Making Palliative Care Resources More Accessible: A Collaborative Effort in the Grampians region
A blog by Diane Nimmo, Strategic Projects and Research Manager at Ballarat Hospice Care, who leads the Comprehensive Palliative Care in Residential Aged Care (CPCiAC) Project
With so many resources available to support quality palliative care, it’s easy for aged care staff and managers to feel overwhelmed. Knowing where to begin can be a challenge - especially in the busy day-to-day reality of residential aged care. That’s why End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) can be such a valuable starting point.
Diane Nimmo, Strategic Projects and Research Manager at Ballarat Hospice Care, who leads the Comprehensive Palliative Care in Residential Aged Care (CPCiAC) Project*, knows this challenge all too well. “The ELDAC tools and guidance have been invaluable in strengthening palliative care practices across our region,” she says.
The CPCiAC Project team, which includes former and current Project Officers Valerie Armenante and Donna Walter and Specialist Palliative Care Physician Dr Russell Pearce, have been helping residential aged care services across the Grampians region access essential resources from national palliative care projects, including those developed by ELDAC. One of their practical strategies has been putting together resource folders containing printed samples of key materials, including ELDAC resources, for staff to explore.
“These boxes allow staff to physically review the resources, gain insights, and choose what’s most relevant to their work,” Diane explains. “They can browse through them during breaks or quieter moments - without needing to go online.”
The print packs are easy to order and serve as a great introduction to the wider suite of ELDAC offerings, including its free, easy-to-navigate website. All ELDAC resources are available online to view or download at no cost.
Collaboration Builds Impact
Palliative care is a constantly evolving field. With so many national projects contributing tools, research, and education, Diane sees enormous value in collaboration.
“The best outcomes come from sharing knowledge and working together,” she says. By building on each other’s work, projects can amplify the value of the time, money, and expertise that goes into resource development. This cooperative spirit also boosts accessibility and helps ensure aged care staff have what they need to deliver truly person-centred care.
Learning That Fits the Workplace
Printed materials are just one part of the equation. Diane recognises that people learn in different ways—and that a combination of formats helps support meaningful learning.
Recently, the Grampians region Aged Care Palliative Care Community of Practice, which was established in the context of the CPCiAC Project, hosted a presentation (online) by Dr Lenore de la Perrelle, Research Fellow at ELDAC. “It was a fantastic opportunity for attendees to connect directly with an ELDAC expert and deepen their understanding of end-of-life care,” Diane shares.
By combining printed resources, virtual engagements to help build palliative care knowledge, and online access through the ELDAC website, Diane says the CPCiAC project has created a strong model for how to embed learning into everyday practice. It also gives aged care staff the flexibility to engage with content in the way that best suits them.
Looking Ahead
Next on the agenda, the project team will be gathering feedback on the use of the resource boxes and refining their approach. The team is also looking forward to incorporating any future ELDAC materials into the boxes, continuing to build on what’s working.
“By supporting each other and sharing the tools that work, we can make sure aged care staff feel confident and well-equipped to deliver compassionate, high-quality palliative care,” Diane says.
By sharing resources and knowledge, the capacity of the aged care workforce to provide high-quality palliative care is strengthened. Continued access to tools like the ELDAC suite ensures sustained support and improvement for those approaching the end of life. Collaboration and building on current efforts are essential for driving lasting improvements in the sector.
* This is a collaborative project between Ballarat Hospice Care, Grampians Region Palliative Care Consortium and Grampians Regional Palliative Care Team, funded by the Comprehensive Palliative Care in Aged Care Measure (2018), which is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth and State Government of Victoria.
Diane Nimmo
Strategic PRojects and Research Manager, Ballarat Hospice Care
Main Image: Residential aged care staff from Mercy Place Ballarat
with BHCI’s Comprehensive Palliative Care in Aged Care Project Officer, Donna Walter.