counsellor

Grief is different for everyone, and there’s no right or wrong way to experience it. A bereavement counsellor provides structured support to help individuals and families adjust to life after loss while acknowledging their emotions in a healthy, meaningful way.

• Support families before, during, and after a loved one’s passing, helping them prepare for and process the emotional impact of loss.
• Provide one-on-one counselling sessions to create a safe space for individuals to express their grief.
• Facilitate group counselling or peer support, where families can connect with others who understand their experience.
• Help individuals work through emotions like sadness, guilt, relief, or uncertainty, which can all be part of the grieving process.
• Offer strategies to help families adjust to life after loss, including ways to honour their loved one’s memory.

When to turn to a grief and bereavement counsellor

There is no timeline for grief. Some people seek support before a loved one passes, while others may find they need help months or even years later. A bereavement counsellor can offer guidance at any stage.

• If a loved one’s passing feels overwhelming, confusing, or difficult to process.
• When preparing for the emotional challenges of end-of-life care and saying goodbye.
• If family members need structured grief support or a safe space to talk.
• When struggling with emotions like guilt, regret, or uncertainty following a loss.
• If it feels hard to adjust to life without a loved one or to find a new sense of normal.

How to access these services outside of MACG

Palliative care services are available through hospitals, community programs, and private providers, giving families options for care at home or in a facility. Knowing where to turn can make a difficult time feel more manageable. You’ll find plenty of advice and next steps on these websites:

• My Aged Care: Families can register for Government support for in-home and residential palliative care.
• Palliative Care Australia: Information on care options, patient rights, and national support networks.
• State and territory health services: Public hospitals and community teams offering palliative care and counselling.
• Private palliative care doctors and nurses: Available through GP referrals and private hospitals.
• Medicare-subsidised allied health services: Physiotherapists, dietitians, and speech pathologists.
• Griefline: Free national bereavement counselling for families.

A GP, My Aged Care consultant, or palliative care specialist can help guide you toward the best support for your loved one.