palliAGED updates

palliAGED supporting conversations at the heart of aged care palliative practice

In aged care, conversations about goals of care, dying and end of life, are often complex and sometimes delayed, despite their importance to the older person, their families and staff. National Palliative Care Week (10-16 May) encourages us to get to the heart of palliative care by asking big questions and engaging in open, honest conversations.

As the national evidence resource for palliative care in aged care, palliAGED supports the workforce to approach these conversations with confidence and compassion. Recently updated palliAGED Introduction Modules, including a module on Talking about Dying, are designed to help staff build foundational skills for sensitive communication, recognise opportunities to start conversations earlier, and respond to the needs of older people and their families.

Posted: 07/05/2026

The palliAGED Introduction Modules, refreshed for your practice. Same trusted content. New interactive experience

The palliAGED Introduction Modules have been co-designed with industry and re-aligned to the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. The refreshed modules now also consider all aged care settings, the roles of the interprofessional care team including family and carers, and present interactive 10-minute learning activities on a range of topics that connect to practice, identify evidence-based resources, and embed cultural safety throughout.

In a reform environment, accountability in workforce development matters. Aged care providers and clinical educators can also explore and download the new Embedding Palliative Care Learning in Practice service solution, which provides scaffolded learning and evaluation activities, that reference the Kirkpatrick Model to support evidence of learning impact on palliative care and end-of-life practice.

Posted: 25/03/2026

Staff changes

Welcome

We would like to welcome to the Dr Olivia Farrer to the CareSearch including palliAGED team. Olivia has taken on the Senior Research Fellow role leading our CareSearch and palliAGED activities.

Olivia brings knowledge and skills in allied health, aged care and education to our project.

Posted: 20/02/2026

palliAGED at Palliative Care in Aged Care Forum

The palliAGED team will be joining the Palliative Care in Aged Care Forum, 17–18 March 2026 in Melbourne. Supporting leaders and decision-makers across aged care, health, and policy, we will be sharing practical, evidence-based strategies and resources to help embed palliative care into everyday aged care practice.

Our Director, Professor Jennifer Tieman, will be joining the panel discussion on Embedding palliative aged care and will also present From knowledge to practice: Implementation in action.

Posted: 16/02/2026

palliAGED reflection: 2025

Looking back on 2025 it has been a period of change and disruption for aged care. A new Aged Care Act, standards and Support at Home program are shifting care processes and responsibilities. Looking to 2026 there will be the chance to consolidate and refine care and relationships across the sector.

palliAGED will continue to we work with providers, service and the aged care staff who support our community. We are looking to finalise our palliAGED modules and to release a service solution for the Support at Home (End of Life Pathway). We will continue to update our evidence and practice resources and share stories from the sector.

As Christmas approaches we hope that you find time for yourself and the people who are important to you. It is a good chance to practice some care for yourself as well as others.

We look forward to continuing to support Aged care in 2026.

Posted: 04/12/2025

Insights from the sector roundtable (574kb pdf)

The palliAGED team joined a sector roundtable hosted by RePaDD at Flinders University to discuss how the new Support at Home program and strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards will impact palliative and end-of-life care. This important conversation highlighted ways to keep palliative care central in aged care reforms.