This week is National Palliative Care Week, and I take this opportunity to commendthe outstanding work of the Hunter Cancer Council Palliative Care volunteers based at Charlestown. These volunteers provide high - quality, non-medical companionship and supervision for people with special needs, particularly the elderly. National Palliative Care Week provides a vital platform for discussion about end-of-life care. Palliative care can help people with a life -threatening illness to have a high quality of li fe until the end of their life. T here is only one chance to get it right for th e person who is dying and their family, friends and community.

End of life care is a subject that people often do not want to discuss. However, it is a discussion we all must have and I encourage people to do it now. I thank the Cancer Council volunteers, in particular, Brian, my Cancer Council liaison officer.