Wimmera Health Care Group will receive $116,962 and East Grampians Health Service will receive $78,538 to expand its palliative care services.

Wimmera Health Care Group chief executive Catherine Morley welcomed the funding.

“We will use the money to enhance the palliative care services we already provide,” she said.

“It’s a lovely addition and it will help us expand our services to meet the needs of our communities.” Ms Morley said the health care group worked with other health organisations in the region to share its palliative care services.

“We support other health services in the Wimmera Southern Mallee Health Alliance, including West Wimmera Health Care Service, Rural Northwest Health and Edenhope hospital,” she said.

“That support might be through us travelling to those places or connecting with them via telehealth, so this funding will benefit the whole region.”

Ms Morley said the funding would help with things like referrals and equipment. 

She said it was great to see funding being targeted to areas of need in the community.

Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said the funding would provide home-based palliative care for more people across regional Victoria.

“We know most people want to die at home, close to family and loved ones,” she said.

“This funding boost will give people from the Wimmera with a terminal illness more support to be cared for at home.”