Pictured above: artist Daniel Connell, palliative care patient Peter and daughter Vanessa.

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day on 11 October, themed ‘Achieving the Promise: Universal Access to Palliative Care’, highlights the need for timely access and early recognition of palliative care needs. Improving these outcomes has been a key focus for Dr Peter Allcroft, Clinical Lead for the Palliative Care Statewide Clinical Network, whose work focuses on cross-specialty collaboration to support patients approaching end-of-life. Education and community engagement are central to this mission. Exploring end-of-life care through artOne example of this is CEIH’s ‘The Kathryn Hourigan End-of-Life Project’ which used art to foster reflection, connection and community dialogue around death and dying. The project included an immersive residency by artist Daniel Connell with Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network’s (FUNLHN) palliative care service. By creating portraits and capturing stories that reflect the emotional and spiritual dimensions of dying, Daniel’s work helped shift conversations from being illness-focussed to person-centred, offering a space for reflection and connection. Following the residency, a one-day forum was held in Port Augusta, bringing together healthcare professionals, artists and community members. Presenters included Dr Allcroft, FUNLHN palliative care and renal nurses, Country and Outback Health and a local Aboriginal community member living with chronic disease, who shared her journey of healing and preparation for end-of-life. Art’s impact is deeply personal. As Vanessa, local resident and daughter of a palliative care patient, reflected: “Meeting with Daniel allowed Dad to talk about his life’s experiences as he is moving into later stages of his life… his portrait has a pride of place in his room at Nerrilda.” The ‘Kathryn Hourigan End-of-Life Project’ demonstrates how art can enrich palliative care, offering patients, families and communities spaces for reflection, connection and dignity at life’s final stages. |