Australia – End of Life Issues

What palliative and end of life care services are available in Australia?

Palliative care in Australia is designed to prevent and alleviate suffering while enhancing the quality of life of individuals confronting life-limiting illness. It can be delivered in virtually any healthcare setting by a diverse range of health and community professionals, and is not restricted to a particular condition or disease stage. Crucially, palliative care can run alongside curative treatment rather than replacing it.

Australia is a federation in which autonomous states coexist with a federal government that collects national revenue and distributes funding to the states. In broad terms, the federal government funds community-based services — particularly general practice and aged care — while the states bear responsibility for public hospitals and related services. As a result, the precise services available to any individual depend significantly on which part of Australia they call home.

Palliative care is delivered across a broad spectrum of providers, from GPs and community nurses through to large specialist tertiary referral units. Services encompass dedicated inpatient palliative care wards within hospitals, community-based teams that visit patients in their own homes, residential aged care facilities (nursing homes), and specialist outpatient clinics. In contrast to some countries where end of life care has historically been confined to hospital medicine, Australia has made substantial investments in home-based and community models of care.

In 2023–24, A$5.9 million was paid in benefits for Medicare-subsidised palliative medicine attendance and case conference services, at an average of A$410 per patient, and the Australian Government spent A$37.9 million on palliative care-related medications through the PBS Palliative Care Schedule, at an average of A$80 per patient. These figures underscore the scale of Commonwealth support available to eligible patients via Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Among the palliative care episodes reported to the Australian Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC), 92% commenced within two days of patients being ready for palliative care in 2024. For expats, this represents a meaningful indicator of how promptly care is typically initiated within the public system for those who hold Medicare entitlements.

Australian palliative care is allocated according to clinical need rather than prognosis — an important distinction from the United States Medicare Hospice Benefit, which in practice requires a physician to certify a life expectancy of six months or less. In Australia, the emphasis falls on symptom complexity and care burden rather than any fixed time horizon.

Every state and territory also maintains its own strategic framework for end of life and palliative care. These include the New South Wales End of Life and Palliative Care Framework 2019–2024, Victoria’s end of life and palliative care framework, South Australia’s Palliative Care Strategic Framework 2022–2027, Queensland Health’s Palliative and End-of-Life Care Strategy, Palliative Care Tasmania’s Strategic Plan 2024–2027, and the Western Australia End-of-Life and Palliative Care Strategy 2018–2028. Expats should consult their state’s framework to identify services specific to their region.

For national guidance, Palliative Care Australia (PCA) is the peak national body. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) publishes annual statistics on palliative care services across the country.

How does hospice care work in Australia?

Where standard medical care seeks to cure illness, hospice care is oriented toward comfort and quality of life. It offers comprehensive support encompassing medical treatment, emotional and spiritual care, and practical assistance for families — typically when curative interventions are no longer effective or wanted. Within Australia, the term “hospice” carries somewhat different connotations from countries like the United States or the United Kingdom, where it commonly denotes a distinct service model with its own funding rules and eligibility thresholds.

Palliative care services across Australia span specialist providers, generalist providers, and support services operating across the public, non-government, and private sectors. Inpatient hospice facilities may be run by public health authorities, faith-based charities, or private organisations, and typically draw on a combination of government funding and philanthropic contributions.

Formal referral criteria for specialist palliative care services in Australia — including inpatient hospices — generally emphasise the presence of a progressive, life-limiting illness with complex symptoms or needs that surpass the capacity of the primary care team, rather than requiring a specific prognosis. This stands in contrast to the US hospice model, where a physician-certified prognosis of six months or less is a formal precondition for entry.

Decisions about admitting someone to a hospice facility are guided by clinical need and the suitability of that setting to address the individual’s circumstances, not by a rigid time-based prediction. Referrals may originate from the patient’s GP, a hospital specialist, or a community nurse, and self-referrals or requests from family members are accepted by many services.

The majority of hospice care in Australia is delivered in the home environment, with regular visits from nurses, doctors, and other members of the care team. Patients typically receive around-the-clock on-call support, necessary medical equipment and medications, and education for family members to promote safety and comfort at home. This home-based approach is firmly established and frequently preferred by both patients and their families.

Federal, state, and territory governments fund a range of palliative care services that are provided at no cost within the public health system — whether care is received at home, in a residential aged care facility, in a dedicated palliative care unit or hospice, or as a hospital inpatient. For expats who hold a Medicare card, this public funding applies in exactly the same way as it does for Australian citizens and permanent residents.

