Exploring Psychosocial Care Provision for Palliative Clients Living in a Rural and Remote Context

Abstract

Despite being one of the most avoided topics of all time, death is a guaranteed eventuality for us all. However, good psychosocial care as death approaches is not. Where people reside is likely to impact their accessibility to quality psychological, emotional, social, spiritual and cultural support. This thesis will explore this issue, seeking to ascertain how psychosocial care provision is being undertaken in rural and remote areas of Queensland, Australia as well as illuminating social work’s role within this context. Thirty-eight rural participants were interviewed comprised of health practitioners, community workers, palliative care clients and carers. A five week research expedition was undertaken visiting twenty-four rural towns across Queensland, resulting in rich, qualitative data from which pertinent themes were derived. The results revealed that psychosocial needs for palliative clients in these country towns are currently being met in an ad-hoc, inconsistent manner, pending largely on the availability and perceived proficiency of health professionals.