Carol Berry (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to recognise the Southern Highlands Community Hospice, a charitable organisation that provides hospice and palliative care services for the Southern Highlands community. The volunteers who deliver these services on behalf on the Southern Highlands Community Hospice do so with great care and compassion.

Last month I was lucky enough to meet many of these volunteers and hear firsthand about the wonderful work they do. Southern Highlands Community Hospice provides funding for accommodation and medical costs for end-of-life patients without private health care; additional palliative care nursing, carer support and associated equipment hire costs for those choosing to die at home; one-off payments to fund medical equipment for palliative care patients to optimise their quality of life; and additional palliative care nursing at two aged-care facilities. The hospice also provides funding for palliative medications; specially trained palliative care volunteers to support residents in aged-care facilities; a free biography service which documents a person's memories, which is a beautiful service; and end-of-life planning and bereavement counselling services.

These services are highly valued by the community. The sense of care and concern for people at what is often a vulnerable or lonely time of life is an incredibly generous gesture on the part of volunteers. I sincerely thank all those associated with the Southern Highlands Community Hospice for the extremely valuable and important work they do for the community.

Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.