The Master of Palliative Care is an advanced postgraduate qualification designed for health professionals who want to specialise in the compassionate care of people living with life-limiting illness. The degree equips graduates with advanced knowledge and specialised skills required to excel in roles across rural and remote healthcare, acute and community settings, aged care facilities, palliative care units, and hospices. Whether students are experienced practitioners or those building on foundational palliative care skills, this degree prepares them to deliver evidence-based care and lead improvements in end-of-life care practices. The course draws on interdisciplinary perspectives — covering areas such as complex communication, social justice, law and ethics, public health, advanced pharmacology, and physical assessment — to produce well-rounded graduates capable of practising safely and compassionately across diverse clinical contexts.

The course is offered by a small number of specialised Australian universities, typically through flexible online or distance-learning modes to accommodate working health professionals. Employers span the full breadth of the health and aged care system, including public hospital networks, private hospitals, community health services, hospices, residential aged care facilities, not-for-profit palliative care organisations, and state and federal health departments. Palliative Care Australia (PCA), the national peak body representing all those who work towards high-quality palliative care, also serves as an important sector body connecting graduates with policy, advocacy, and professional development opportunities.

Applicants to most Australian Master of Palliative Care programs are required to hold a completed bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant health or social care discipline — typically including nursing, medicine, midwifery, allied health fields such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology, pharmacy, paramedic science, psychology, or social work, obtained from an Australian university or an equivalent overseas institution. In addition to the academic qualification, most providers require a minimum of one to two years of full-time equivalent post-registration clinical experience, specifically involving palliative care or supporting patients and families with a life-limiting illness. Some programs require current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and concurrent employment in or access to a relevant clinical practice area during the course of study.

Applicants who do not yet hold the necessary undergraduate background or who wish to enter the master's degree pathway incrementally may first complete a Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care or a Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care, with credit granted for completed topics on entry into the master's program. Supporting documentation commonly required includes a current curriculum vitae, a statement of service or professional reference, and written documentation of relevant work experience in palliative or aged care settings. International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency, typically through IELTS (with an overall score of around 6.5–7.0 and no sub-score below 6.0), TOEFL, or PTE, or through prior study conducted in English. Some providers will waive the English requirement for applicants whose first language is English or who are citizens of a country where English is an official language.