Aim:
To provide culturally appropriate palliative and end-of-life care for Aboriginal people in regional South Australia. The disparities in health outcomes and service accessibility between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations require innovative approaches.

Background:
Funded by the Commonwealth Government, Palliative Care Connect tests models of palliative care and bereavement navigation in South Australia through a suite of services delivered statewide via telehealth, and through hybrid models in regional areas and for Aboriginal people.
The Palliative Care Connect Aboriginal Navigation Service provides culturally appropriate information, service linkages, and advocacy to Aboriginal people with life-limiting illnesses, their families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals seeking information and support. The service is staffed by an Aboriginal Palliative Care Navigator and Aboriginal Health Officer and delivered by Country & Outback Health in the areas of Port Augusta and Whyalla. Combined, these areas reported 3,985 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the 2021 Census.

Case presentation:
The following case study highlights the role of palliative care navigation in supporting mainstream palliative care services to deliver end of life care to Aboriginal people residing in residential aged care.
A 72-year-old Aboriginal woman with lung cancer residing in an Aboriginal residential aged care facility was referred to the regional palliative care team for a needs assessment and review of symptoms. The palliative care nurse contacted the Navigator, requesting she accompany the team to visit the patient at the residential aged care facility.

The Navigator and the palliative care nurse conducted a collaborative assessment of needs. Through empathy and deep listening the Navigator focused on understanding the resident, leading to the identification of goals and development of a culturally appropriate care plan.
The Navigator visited the client a total of four times before she died, supporting her to work through what death and dying looked like, and to reconnect with family at end of life. As the Navigator’s understanding of the resident grew, she was able to educate and support staff to better understand and manage the resident’s recent aggressive behaviours.

Conclusion:
The case study demonstrates that Aboriginal-specific palliative care navigation is crucial for increasing access to palliative care for Aboriginal people by improving knowledge and upskilling aged care staff to meet the needs of Aboriginal residents in a culturally safe way. By working collaboratively with mainstream health services and the aged care sector, palliative care navigation bridges gaps in access to palliative care by Aboriginal people in both settings.