Undertaking the role as carer to a terminally-ill loved one is a journey you only travel once.
It was this realisation that was at the centre of Imelda Gilmore's carer journey as she cared for her late husband Graham, who was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer's disease.
"As we moved along ... in that time, I became aware that I was only going to get one chance to do this, that it wasn't about me and I can't imagine anything worse than losing my life partner and still today I miss him terribly," Mrs Gilmore said.
"But I, and my family as well, had to focus on him because this was his only chance to do this and therefore my only chance to walk him through that."
Mrs Gilmore, who lives in Helensburgh, NSW, is just one of many carers sharing her family's story via CarerHelp - a web portal offering an extensive range of advice and support for Australians who have taken on the role of caring for a terminally-ill parent, partner or friend.
The Be the best carer you can be campaign aims to help spread the word about the CarerHelp portal.
"At any given time, there are many thousands of Australians supporting a person in their final weeks and days of life - an undertaking that most are not personally prepared for emotionally or in terms of skills and experience," explained Professor Jennifer Tieman of Flinders University.
Mrs Gilmore said as she cared for her husband, she felt supported by the team she formed around her - staff at the nursing home and her family.
Her words for those caring for loved ones is firstly to realise that every experience is unique.
"No one else will experience it the same way ... the overriding thing is, if it's possible for you, focus on the positives in the sense that it is the only chance that you're going to get to do this.
"If it's possible in your grief, and grief is already happening, to focus on them in that sense, in a positive and constructive way, it will help you to think rationally about what's happening right now - do I need to get more drugs, do I need to call a minister, do I need to just sit with the person and be there for them."
Having lived through the experience, Mrs Gilmore said she realised that death was not only an important part of life, but presented an opportunity to support the one you love.
"If you imagine when a baby is born, there are hands ready to grab that baby and that baby is connected and loved right from the moment it enters the world," Mrs Gilmore said.
"If you've got someone leaving the world and if you are able to do that very same thing, give them the comfort of hands, talking and people ... we had laughter, we had the family in the room as much as possible."
"The feeling of knowing you have done that well makes it all worthwhile."
She encourages those who feel they need a little help to take a look at the CarerHelp portal.
"Look at the stories, look at the suggestions about medical help in the general sense, look at what's available in terms of reading and sourcing some more information.
"If you're feeling able to, go in there and see that not only do you not have to work this journey alone but you can see how other people have walked it.
"You can pick up ideas in advance and begin to stop feeling helpless about the whole thing."
Elsternwick's Avi Paluch cared for his wife Kita, who lived with cancer for 12 years. He said becoming a carer presented a whole new set of challenges, attempting to juggle so many different roles.
"Being a carer turns your whole world upside down because suddenly you're looking after not only your loved one but you also have got to remember to look after yourself," Mr Paluch said.
With three children, Mr Paluch said it was also important to he and Kita that their daughters did not interrupt their studies, even though they volunteered to do so. It was also important they took care of themselves.
"Your world's turned upside down, because suddenly you've got to run the household essentially, you just don't know where to begin and what takes all the various priorities that might pop up.
"There are things that need to be done, things that can be delayed and so on."
Mr Paluch said it was important to take each day as it comes.
"I had the good fortune that my late wife was a nurse, so she knew exactly what was happening to her and what was ahead.
"She was able to provide us with lots of guidance as to what to expect, how some of the situations may unfold and how to deal with all sorts of things."
He emphasised the importance of looking into palliative care and understanding what it's about.
"Palliative care is a fairly scary word - it's not easily translatable, it's not a familiar word other than it's now becoming more familiar.
"It's important to tap into the palliative care service earlier rather than later because the palliative care team, particularly the nurses, are literally angels.
"They know how to read people, especially the patient, they can anticipate and help in so many ways - it's important to know you've got a palliative care unit that's in your regional area and make use of that service.
"Because palliative care can often, at times, enable the patient to be with us for a longer period."
It is crucial, Mr Paluch said, that carers also practice self-care.
"You've got to be reminded about it and get into the habit of having that little bit of support and time out, it's really one of the most important aspects of being a carer," he said.
After losing his wife, Mr Paluch went on to train as a grief counsellor, feeling compelled to help others. His journey also features on the CarerHelp website.
"I was available to carers having been in that role, having had that experience and that time available to be at the beck and call of a carer."
"I wasn't there to give them advice, I was there to listen and put forward some ideas and suggestions.
"It was just about being there listening and empathising."
