Funding shortfalls hit terminally ill Victorians

Dying Victorians are being forced on to waiting lists for palliative care or being pushed into overcrowded hospitals instead of receiving care at home because of funding shortfalls experts warn.

In Alex White's Herald Sun article, published on Monday 28 July 2025, Kelly Rogerson, chair of Palliative Care Victoria, has sounded the alarm that the state’s at-home care system is in crisis following years of under-funding by the Victorian government, with at least an extra $20million needed to restore service levels.

"People are only getting care in the last weeks of their life rather then actually living well, which is what palliative care is all about."

Ms Rogerson's call comes after funding was cut in the 2024-25 budget. This was despite a report in 2022, commissioned by Palliative Care Victoria, which found 75 per cent of Victorian community service providers don't believe they can meet future demand with a projected $91million annual shortfall.

Data from Palliative Care Victoria showed 62 per cent of people who wanted to die at home were actually being admitted to hospital instead.

Opposition health spokeswoman, Georgie Crozier was quoted as saying:

“Labor needs to immediately correct the under-funding of essential palliative care services so that support and dignity can be provided to those patients at the end of their life.”

Access Alex White's full Herald Sun article here