Practice Tools - Practising in Aged Care - Allied Health
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Practice Tools

The ELDAC Allied Health Toolkit offers practical, evidence-informed tools to support allied health professionals in delivering best practice to enhance palliative care for older Australians at the end of life. The tools listed are either freely available from peak organisations, or have been designed by the ELDAC team, informed by industry voice, current policy and evidence.

At present the Australian government is developing a National Allied Health Workforce Strategy (2025), in consultation with states and territories. The strategy is likely to discuss that allied health professionals should strengthen capabilities in:

  • digital health
  • interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative models for a collaborative health team
  • data collection for health and wellbeing outcomes, and
  • aged care-specific clinical skills, to effectively respond to workforce shortages and evolving models of care, including in the aged care sector.

The introduction of the new Aged Care Act 2024 and strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, with their emphasis on person centred practice, supported decision making, and clear communication, creates a timely opportunity for allied health professionals to highlight their essential role in delivering best practice care. The Research Centre for Palliative care, Death and Dying (RePaDD) has produced the Allied Health Professional Development Plan - Addressing Strengthened Quality Standards - Outcome 5.7: Palliative and end-of-life care (3MB pdf). The resource is intended to help upskill and support practice across all aged care settings, i.e. residential aged care and in Support at Home. 

Advocacy Tip Sheet

To complement this resource, ELDAC has produced the 5 Advocacy Tips for Allied Health in Palliative and End-of-Life in Aged Care tip sheet. Building on the need for aged care specific clinical skills and stronger integration within emerging care models, this resource equips allied health professionals with advocacy approaches that promote their inclusion in advance care planning, supporting more holistic and coordinated care for older Australians.

 

The National PHN Allied Health in Primary Care Engagement Framework was developed and launched in 2022 to strengthen engagement between the Primary Health Networks and the Allied Health sector. From this work, a national practical resource for allied health clinicians working in primary care was released in May 2025. The Toolkit has localisable sections and content to support allied health clinicians.

For allied health professionals delivering care under Support at Home program, the Toolkit offers valuable support by enhancing care coordination and communication with other providers, promoting the use of digital tools, and providing strategies for effective data collection to track outcomes and advocate for service funding.

It also helps build confidence and capability in navigating complex health systems, while encouraging collaborative models of care that improve client outcomes and reduce fragmentation.

Key Features of the Toolkit

Local Health System Navigation

  • Understand the role of PHNs and how to connect with local services
  • Access service directories and clinical referral pathways 

Data Collection & Digital Health

  • Guidance on using secure messaging, My Health Record, and telehealth
  • Tools for collecting and using data to demonstrate impact and improve outcomes 

AI and Innovation Readiness

  • Encourages awareness of emerging technologies like AI in care delivery
  • Promotes ethical and informed adoption of digital tools in practice 

Workforce Development

  • Highlights the role of Allied Health Assistants and team-based care
  • Offers education pathways and networking opportunities
  • Highlights culturally safe and inclusive care practices 

Business Efficiency & Funding

  • Information on PHN funding opportunities and national schemes
  • Resources for small business support and sustainability 

Download the National Allied Health Practice Engagement Toolkit (2MB pdf) or check in with your local PHN for a localised version of the tool.

Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) is the national voice for allied health professions. AHPA has developed a digital health toolkit (602kb pdf) (including a musculoskeletal and mental health specific kit) to help allied health professions understand and interact with digital health platforms such as My Health Record and secure messaging. Key features of the resources include:

  • digital health policy templates and inclusion tools
  • clinical note taking and practice software recommendations, including a selection tool
  • My Health Record registration and guidelines for use by allied health professions.

Other useful resources on the AHPA website include the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet Resources.

For more than 25 years, the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet has been offering evidence based resources to assist the health workforce who provide care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families and communities.