Mrs Beth Thomas1
1Fitzroy Community Hospice, Rockhampton, Australia
Biography:
In 41 years of nursing, my clinical nursing experience has mainly been in medical and Oncology/Palliative Care areas. For several years I held senior hospital management roles before taking on my current role.
I have worked in both public and private hospitals and gained much experience in working with dedicated staff across both sectors.
Abstract:
Background:
In 2020 a group of Central Queensland community members discussed what they could do to bridge the gap in palliative care services. As they developed their vision, members of the community from all walks of life and experiences were drafted in to guide this vision. Fitzroy Community Hospice was born and commenced services in June 2024.
Aims and Methods:
On 12th July 2022 the inaugural meeting of the Consumer and Community Advisory Group was held. It was important that the feel of the Hospice would be welcoming and inclusive, how better to help determine this than through a group of individuals who had experienced the journey that many of our patients and families take.
In these early days, this group provided comments on the building redesign and layout and on the service delivery model. This group dedicated hours to providing tips for how the service would benefit families the most. Once we commenced admitting patients, their continued involvement has helped to review our Governance documents for patients and families, determine how we started our Bereavement services and when to approach grieving families to offer Remembrance evenings.
Results:
A discussion with this group about cultural aspects of dying, led to the first Cultural Awareness Seminar on death and dying being held in May 2025. The positive feedback from the community members has encouraged us to continue to reach out and offer further education sessions in 2026.
Conclusion:
Looking through the eyes of those who have walked the path provides so much valuable insight into what matters to each and every family. We should never under-estimate how powerful this support is and how it keeps the services relevant to the needs of all our community members.