The Australian Integrated Mental Health and Palliative Care Task (IMhPaCT) project aimed to improve the quality of palliative care for people with a severe and persistent mental illness and those who develop mental health issues as a response to their diagnosis of a life-limiting illness. These patients and families are generally cases of high complexity and require strong collaboration and cooperation across various service sectors. Education across both palliative care and mental health services was identified as a key objective in improving palliative care service delivery in this patient population. This article specifically addresses one aspect of the project-the education strategy. The processes of development, implementation, and evaluation of outcomes are discussed.

Recognising and addressing problems in clinical practice and service delivery is an important way for nurses to ensure quality care for patients; however, they need support in developing the skills and knowledge that are essential to successful QI activities.

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This paper draws on data from the Health Care for Children Project to consider issues of access to health care for children in low‐income families in three geographic areas. Group and individual interviews were held with mothers in an innercity area and two outlying suburbs. Financial, geographic, sociocultural and other barriers to use of health services are discussed. Major obstacles to access to health care for their children identified by the mothers included cost of medication, hours of opening, transport and language. The paper highlights the impact of even quite small charges for health services on low‐income families.