The vital role of personal careworkers in palliative and end-of-life care
An article written by Karen Gregory (Advanced Practice Nurse, Palliative Care) and Claire Tan (Clinical Nurse, Palliative Care) Resthaven Inc.
Personal careworkers in aged care are at the heart of delivering compassionate, person-centred support to older Australians. Whether it’s helping someone get ready for the day, offering a listening ear, or being there during life’s final moments, our careworkers are there—day in and day out, providing the kind of support that truly matters.
Palliative care: A core component of aged care
Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for people with an active, progressive, and advanced disease who are expected to die. As such, palliative and end-of-life care is not an optional extra—it is core business within aged care, especially in residential aged care facilities (RACF).
Careworkers are often at the frontline of this support, helping older people stay comfortable, maintain dignity, and feel safe and supported, through the final stages of life. But to do this effectively, they must be equipped with both knowledge and confidence because providing high-quality care for someone at the end of life takes both heart and skill.
Supporting and equipping our staff
To ensure our careworkers are prepared to deliver the best possible care, each of our 12 residential care facilities is supported by a dedicated team. This includes experienced registered nurses, care coordinators, and clinical nurses who work in collaboration with residential managers, GP’s and allied health professionals.
We are integral to this structure as specialist palliative care nurses - bringing our combined expertise and deep passion to the roles we hold. We are committed to supporting careworkers with ongoing training and development, ensuring that all staff within our facilities are up to date with the latest palliative care practices.
Collaboration that drives best practice
One of the most powerful aspects of their palliative care approach is the strong collaboration between the palliative care nurses and clinical managers. This partnership ensures that palliative care is prioritised and seamlessly integrated into everyday practice.
We are also fortunate to have clinical educators who run targeted training sessions. It is not about ticking boxes - it is about building a culture where everyone feels supported, where learning never stops, and where careworkers know they’re never alone in what can sometimes be tough and emotionally demanding work.
In collaboration with the clinical educators, we support site staff through mentoring, tailored education sessions, and practical tools that enable careworkers to respond compassionately and competently to the complex needs of residents nearing the end of life.
Practical, ongoing training for careworkers – real tools that make a difference
We deliver hands-on workshops across all our residential care sites. These sessions are tailored to the specific needs of careworkers and are supported by trusted resources from the palliAGED website - a nationally recognised hub for palliative care information and tools.
During workshops, staff are introduced to palliAGED Tip Sheets and training videos, which are concise, easy-to-use guides that help reinforce learning and support continuous improvement. These materials also empower staff to build their knowledge at their own pace, creating a culture of lifelong learning.
Compassionate, person-centred care
At the heart of our approach is a deep commitment to providing care that is respectful, compassionate, and person-centred. Through continuous education, close collaboration, and strong leadership in palliative care, we strive to ensure every resident receives the support they need - emotionally, physically, and spiritually - as they approach the end of life.
We want our careworkers to feel proud of what they do, supported in their learning, and confident in the care they provide. Because when we get it right, we honour the lives of our residents in the most meaningful way.
We are grateful for the generous support and valuable resources provided by palliAGED - we couldn’t do it without you.
Authors
Karen Gregory
Advanced Practice Nurse, Palliative Care
Resthaven Inc.
Claire Tan
Clinical Nurse, Palliative Care
Resthaven Inc.