The referral
Conduct of the inquiry
Acknowledgements
Other inquiries
What is palliative care?
Current government policy framework
Structure of the report

Introduction
The national guidelines and PCA's standards
Committee comment

Introduction
How palliative care is funded in Australia
Calls for funding changes
The complexity of funding palliative care
Settings of care – cost, effectiveness and efficiency
Committee comment

Introduction
Services and funding provided by the states and territories
Committee comment

The valuable role of carers
National Carer Strategy and other government support for carers
Other support services for carers 

The palliative care workforce profile and challenges
Education and training in palliative care

Introduction
Models of service delivery 
Common issues faced by these models of service provision

The fragmented approach to palliative care provision
The case management response
The case manager
Committee comment

A nationally coordinated approach to research is needed
Funding for palliative care research
Data collection
Evidence base for medicines

Background
The HACC program
Better access
Is there a better approach?
Committee comment

Indigenous Australians
Children and adolescents
CALD communities
GLBTI

International comparisons
Access to and use of schedule 8 drugs
The role of private health insurers

Cultural reluctance to discuss death and dying
Advance Care Planning
The need for national consistency
A national framework for advance care
Respecting Patient Choices and other support programs
Potential for the PCEHR and technology in the provision of healthcare