End of life clinical care: palliative care

We discuss clinical care with CEO of Palliative Care Victoria, Violet Platt Many Australians associate palliative care with the final days of life—but that's one of the biggest myths surrounding end-of-life care.In the first episode of Rest Easy Knowing, Fiona Healy sits down with Violet Platt, CEO of Palliative Care Victoria, to explore what palliative care really is, when it should begin, and why understanding it can transform the experience of living with a life-limiting illness.Violet dispels common misconceptions, explains how palliative care focuses on quality of life rather than giving up hope, and offers practical insights into what families can expect as someone approaches the end of life. Together, they discuss the natural dying process, why advance planning matters, and how honest conversations can help people make informed decisions about the care they want.Whether you're supporting a loved one, planning for the future, or simply curious about one of life's universal experiences, this episode provides reassurance, practical advice and a compassionate introduction to palliative care.In this episode:What palliative care is—and what it isn'tWhy palliative care isn't just for people with cancer or the final days of lifeThe biggest myths surrounding palliative careHow palliative care improves quality of lifeSigns that someone may be approaching the end of lifeWhat families can expect during the natural dying processHow pain, agitation and other symptoms can be managedSupporting family members through difficult decisionsWhy planning ahead creates more choice, comfort and peace of mindWhy, as Violet says, "dying is natural... it isn't something to fear, but it is something to plan for."About our guestViolet Platt is the Chief Executive Officer of Palliative Care Victoria, the peak body representing palliative care services across Victoria. With decades of clinical and leadership experience, Violet is a passionate advocate for improving access to quality palliative care and helping Australians better understand what compassionate end-of-life care looks like.ResourcesPalliative Care Victoriahttps://www.pallcarevic.asn.auAdvance Care Planning Australiahttps://www.advancecareplanning.org.auPalliative Care Australiahttps://palliativecare.org.auAbout Rest Easy KnowingRest Easy Knowing is a podcast helping Australians better understand death, dying and grief through conversations with recognised leaders in palliative care, grief, law, funeral care and advance care planning.Hosted by Fiona Healy, each episode asks the questions many Australians don't know to ask—until they're faced with one of life's most challenging moments.If you found this episode valuable, please follow the podcast, leave a review and share it with your family and friends. Together, we can help normalise conversations about death and empower more Australians to make informed end-of-life decisions.