A group of health community connectors has come to the aid of a terminally ill man and his wife in Cairns following a desperate call for help.
While the man’s wife is connected to his palliative care team, she was struggling with the emotional strain of the day-to-day care and did not have the support of family living close by.
The members of North Queensland Health Community Connectors Network are making a difference in their communities, one family at a time.
“To date, more than 350 North Queenslanders have been trained as health community connectors to connect people with the services they need as they age, are near the end of their life, or who are grieving loss,” Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) CEO Robin Whyte said.
“If necessary, they can also establish a wraparound informal support to families affected by life-limiting illness. It was a health community connector who contacted the NQPHN Older Persons Health and Palliative Care team after meeting the elderly woman who needed support.
“Our team was then able to contact the group of health community connectors in her area – and 12 people put their hand up to help her, which is heartwarming.”
The health community connectors training is a key project under the NQPHN Greater Choices for At Home Palliative Care initiative and is part of the Compassionate Communities movement.
Compassionate Communities is a globally recognised approach to improving the end-of-life experience for people by establishing local networks, groups, and services to be more conscious, aware, and equipped to offer support.
Ms Whyte said it could be difficult to know who to seek help from.
“Health community connectors are community-minded individuals passionate about engaging with community members to identify and signpost vulnerable people to groups, services, and other supports that either formally or informally provide end-of-life care, and grief and bereavement support,” she said.
Mackay resident Belinda Hassan had a deep desire to help people through their palliative care journey, which led her to sign up as a health community connector.
Ms Hassan, currently a first-term Councillor with Mackay Regional Council, spent almost eight years as the manager of funeral homes in Mackay and Sarina, and four years as the service manager at Mackay Women’s Centre.
When she saw an opportunity to participate in the NQPHN health community connectors workshop, she enrolled immediately.
“I don’t have a personal story, or even one particular experience that influenced my decision – more a desire to assist people on that journey,” Ms Hassan said.
“But I have helped people pre-plan their own funeral services, assisted with end-of-life paperwork, and sat with people at the end of their life.
“It really is just holding space with someone while they travel that road, and doing what you can to support them.
“Many people can struggle through the palliative care and end-of-life process, and I wanted to do what I could to help.”
Ms Hassan said she had been working to build her knowledge of the services available in the community.
“This has included learning more about advance care planning, services that are available, and what gaps exist,” she said.
“I’m currently learning more about the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act, as I’ve been asked recently to support someone considering this. There have also been conversations with the Mackay Regional Council Libraries team around possibly holding information sessions, and I still do presentations to community groups around what happens at the end of life.”
Of the NQPHN health community connectors training, Ms Hassan said it was “very informative, interesting, and also very hands-on.”
“It was great to understand the different experiences of others in the group, and their reasons for being involved. It is a great concept, and I hope to be able to grow the health community connectors network in the Mackay region so that no one goes through that process alone,” she said.