Communication Resources

Resources that can help nurses with communication

Patients, carers and family
- palliAGED case conference forms and checklists facilitate the preparation, running and documentation of family meetings and case conferences
- End-of-Life Essentials is an open-access online learning opportunities and practice resources for doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. The focus is on end-of-life care in Australian hospitals; however, the content can be useful for other care settings.
- Read the tips on Active Listening from the Australian College of Nursing
- VitalTalk website host resources communicate effectively with patients living with serious illness including an app
- SPIKES (72kb pdf) is an acronym for step-wise framework for presenting distressing information in an organised manner to patients and families
- Teach-back is a collection of open-access online modules and practice resources to help Australian health professionals communicate with people in their care using plain language and checking that the person has understood information about their health and care
- Explore available e-Learning options listed in CareSearch in the category Communication and End-of-life Decision Making
- palliAGED Practice Tip Sheets can be useful for self-directed learning or an in-house update:
- palliAGED has an introductory module for aged care – Talking about dying
- For more information on interpreters and interpreting services go to Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)
- Read the RACGP article: Active listening – More than just paying attention (158kb pdf)
Family meetings and case conferences
- palliAGED case conference forms and checklists facilitate the preparation, running and documentation of family meetings and case conferences
- End-of-Life Essentials is an open-access online learning opportunities and practice resources for doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. The focus is on end-of-life care in Australian hospitals; however, the content can be useful for other care settings.
- Read the tips on Active Listening from the Australian College of Nursing
- VitalTalk website host resources communicate effectively with patients living with serious illness including an app
- SPIKES (72kb pdf) is an acronym for step-wise framework for presenting distressing information in an organised manner to patients and families
- Teach-back is a collection of open-access online modules and practice resources to help Australian health professionals communicate with people in their care using plain language and checking that the person has understood information about their health and care
Patient education
- Use the Patients and Carers section of the Community Hub in the CareSearch website as a source of evidence-based information and resources
- Order or access online the CareSearch booklet: palliative care support for patients, carers and families provides a starting point to learn about palliative care with its emphasis on quality of life and available support
- Cancer Australia hosts information and resources for people affected by cancer
- Dementia Australia hosts information and resources for people living with dementia, and families, carers and friends
- For resources and information on certain life-limiting conditions and associated conditions, go to Disease-specific resources listed on the CareSearch website
Communication within the care team
- The white paper Communicating Clearly and Effectively to Patients: How to Overcome Common Communication Challenges in Health Care offers tools, tips, and strategies for effective communication
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care recognises the importance of good communication when patients are transferred
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care recognises the importance good communication with patients and colleagues
Communication within an organisation
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care report (862kb pdf) outlines tools, checklists and templates that can help written communication between clinicians for patients with complex care needs
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has information on the Aged Care Transfer-to-Hospital Envelope with Template
- End-of-Life Essentials toolkits and modules can help facilitate communication within a hospital – promoting end-of-life knowledge, facilitating discussion and engagement of peers in end-of-life care, and accreditation processes
- ELDAC Linkages toolkit hosts documents and templates to establish or improve linkages with between aged care, primary care, and palliative care services
- ELDAC hosts tools to facilitate auditing and accreditation for residential aged care services and home care aged care services
- Digital Health Australia provides guidance for health care professionals and organisations to use My Health Record safely and responsibly
Dealing with conflict
- VitalTalk has a quick guide on Defusing Conflicts: Moving the conversation forward
- Use the End-of-Life Essentials (298kb pdf) tip sheet ‘Step wise approach to conflict’ (eg, differing family opinions, conflicts between doctor and patient or doctor, patient and caregiver)

Last updated 30 July 2026

Communication Resources

Resources that can help nurses with communication

Patients, carers and family

Family meetings and case conferences

Patient education

Communication within the care team

Communication within an organisation

Dealing with conflict