Online and in-person learning options in palliative care for carers

People help and care for each other. If you are caring for someone who is ill, this may become a major part of your life. The caring role may take on many forms. You may share it with someone else. You may be a friend, neighbour, extended family, spouse, sibling, child or parent. You may not think of yourself as a ‘carer’.

Online learning resources for Carers are listed below. They will be added to as new resources for carers are released.

Other general information and resources for carers are also listed.

Cancer Council Podcasts
The Thing About Cancer podcast has an episode that discusses how cancer affects the carer too.
The Thing About Advanced Cancer podcast contains episodes about caring for someone with advanced cancer, managing relationships as the carers, self-care for carers, caring for someone in their last months, end-of-life care at home, coping with grief, and life after loss.

CarerHelp Modules
Free modules provide information on the key topics for each of the caring pathways. They can help you and others in your family to understand what is happening.

  • Caring when death is a possibility
  • Managing Symptoms
  • Preparing for Dying
  • After caring

CarerHelp Online Sessions
CarerHelp has free online information sessions to help carers prepare for caring and have their questions answered. Sessions are run by health professionals who will provide information, guidance and links to further support and services.

Carer Gateway Carer Skills online courses

  • Dealing with stress
  • Effective communication techniques
  • Recharge and reconnect
  • Legal issues
  • Social connections
  • Sleep

Carers NSW Carer skills program for older people
Carers NSW has developed six training modules to help carers develop practical skills in caring for older people living at home, including in palliative care. A series of short videos on Caring for someone with a life-limiting illness is also available.

Life, Hope and Reality online booklet (1.82MB pdf)
This is a booklet type resource which provides information to patients about many different aspects of living with cancer.

Supporting a Person Who Needs Palliative Care (280kb pdf)
This is an online pdf guidebook that provides basic but practical information for family and friends, carers or volunteers, who are assisting in care provision for a person who is in the palliative phase.

palliLEARN
PalliLEARN provides courses to promote palliative care education and enhance community knowledge and capacity. Participants will learn how to build the skills to support and care for those living with a life-limiting illness. Courses are available in various states.

caring@home
An online resource to teach nurses who need to support and train carers to manage breakthrough pain (also provides resources package for carers to access post-training) Note: This course is for registered nurses supporting carers.

None

CarerHelp
Information, resources, and videos on a range of topics important to someone providing care to a person coming to the end of their life.

Free online information sessions to help you feel prepared for caring and answer your questions

Carers NSW education
Education sessions and workshops for carers and service providers to improve carer health and wellbeing.

CareSearch: Practical Caring Resources

CareSearch: How to Care

Palliative Care Australia: I'm A Carer
Information about carers and palliative care.

Understanding Advance Care Planning
A range of information for patients and carers.

Last updated 03 February 2026