In 2020 The Palliative & End of Life Care Social Work Standards were developed to guide best practice, high quality and competent care in end of life, palliative and bereavement care. These standards were developed as a result of specialist palliative care social work networks across Australia identifying the need for a consistent framework to guide practice. Development of the standards provided a valuable framework to articulate the highly specialised and complex role of Social Work within the palliative, end of life and bereavement space, to advance practice, and to develop pathways for leadership and research opportunities in palliative care.

This presentation will set a place for social work at the multidisciplinary table to showcase the valuable and comprehensive role of social workers within the palliative, end of life and bereavement space. The development of social work standards in palliative, end of life, and bereavement care, national networking formation, and opportunities for social work leadership and research opportunities will be presented to raise awareness of this valuable contribution to palliative care.

This presentation will showcase several short vignettes or case studies to demonstrate the Palliative & End of Life Care Social Work Standards in practice and understand the critical role of social workers when someone is dying or has been bereaved.

Formal collaboration by social workers to develop professional standards for practice in palliative care has provided a platform for leadership and research. There are ongoing opportunities to advocate for the important role of social work and collaborate with other professional organisations in the palliative care sector.