For those nearing the end of life who wish to remain at home, Australia’s aged care Support at Home (SAH) program includes a dedicated end-of-life pathway. This pathway is designed for participants who are approaching the end of life and prefer to stay in their own home. Up to A$25,000 in funding is available, intended to be drawn upon over a short period (approximately 12–16 weeks) to enable additional and enhanced care to be delivered at home. (As of November 2025 — consult the My Aged Care website for current eligibility criteria and funding amounts.)

For the most up-to-date eligibility criteria and funding arrangements for hospice and palliative care, refer to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and your relevant state or territory health authority.

What are the cultural and religious customs around death and dying in Australia?

Australia is a remarkably diverse nation, and this diversity is reflected in the wide variety of attitudes and practices surrounding death and dying. No single tradition dominates — customs differ considerably across Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and secular communities, as well as among the many distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, each of which holds its own traditions and protocols.

For the large proportion of Australians from broadly secular or Christian backgrounds, death is generally managed through a licensed funeral director, with a service conducted at a chapel, church, or crematorium, followed by burial or cremation. Wakes or gatherings at the family home following the service are common. Flowers, sympathy cards, and personal expressions of condolence are customary, and there is no widely observed dress requirement beyond respectful or dark-coloured attire.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities observe practices that differ considerably between groups but frequently involve significant protocols around mentioning the name of the deceased, the display of images of that person, and ceremonies known in some communities as “Sorry Business.” Palliative Care Australia acknowledges those navigating Sorry Business and grief, recognising that content relating to death and dying may cause distress for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Expats living or working in or near Indigenous communities are encouraged to approach these customs with sensitivity and to seek guidance from community members or local services as appropriate.

For Muslim families, Islamic tradition calls for the body to be washed and shrouded promptly after death, with burial — rather than cremation — ideally taking place as swiftly as possible. Jewish communities similarly prioritise timely burial and observe prescribed mourning periods such as shiva. Buddhist and Hindu traditions vary widely but may involve particular rituals at the moment of death, specific timing around cremation, and prayers or merit-making practices in the days that follow.

Expats from countries where open conversation about death is less customary — or is considered inauspicious or taboo — may notice that Australian healthcare settings tend toward directness. Clinicians here routinely discuss prognosis, end of life preferences, and advance care planning as a normal and valued aspect of good medical practice. This approach resembles that found in the Netherlands and the Nordic countries, and may feel quite different from practices in parts of Asia, the Middle East, or Southern Europe, where family members sometimes prefer to protect patients from difficult prognostic information.

Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is now legal in all mainland states, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory. VAD commenced in Victoria on 19 June 2019; Western Australia on 1 July 2021; Tasmania on 23 October 2022; Queensland on 1 January 2023; South Australia on 31 January 2023; New South Wales on 28 November 2023; and the Australian Capital Territory in November 2025. Each jurisdiction operates under its own eligibility criteria and processes, and this option is only accessible to those who satisfy specific legal requirements.

What legal and medical documents should expats prepare in advance in Australia?

Completing legal and medical documents well ahead of any health emergency is strongly recommended for everyone living in Australia, and especially for expats whose close family members reside overseas. The three most important documents are an advance care directive, an enduring power of attorney covering both health and financial decisions, and a valid will.

An advance care directive plays a central role in end of life planning. It gives formal expression to your advance care plan and can document all your needs, values, and preferences for future care, together with details of a substitute decision-maker. These documents go by different names in different jurisdictions — for instance, an Advance Health Directive in Queensland and Western Australia, or an Advance Personal Plan in the Northern Territory — but their underlying purpose is consistent throughout the country.

While the precise form of advance directives varies between states and territories, they all serve to record an individual’s wishes regarding future medical treatment in circumstances where the person is unable to give consent themselves. They also provide the means to formally designate a substitute decision-maker to act on your behalf should you lose decision-making capacity.

Such a document provides legally binding instructions about the medical treatment you consent to or decline. You can include a values statement to help guide your decision-maker — for example, “Maintaining quality of life matters more to me than prolonging it” — and/or specific instructional directions, such as “I do not want to be resuscitated.”

