A Family Companion’ is designed for parents and carers of babies, children and young people with a life-limiting condition or illness.
This resource aims to prepare you for the situations and challenges you may face with regards to your child’s illness.
The information seeks to support parents and carers in their role as champions and decision-makers for their child, with each section exploring stages of your child’s illness and what you might expect.
The resource is also helpful for extended family members, close friends and your support network to read and understand the difficult issues that may arise after the diagnosis or recognition that your child has a life-limiting illness.
Introduction
2. How do I get more information?
4. What are my rights?
Diagnosis or Recognition
6. What is palliative care?
7. Who provides palliative care?
7. Your family
8. what are the treatment choices?
8. What are your goals of care?
Ongoing Care
10. Where can my child be cared for?
12. Care plan
13. Symptom management
15. Family considerations and concerns
19. Family, friends and our community
End of life and bereavement
22. What are our end-of-life choices?
24. How do we talk to our children?
26. What can we do about memory making?
27. Does it help to do some funeral planning?
27. How do I know when the last hours or days are near?
28. What do I do after my child dies?
30. How will I respond?
32. How do I get bereavement support?
33. How do I readjust to my changed life?
Other Organisations and Support
35. Parents
36. Children
We recognise and acknowledge those who are working through Sorry Business, Sad News, grief and bereavement and offer our condolences and support.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this website may contain images, videos and voices of people who have passed on. Some of the content and topics covered might also cause distress. You are welcome here, and we want you to feel safe and take care.
If you find that you need support please reach out to 13YARN on 13 92 76, Grief Australia, Grief Line on 1300 845 745, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Palliative Care Australia is located in Canberra. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the surrounding land and waters, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri Peoples and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We extend that same respect and acknowledge the continuing cultures and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples across Australia.
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