Wattletree Health Group provides compassionate, nurse-led end of life care at home across Melbourne — delivered by experienced AHPRA-registered Division 1 nurses who are skilled in complex symptom management, medication administration, and supporting families through life’s most difficult moments. We have no waitlists and respond quickly as needs change.
For clients who need broader palliative support over weeks or months, see our palliative nursing care page. End of life care focuses on the final days and hours — ensuring comfort, dignity, and peace in the familiar surroundings of home.
Why Choose Our End of Life Care Services?
- Senior Clinical Expertise — Not Just Basic Care: Our experienced nurses are skilled clinicians, experienced in complex symptom management, medication administration, and recognising subtle changes in condition.
- Calm, Reassuring Presence: We bring not only clinical capability, but composure — helping families feel supported, informed, and confident during uncertain moments.
- Rapid Response, Flexible Care: From short-term escalation to 24/7 care, we adapt quickly as needs change — because end-of-life care rarely follows a schedule. No waitlists.
- Seamless Collaboration: We work alongside GPs, specialists, and palliative care providers to ensure coordinated, consistent care.
Our End of Life Care Services
- Symptom and Pain Management: Expert management of pain, nausea, breathlessness, and agitation — including syringe driver setup and management, subcutaneous medication administration, and dose adjustment in close consultation with your palliative care team.
- Medication Administration: Safe, skilled administration of subcutaneous, oral, and IV medications, including controlled drugs and continuous infusions via syringe driver.
- Personal Care Assistance: Compassionate support with bathing, grooming, repositioning, and comfort measures throughout the day and night.
- After-Hours and Overnight Cover: We provide care when families need it most — evenings, overnight, and weekends — with rapid response as needs evolve in the final days.
- Coordination with Medical Professionals: Proactive communication with GPs, palliative care specialists, and community nurses to maintain consistent, well-coordinated care.
- Family Guidance and Education: Support for families on what to expect, how to assist with comfort care, and how to access bereavement and grief support services when the time comes.
Funding for End of Life Care at Home
End of life care services may be funded through a range of programs:
Private (self-funded)
Care can start immediately — often within hours. There is no referral required and no waitlist. Hourly rates are provided upfront, and care can be arranged for single overnight shifts or continuous cover as required.
NDIS
End of life nursing care may be funded under NDIS, typically as a health-related support. Wattletree Health Group is a registered NDIS provider and can work with your Support Coordinator to arrange appropriate nursing supports.
My Aged Care — Home Care Package (HCP) and Support at Home (SAH)
Nursing services including end of life care can be funded through HCP and SAH packages. We work with your package provider to coordinate care rapidly in response to changing needs.
TAC and WorkSafe
Where applicable, nursing care may be claimable through TAC or WorkSafe. Wattletree Health Group is an approved provider for both schemes.
The Benefits of Home-Based End of Life Care
- Comfort and Familiarity: Being at home offers a sense of peace and continuity during challenging times.
- Family Involvement: Loved ones can actively participate in care and spend meaningful time together without the constraints of a hospital or facility environment.
- Tailored Care Plans: Every care plan is personalised to the patient’s wishes, clinical needs, and family circumstances.
- No Waitlists: Wattletree Health Group can respond rapidly — we understand that the need for end of life care cannot wait.
Supporting Families Every Step of the Way
We know that end of life care is not just about the patient — it’s also about supporting the family. Our experienced nurses are here to offer guidance, answer questions, and hold the space with calm clinical care when you need it most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between palliative care and end of life care?
Palliative care is a broader approach that begins when a life-limiting illness is diagnosed and may continue for months or years alongside other treatments. It focuses on symptom management, quality of life, and support for patients and families throughout the illness journey. End of life care is a specific phase within palliative care — typically the final days and hours of life — where the focus shifts entirely to comfort, dignity, and being present with loved ones. Wattletree Health Group provides both. See our palliative nursing care page for more information.
Can you provide care on very short notice?
Yes. We understand that end of life needs can escalate rapidly and unpredictably. Wattletree Health Group maintains no waitlists and can often arrange nursing care within hours for private clients. Contact us at any time on 03 9140 0944 to discuss your situation.
Can a nurse manage syringe drivers and controlled drugs at home?
Yes. Our experienced registered nurses are trained in syringe driver setup, management, and troubleshooting, and in the administration of controlled drugs including opioids and anxiolytics via subcutaneous infusion. We work in close consultation with the patient’s GP or palliative care specialist to ensure medications are prescribed and doses adjusted appropriately.
Do I need a referral to access end of life nursing care?
No referral is required to become a Wattletree Health Group client. We accept self-referrals, and also referrals from family and friends, GPs, hospitals, My Aged Care Home Care Package (HCP) and Support At Home (SAH) providers, NDIS Support co-ordinators, allied health, and all other healthcare organisations. We are registered NDIS providers, and also approved providers for TAC and WorkSafe.
What happens overnight — can a nurse stay through the night?
Yes. Wattletree Health Group provides overnight nursing care, including active night shifts and sleepover options depending on the level of clinical need. Overnight cover is often critical in the final days to ensure comfort is maintained and families can rest. Our nurses will monitor symptoms, administer medications as required, and provide immediate support if the patient’s condition changes.
Start the Conversation Today
Wattletree Health Group is here to help you and your family through this time with experienced, compassionate registered nurse care — no waitlists, no referral required.
Call us at 03 9140 0944 or contact us online.
Related Nursing Services
We also provide specialist nursing support for clients with specific life-limiting conditions, including dedicated specialist cancer care nursing at home and specialist palliative nursing at home for clients at an earlier stage of their illness journey.
Service Areas
Wattletree Health Group provides this service across Greater Melbourne. Click your council area to learn more:
- Banyule
- Bayside
- Boroondara
- Brimbank
- Cardinia
- Casey
- Darebin
- Frankston
- Glen Eira
- Greater Dandenong
- Hobsons Bay
- Hume
- Kingston
- Knox
- Manningham
- Maroondah
- Maribyrnong
- Melbourne
- Melton
- Merri-Bek
- Monash
- Moonee Valley
- Mornington Peninsula
- Nillumbik
- Port Phillip
- Stonnington
- Whitehorse
- Whittlesea
- Wyndham
- Yarra
- Yarra Ranges
Your area not listed? Contact us — we cover all of Greater Melbourne and surrounds.