You must possess decision-making capacity at the time you complete an advance care directive, but engaging a lawyer is not necessary. State and territory health departments provide free downloadable forms. Each state has its own requirements around witnessing and signing, however, so it is important to follow the rules applicable to your state of residence precisely. Links to state-specific forms are available through the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.

An enduring power of attorney (EPA) enables you to appoint a person to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf should you lose capacity. Separately, most states provide an enduring guardianship or medical power of attorney instrument specifically for healthcare decisions. Both types of document are state-specific and should be prepared with reference to the relevant state legislation. A solicitor or your state’s Public Trustee office can provide assistance.

Advance care directives made in another country are not automatically recognised under Australian law, although the values and preferences they express may be used to inform clinical decision-making. Expats holding documents from a foreign jurisdiction should arrange to create a new, locally compliant Australian directive as soon as reasonably practicable. For legal advice tailored to your individual circumstances — including any cross-border considerations — consult a qualified Australian solicitor. Your state or territory Law Society can help you find an appropriate referral.

What should you do immediately when someone dies in Australia?

The period immediately following a death involves a series of legal and practical obligations. The process in Australia broadly parallels that in New Zealand or the United Kingdom, but with important variations between states and territories. The steps below offer a general guide; always confirm current requirements with the relevant state authority.

1. Obtain a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. A registered medical practitioner who attended the deceased must issue this certificate. Where the death was sudden, unexpected, or resulted from an accident, it must be reported to the state or territory coroner, who may conduct an investigation before a certificate is issued. Funeral arrangements should not proceed until this document has been obtained.
2. Notify the relevant Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry. Registration of a death is a legal requirement across Australia and is administered by each state and territory’s BDM registry. The Australian Death Notification Service is a collaborative initiative of BDM registries nationally, enabling family members to inform multiple government agencies through a single notification. In most states, the funeral director handles lodgement of the registration on behalf of the family, typically within a few days of the death. Consult your state’s BDM website for precise timeframes.
3. Engage a licensed funeral director. The person who contacts the funeral director and commissions the funeral bears legal responsibility for the associated costs, though these will ordinarily be met from the deceased’s estate. Funeral directors guide families through the applicable legal requirements and can submit death registration paperwork on the family’s behalf in most states.
4. Apply for a death certificate. Once the death has been registered with the BDM registry, a formal death certificate can be requested. This document is distinct from the medical certificate and is required for legal and estate administration purposes. Each state’s BDM charges a fee for this certificate — visit the official BDM website in your state for current fees (as of 2025, fees differ by state).
5. Notify relevant institutions. Contact Medicare, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), any superannuation funds, banks, the deceased’s employer, and any pension or benefit providers. Banks and other financial institutions generally freeze the accounts of a deceased person; funeral costs are typically the only funds released from the account prior to the granting of probate.
6. Locate the will and initiate estate administration. Where a will exists, the named executor should engage a solicitor or the Public Trustee to begin the probate process. If no will exists, the estate is managed as intestate under the succession laws of the relevant state.
7. For foreign nationals: notify your consulate or embassy. If the deceased held foreign nationality, their home country’s consulate or embassy should be informed as promptly as possible. Consular staff can advise on the repatriation of remains, required documentation, and any country-specific formalities. The embassy may also need to contact next of kin abroad.

How are burials, cremations, and funerals handled in Australia?

Australia’s funeral industry is well regulated, and both burial and cremation are widely accessible. The great majority of deaths in Australia are managed by licensed funeral directors operating under state and territory consumer protection and public health legislation.

There are no standardised fees for funerals. Costs are influenced by the choice of cemetery or crematorium and the funeral director engaged, and also reflect differences in the cost of caskets and coffins and burial plot prices. As of 2025, a basic direct cremation — the most straightforward option, without a ceremony — is generally the most affordable path, while a full burial incorporating a service, coffin, grave plot, and headstone can involve considerably greater expenditure. Always request itemised written quotes from multiple providers and take time to compare them. Contact funeral directors in your area for current pricing.

A funeral director offering a “basic funeral” is legally required to inform all prospective customers of this option in writing before any funeral arrangement is entered into. Where a customer opts for a more elaborate funeral, the director must provide an itemised written quote specifying each individual good and service and its estimated cost.

A significant portion of the expense associated with burial relates to the cost of the plot itself. In regional areas where cemetery land is less scarce, plots tend to be less expensive. In major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, however, burial plots can represent a substantial outlay. Lawn cemetery sections, memorial walls, and natural burial grounds are among the options available across many parts of the country.

