When an illness can’t be cured, staying as well as possible is important. GPs, palliative care services and Aboriginal Health workers can support you to have the best quality of life.  This approach to care is called palliative care. It can also be called comfort care.

The people providing your care will talk with you about what is important to you and how they can best meet your needs. They will help you manage pain and other symptoms. By working together, they can provide holistic care to comfort and support you.

There are some animated videos that help explain about serious illness, palliative care, feelings and pain management.  Watch this short series (Ft. Sean Choolburra) that takes you through a palliative care journey: IPEPA Animated Video Series

You can find palliative care services in South Australia.

It is important that everyone can understand what is happening and make sure information is clear. If you or your family member speak traditional language and need help talking to your healthcare team about your needs, a professional that can yarn in your language can be arranged to make sure everyone understands.

The Aboriginal Language Interpreting Service (ALIS) support communications with Aboriginal language speakers in South Australia. The website has information on their services and how to make a booking.

There are NAATI-certified interpreters and translators practising in 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages across Australia. If you need the services of an Indigenous language interpreter, please contact the relevant organisation.

• Northern Territory: Aboriginal Interpreter Service, NT 
• Western Australia: Aboriginal Interpreting Western Australia
• South Australia: Aboriginal Language Interpreting Service (ALIS)
• Queensland: 2M Language Services
• Other states: Contact NAATI and we will support you to connect to an interpreter

SA Health has Aboriginal-specific services across South Australia. They include

• Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Primary Health Care Service provides a free comprehensive program of culturally sensitive services across Adelaide’s northern and central regions. ‘Watto Purrunna’ is a Kaurna term meaning ‘the branch of life’. 
• Aboriginal health services at Noarlunga and Clovelly Park offer culturally safe and focused comprehensive primary health services.
• There are also Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across regional South Australia and in Adelaide.

You can also make use of community health services, such as GP Plus centres. They can help with all health and wellbeing issues. They can also refer you to specialist services when you need them.

Palliative care teams can support you by making your journey as comfortable as possible.  They are specially trained to work in providing care and comfort for people who are seriously ill. They can include your GP, an Aboriginal Health Worker and other who you trust to look after you. The team can help you talk about the care you need and provide practical advice and support for the family and carers about making you more comfortable. They will help you manage pain and other symptoms, such as nausea or being breathless. They can help with resources such as equipment you may need at home and link you to other services such as home help and financial support. You can find palliative care services in South Australia on the SA Health website

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Program (NATSIFAC) provides culturally safe aged care. It’s available for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in living in rural and remote areas. You can find details on where services are located, and the types of aged care services offered, on the NATSIFAC webpage.

Your palliative care team may be made up of different people that can help care for you and your family in different ways throughout your journey.

The team may include your doctor, nurse, palliative care specialist, other type of specialist, counsellor, social worker, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, pharmacist, speech pathologist, cultural adviser, patient care navigator and dietitian. Family members and other personal carers may also form part of the team. Each member of the team can help in providing care. 

The Aboriginal Palliative Care Navigation is a FREE service. The Aboriginal specific health services provided by the SA government are free.

Medicare services for Indigenous Australians support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to use Medicare You can call a free hotline, phone number 1800 556 955, if  you need help with a Medicare service or payment (Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm). Staff working on the Access Line have cultural training.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme offers reduced cost prescription medicines. You can get help to buy medicine if you have a chronic disease or are at risk of one. The Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment helps you get most prescription medicines at a lower price. There is information on the scheme on the PBS website.

Returning to country should be discussed with the doctors and health workers caring for you so that appropriate arrangements can be made for your transport and care at home on Country.

Sometimes, lots of planning is needed to ensure that you or your loved one can return to Country.

When a person wishes to return to Country and the family and community are supportive, clinical services can use the Caring at Home resources to teach families and carers how to care for their loved one at home. The Palliative Care Clinic Box is a free, culturally appropriate resource developed by the caring@ home project to support care on Country. Uncle Gungalung's journey is a video that tells the story of his return to Country.

The Patient Assistance Transport Scheme – called PATS for short – is a subsidy program funded by the Government of South Australia and administered through the six regional local health networks by the Rural Support Service in SA Health. You can find out more in a Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients information brochure. You can ask to speak to an Aboriginal Liaison Officer to help in the rural services.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers are available in Aboriginal-specific services across South Australia including Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Primary Health Care Service, at the Aboriginal health services at Noarlunga and Clovelly Park and in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

Aboriginal health workers are available in many hospitals across South Australia to ensure that services are accessible and meet your cultural needs. They can help you understand how things work and link you with health and other community-based services. They are there to support and comfort you while using hospital services and can help you work with the doctors and other hospital staff. 

Aboriginal health workers are available at the main metropolitan hospitals and in most country hospitals. You can ask at the reception or ask your doctor if the Aboriginal Health Worker can be available.

The Aboriginal Palliative Care Navigation service can also support you as you use different health services.  You can call them on 8643 5600 to organise a time for the navigators to share how the service can support you and your family.

Understanding what going on

There are some animated videos that help explain about serious illness, palliative care, feelings and pain management.  Watch this short series (Ft. Sean Choolburra) that takes you through a palliative care journey: IPEPA Animated Video Series

13YARN

(13 92 76) 13YARN is a crisis support line for First Nations people who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. 13YARN offers confidential one-on-one yarning with a Lifeline-trained First Nations Crisis Supporter. They can provide crisis support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CarerHelp has information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Visit the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander section for information on getting prepared for someone who is very sick, caring for someone who is finishing up and grief and after caring.

Managing financial matters

CareSearch has information on managing finances when you are seriously ill. Your carer may be eligible for a Carer Payment. This is provided to someone who is caring full time and unable to work or seek employment.

You can call the Moneysmart Indigenous Help Line on 1300 365 957 or visit moneysmart.gov.au/indigenous/paying-for-funerals for a list of organisations that may be able to provide financial support to conduct Sorry Business.

These links provide access to palliative care information and resources to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are receiving palliative care, their carers and health professionals.

• Gwandalan supports palliative care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• Australian Indigenous Health Infonet provides culturally appropriate end-of-life-care resources, and information on grief and bereavement and planning ahead for Aboriginal patients
• Advance Care Planning Australia has information on planning for the future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• The Caring at home resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families includes resources for families, for health professionals and for clinical services

A ngangkari is a traditional healer from the Western desert area of Central Australia

You can contact your local ACCHOs or talk to an Aboriginal Health Worker about how to contact for Ngangkaris.  There can be fees associated with Ngangkari Healers.

The Anangu Ngangkari Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation (ANTAC) is the first organisation of Aboriginal traditional healers in Australia and has a register of accredited ngangkari from the APY Lands. There is an Adelaide office at Findon. You can contact them by emailing [email protected]