CareSearch updates

The CareSearch Project Team has begun an exciting redevelopment of our digital platform, not just a website rebranding or rebuild, but something more fundamental. Over the coming months, we’ll be quietly developing the framework for our system that enable us to move confidently into the future that enhances security, functionality, and access to evidence-based resources.

Our current site will keep providing trustworthy information, resources, and learning tools while the platform redevelopment is underway.

Read the full update from our Director, Professor Jennifer Tieman.

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.

The CareSearchgp app supports GPs in delivering quality palliative care across the life course. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has included the app as an accepted clinical resource. This factsheet (809kb pdf) provides information on the GP app.

2025 has seen communities and systems acknowledging the increasing need and demand for palliative care and care at the end of life. This year has seen significant policy and practice changes relating to aged care, unpaid carers, incentives for general practices, and a rapidly changing digital and data ecosystem. CareSearch continues to work with palliative care providers and services to support their care for people as they deal with the realities of death and dying. We also acknowledge the contribution made by families and carers, as well as neighbours, social networks, communities and support organisations, in enabling care for people as they come to the end of their life.

We have completed a study on the role and value of the Clinical Evidence Summaries that were completely reviewed and updated in 2024. This work showed the value of evidence in training, in practice and in decision-making.  We updated a children’s booklist that can help start a conversation about life, grief, death and loss. We continue to work with other projects to increase reach and impact including palliAGED, CarerHelp, ELDAC, Palliative Care Connect, TEL, End-of-Life Essentials, and The Advance Project.

As Christmas approaches, we hope that you find time for yourself and the people who are important to you. We look forward to continuing to support the palliative care sector in 2026.