Cremation requires a cremation permit issued by the relevant authority and, in certain circumstances, approval from the coroner. Cremated remains may be retained, scattered, or interred in accordance with local regulations. Some jurisdictions require a permit for scattering ashes in public spaces or at sea — confirm requirements with your local council or the relevant state environment authority.

Repatriation of remains: Transporting a deceased person overseas requires coordination among the funeral director, the relevant BDM registry, Australian Border Force, and the consulate of the destination country. Embalming is typically a requirement for international transport, as is specialist packaging — generally a zinc-lined coffin — for air freight. The costs of international repatriation vary widely and can be considerable. Travel insurance and some specialist funeral insurance policies include cover for these costs, so policies should be reviewed carefully.

There are no citizenship or residency restrictions governing who may be buried or cremated in Australia. Foreign nationals are subject to the same funeral and burial laws as Australian residents.

How do expats handle estate and inheritance matters after a death in Australia?

Estate administration in Australia is governed at the state and territory level. The overall process — securing probate, administering assets, and distributing them to beneficiaries — shares a broad structural resemblance with probate systems in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Canada, though the specific rules, fees, and timeframes differ between jurisdictions.

When a person dies leaving a valid will, a set of procedures must be followed before the wishes expressed in that will can be carried out. Solicitors, the Public Trustee, and private trustee companies are equipped to assist with this work. A grant of probate — the formal registration of the will by the Supreme Court — is ordinarily required before the estate’s assets can be collected and distributed to beneficiaries.

Where the deceased owned a house, land, or an interest in land (such as a mortgage or lease) held in their name alone, a grant of probate or letters of administration will be necessary. The same applies where the deceased held an interest in land as a tenant in common.

Probate filing fees are determined by each state’s Supreme Court and scale according to the gross value of the estate. By way of illustration, in South Australia, the filing fee ranges from A$987 to A$3,945 depending on the gross value of the deceased estate, as at 1 July 2025. Always verify current fees on the Courts Administration Authority website. Fees in other states differ — consult the relevant Supreme Court registry in your state or territory.

Australia does not impose a federal inheritance tax or estate duty. Beneficiaries generally receive inherited assets free of tax at the point of inheritance, though capital gains tax implications may arise when inherited assets such as property or shares are subsequently sold. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) provides guidance on this at ato.gov.au. Always verify the current tax position with the ATO or a qualified tax adviser.

For expats, estate matters often grow more complex when assets are distributed across multiple countries. An estate may be subject simultaneously to Australian law for Australian-based assets and to the laws of another country for assets held overseas. Cross-border estate issues can give rise to double taxation risks, differences in forced heirship rules, and delays caused by foreign legal systems. It is strongly advisable to obtain advice from a solicitor with experience in international estate planning — ideally before a death occurs. Lawyers who are members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), which maintains an Australian chapter, are a useful place to start.

Superannuation — Australia’s compulsory pension savings system — is treated separately from the general estate and does not automatically pass in accordance with a will. Instead, the superannuation fund trustee distributes death benefits to nominated beneficiaries, or exercises its own discretion if no valid nomination is in place. Expats should treat making a binding death benefit nomination with their superannuation fund as a priority task.

What should expats consider about health insurance and end of life costs in Australia?

Your eligibility to access Australia’s public healthcare system — Medicare — depends on your visa category and whether a reciprocal healthcare agreement exists between Australia and your country of origin. This is a pivotal factor in determining your end of life care costs as an expat.

Australia’s health funding model is mixed in nature. A universal insurance scheme, Medicare, subsidises consultations with medical practitioners and partially funds the public hospital system. Voluntary private health insurance complements this by supporting private hospital admissions and associated costs.

Within the public system — public hospitals and government-funded community services — palliative care is provided at no cost to the patient. Nonetheless, out-of-pocket expenses for medications, GP gap fees, certain equipment, and privately delivered services may still arise. Costs are less likely to be fully covered when accessing private healthcare or receiving care in a residential aged care setting.

Expats holding a Medicare card — including nationals of countries with reciprocal healthcare agreements such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Italy, and Malta — are generally entitled to the same public palliative and end of life care as Australian residents. Expats without Medicare access will be classified as private patients in public hospitals and will face the full costs of care, which can be very substantial for intensive end of life treatment.

