Precious Time: The Carers is a set of 10 photographic portraits and accompanying texts, by Pippa Wischer, that reveal some of the joys, as well as some of the challenges, of caring for a family member in palliative care. 

Photographed while talking openly about their parents, partners, siblings and children, the 10 participants reveal what it’s like to hear that there is nothing more the medical community can do for a member of their family. It also reveals how the participants deal with death, and with grief. They share the benefits and difficulties of looking after their family members at home, and acknowledge how the experience has changed them.

Pippa Wischer is a digital storyteller who works with photography, text, video and sound. She has a Master of Fine Art (Research) from Monash University and has had numerous exhibitions in Victoria. This work was sponsored by the Grampians Regional Palliative Care Team, and the Goulburn Valley Hospice Care Service.

The display cabinets at Fitzroy Library are one of a number of public art initiatives whereby Council brings art into the everyday; we curate a changing exhibition program at Fitzroy, Carlton and Richmond libraries. We also have an exciting program at Council’s newest facility: Bargoonga Nganjin.

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Image: Pippa Wischer, Kylie, The Grampians from the series The Carers, 2016, digital photographic print. Courtesy the artist