Walking Beside People When It Matters Most

By Jill Bowen, Palliative Care Social Worker

Working in palliative care is a privilege I never take for granted. As a social worker in this field, I have the honour of supporting people who are living with a life‑limiting illness, as well as the families and networks who walk alongside them. No two days are the same, and no two people experience illness, uncertainty, or hope in exactly the same way. That’s why our role is rooted in seeing the whole person, not just their diagnosis.

What Palliative Care Social Workers Do

Palliative care social workers are fully qualified, registered social workers who specialise in working with people at one of the most emotionally complex times of life. Our work is broad and deeply human. We offer:

Emotional and Therapeutic Support

We draw on a range of therapeutic approaches—systemic family therapy, counselling skills, motivational interviewing, and psycho‑educative work—to help people make sense of what they’re experiencing. Families often need different types of support from the person who is ill, and we work sensitively with everyone involved.

We also provide bereavement support, especially when grief becomes more complicated or overwhelming.

Practical Support When Life Gets Difficult

Serious illness often brings practical challenges, and navigating systems can feel impossible at the worst of times. We help with:

Accessing services

Housing challenges

Financial concerns and benefits

Advocacy

Psychosocial support

Liaising with schools or workplaces

We work with individuals, couples, families, and groups—whoever needs support and connection.

Supporting the Whole Web of Relationships

Illness never happens in isolation; it affects relationships, routines, identities, and futures. My job is to help untangle some of that, to recognise what matters to each person, and to walk with them as they make decisions about how they wish to live—especially when time feels uncertain.

My Professional Identity

A job title can change, but professional identity is something I carry within me. I see it as a thread that ties together my values, experiences, and skills. Being a palliative care social worker feels aligned with who I am at my core.

Compassion, empathy, dignity, equality, and equity guide my work every single day. I believe every person deserves to be heard, respected, and supported in the way that feels right for them.

Social work, at its heart, is about making a difference—often in small, quiet, meaningful ways. It’s about helping people identify what matters to them and then supporting them to achieve it, even in the midst of profound challenge.

Why This Work Matters

Palliative care isn’t about giving up; it’s about focusing on quality of life, understanding what is important, and enabling people to live in meaningful ways for as long as they can. It’s about connection and dignity. As social workers, we help create space for people to reflect, to breathe, and to feel supported—whatever that looks like for them.

Every family I meet teaches me something new about resilience, love, and the strength of human relationships. It’s a privilege to be invited into these moments, and it’s a privilege to do this work.