Both health professionals and carers, who will be sharing their own experiences, will speak at the Wagga Civic Theatre on Monday, November 19, from 6pm.

Kay Hull, a member of the Calvary Palliative Care Enhancement Council, has seen several family members go through the palliative care process, including her late husband Graeme.

“I think many people in our community have done this. It was only after my husband died that I thought to myself ‘I’ve done this a number of times now for family members at home and it is very difficult to navigate this process’,” she said.

The former Member for Riverina is now hoping to make more people aware of what palliative care services are available in Wagga.

Calvary Hospital has an eight-bed palliative care unit, which was officially opened in 2015, along with an adjoining 14-bed rehabilitation unit.

The palliative care unit is open to both private and public patients.

“Families can stay with loved ones, sleep there, be there in a nurturing environment,” Mrs Hull said.

“They will know their loved is receiving the best possible care. That facility is what we didn’t have in Wagga before.

“These eight beds are specifically there for end of life purpose and for comprehensive management and stabilisation for those who are on the end of life pathway, but then can come and get their treatment reorganised and can go home for longer periods of time, rather than being confined in a hospital environment or a nursing home environment.”

Mrs Hull is encouraging people who want to know more about Wagga’s palliative care services to attend the meeting.