In Victoria, levels of awareness of palliative care services and use of them are much lower among people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Recent work by Palliative Care Victoria and the Ethnic Communities’ Council has found that when palliative care is explained in the relevant community language and with sensitivity to specific cultural and spiritual issues, it is well received.

It is also important to recognise that there is as much individual diversity within cultures as there is diversity between cultures. A person and family-centred approach is important rather than relying on cultural stereotypes.

Information about palliative care in community languages is available on this website and we encourage health professionals to use trained interpreters.

Here are some useful resources.