Private health insurance in Australia is regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and encompasses a range of hospital and extras services. Hospital cover typically includes palliative care as a recognised clinical category, though policy terms, waiting periods, and gap payment arrangements vary considerably between insurers. There are situations in which patients may be required to contribute to the cost of care — for example, by paying an excess under a private health insurance policy when receiving palliative care in a private hospital, through fees charged for short-term respite services, or through charges levied by private allied health practitioners.

Expats should also be mindful that aged care costs — relevant when end of life care is delivered in a residential aged care facility — involve a means-tested daily care fee on top of any government subsidies. Residents pay a Basic Daily Fee and potentially a Means-Tested Care Fee, as well as an Accommodation Cost. The government provides subsidies to the facility for care provision, and Medicare covers eligible medical services such as GP consultations.

Standard travel insurance rarely extends to end of life care costs for long-term residents. If you intend to live in Australia on a long-term basis, it is worth exploring specialist expat health insurance products that include palliative and end of life care coverage. Read policy exclusions with care, and confirm current coverage terms directly with your insurer. The Private Health website — Australia’s official government health insurance comparison tool — provides a helpful starting point for comparing options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I access palliative care in Australia as a foreign national or temporary visa holder?

Your access to free public palliative care is contingent on Medicare eligibility, which is determined by your visa type and any reciprocal healthcare agreement between Australia and your home country. Temporary visa holders who are not Medicare-eligible may be classified as private patients and face significant costs. Check your entitlements with Services Australia (Medicare) and your insurer well before any health crisis occurs.

Is my advance care directive from another country valid in Australia?

Documents prepared under a foreign jurisdiction are not automatically recognised under Australian law. While the values and preferences they express may help to guide clinical decisions, you should create a new advance care directive that complies with the specific requirements of the Australian state or territory in which you reside. Free forms are available through each state’s health department, and completing one does not require a lawyer.

Does Australia have an inheritance tax?

Australia levies no federal inheritance tax or estate duty. Beneficiaries typically receive inherited assets without any tax liability at the time of inheritance. However, capital gains tax may become relevant if inherited assets — such as property or shares — are subsequently sold. Cross-border estates that include overseas assets may be subject to inheritance taxes imposed by other countries. Seek advice from a tax adviser with experience in international estate matters.

How do I register a death in Australia?

Deaths must be registered with the Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry in the state or territory where the person died. In most cases, the funeral director lodges the registration paperwork on behalf of the family. Once the death has been registered, a formal death certificate can be ordered from the BDM. The Australian Death Notification Service enables families to notify multiple government agencies simultaneously through a single process.

How do I arrange for a body to be repatriated from Australia to another country?

Repatriation involves coordination between the funeral director, the Australian BDM registry, Australian Border Force, and the consulate of the receiving country. Embalming and specialist packaging — typically a zinc-lined coffin — are generally required. The deceased’s embassy or consulate in Australia can advise on documentation requirements. Repatriation can involve substantial costs; check whether travel insurance, funeral insurance, or a specialist expat insurance policy provides cover before commissioning services.

What is voluntary assisted dying and is it available to expats in Australia?

Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is now lawful in all mainland states, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory. Eligibility criteria differ between jurisdictions but generally require the person to be an Australian resident or citizen, to have an advanced, progressive, life-limiting illness causing intolerable suffering, and to retain decision-making capacity. Temporary visa holders and non-residents are unlikely to satisfy residency requirements. Contact the relevant state health authority for current eligibility information.

What happens to superannuation when an expat dies in Australia?

Superannuation — Australia’s compulsory retirement savings system — does not automatically form part of the estate or pass according to a will. The superannuation fund trustee distributes death benefits to nominated beneficiaries, or applies its own discretion if no valid nomination is on file. Expats should make a binding death benefit nomination with their superannuation fund and review it regularly. Superannuation paid to non-dependants may attract tax — obtain advice from a financial adviser or the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

How long does probate take in Australia?

Processing times vary according to the state and the complexity of the estate, but uncomplicated probate applications typically progress from lodgement to grant within several weeks to a few months. Estates that are more complex — for example, those involving overseas assets, family disputes, or intestacy — can take considerably longer to resolve. A solicitor or the Public Trustee in your state can offer guidance on realistic timelines and likely costs for your particular circumstances.