By Danielle Kutchel
To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, death is one of only a couple of certainties in life, and a south eastern group is looking to make it as comfortable as possible.
Palliative Care South East (PCSE) needs a new home to continue its work in providing a welcoming place for people to experience palliative care.
The not for profit had been co-located with Monash Health in Cranbourne for 30 years.
They have purchased a block of land on Victor Crescent, Narre Warren, which will be central to the growth of the population the organisation serves.
But as a charitable organisation, they need a bit of help from the government to get construction of their new building over the line.
PCSE currently serves the LGAs of Casey, Cardinia, Greater Dandenong and Kingston.
The majority of its clients – 53.9 per cent – come from Casey.
And with the south eastern region continuing to grow, CEO Kelly Rogerson predicts that PCSE’s client base will also increase too.
From 2018 to 2020, PCSE saw a 63 per cent increase in admissions.
There has been a 65 per cent increase in palliative care requests since the pandemic started, as people in care choose to remain their homes, staying connected with the community or their family – especially during lockdown, when visitor numbers to clinical settings are tightened.
The new site will replicate and expand on the work the not for profit currently does from Cranbourne, Ms Rogerson said.
“We’ll have a purpose-built environment to welcome people to and demystify and improve communication around the benefits of palliative care,” she said.
“Palliative care is a right for individuals – not a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have.”
PCSE’s mix of services caters to the whole individual and offers comfort at a difficult time: nursing and medical care, art and music therapy, counselling services and spiritual care.
PCSE also supports carers and relatives for 13 months after the death of their loved one.
Around 1200 people are currently on PCSE’s books for bereavement support, while more than 400 are receiving active management and palliative care services.
All of this is achieved with just 65 staff and 50 volunteers.
“The team is extraordinary, they give so much and are so committed and dedicated,” Ms Rogerson said.
They’ve approached La Trobe MP Jason Wood for support with funding for their new home.
He suggested setting up a petition to gauge support for the cause within the wider community.
That petition, seeking $4.7 million in funding to finish the new Palliative Care Community Hub in Victor Crescent, is currently open.
“We just want to keep doing the work we’re doing, but we need a capital injection,” Ms Rogerson said.
They receive block funding from the Victorian Department of Health but haven’t had an uplift in funding commensurate with their costs, which increase every year.
Mr Wood said the high level of population growth in the area had placed pressure on health services, including PCSE.
“Palliative Care South East have already purchased the land for the new building, now they need your help to secure the funding for the Palliative Care Community Hub which will serve every member of the community who needs their care, skills and support,” he said.
“With this funding they will be able to complete the building and ensure their service can support additional people annually, making a significant difference to those living with a life limiting illness in our community.
“That is why I have started an online petition, to secure federal funding and demonstrate public support for this great service.”
Ms Rogerson urged the community to sign the petition.
“You only die once, you don’t get chance to do it again, so you want to get it right,” Ms Rogerson said.
To sign the petition, visit https://www.research.net/r/XQB9RNX?fbclid=IwAR10WpTe65zj1KhZBiNhoafVmG-e_yCX2t_TkSZGxmrHCHUhs9fxmFITLa8
