Background Contemporary Palliative Care arose in the mid-20th century, initially in the UK, in response to health care that was increasingly aimed at treatment and cure, but with a correspondingly decreasing focus on addressing patient and family suffering, particularly at the end of life. In Australia and New Zealand, Palliative Care Services developed later; Palliative Medicine was only formally recognized as a specialist discipline in the early 2000’s.

My PhD research explores the social history of these developments through the experiences and insights of the first cohort of doctors designated as Palliative Medicine Specialists by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).

Study objectives

1. Document the experiences of the first cohort of doctors, the RACPs ‘Foundation Fellows’, who became Palliative Medicine Specialists in Australia and New Zealand.

2. Analyze and interpret the social history and development of Palliative Medicine in Australia and New Zealand.

3. Seek an informed insight into what might be of most benefit for the future of palliative practice in a rapidly changing health care and social environment.

Methods Narrative Inquiry, consisting of an Electronic Survey posted to all RACP Foundation Fellows, and a series of 25 Narrative Interviews conducted in person or via Zoom, and analyzed inductively according to Narrative Methodology.

Results Survey response rate 39%, of whom 58% agreed to be interviewed.

Analysis of demographic data.

Exploration of interviewees’ motivations, their values, and their struggles and achievements.

Developing a narrative of discipline development for Palliative Medicine.

Implications The discipline is still in a relatively early stage of its development and integration within the health care system. The social world in which it does its work is changing, with new needs and challenges continually reshaping the health care landscape.

The research delineates those values and practices which remain important and should be retained to benefit future palliative practice.