This section will keep you up to date with news in the palliative care sector. Please note that the links below were current at the time of posting, however links may become obsolete as websites update their content.
Applications are now open for the Aged Care Nursing Scholarships Program (2.53MB pdf). This program offers valuable opportunities for:
There are 1,050 scholarships available, with a guaranteed allocation for First Nations people. Eligible courses include vocational education training, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. To apply or learn more, visit the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners website
Service providers need to establish new agreements or vary existing service agreements for clients transitioning Home Care Package recipients. From 1 October, providers can access Support at Home estimated contribution rates in the Aged Care Provider Portal. These rates are for most older people who currently receive a Home Care Package.
Hammondcare is bringing together three of its research centres, The Dementia Centre, The Palliative Centre, and The Centre for Positive Ageing, to create Hammond Innovations. They seek to create solutions that can rapidly be applied into practice. Partnerships with technology, university and philanthropic partners along with other sector providers will underpin the Hammond Innovations approach.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has developed an updated roadmap to help providers prepare for the new Aged Care Act, which starts on 1 November. The roadmap outlines key dates and milestones for:
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has published the Aged Care Rules 2025. The rules act as supporting legislation for the new Aged Care Act, which commences in five weeks on 1 November, and give effect to key aged care reforms introduced since the aged care royal commission.
The Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Healthcare has developed the Medication Management at Transitions of Care Stewardship Framework. Medication management at transitions of care is a period of high risk for medication errors and miscommunication, which can lead to harm. More than 50% of medication errors occur at transition of care. This stewardship framework seeks to reduce risks of harm associated with transitions of care.
The 2025 World Alzheimer Report explores the important topic of dementia rehabilitation, combining expert essays and real-world case studies from multiple countries globally to examine how the concept is defined and implemented, as well as practical considerations of how to best adapt rehabilitation practices for people living with dementia in different contexts.
The Government has announced it will release 20,000 home care packages before 1 November, along with a further 20,000 by the end of December to address the growing waitlist issue for older Australians. The remaining packages are scheduled from January 2026.
The Aged Care Act 2024 is the main law that covers government-funded aged care. It sets out the legal requirements for accessing aged care, who can provide services and how, funding, and regulation. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is creating a Guide to Aged Care Law to help people understand the Aged Care Act 2024. It explains the main themes and key points in the Act and the Aged Care Rules 2025. The overview and chapter 1 are available now. Remaining chapters are in preparation.
The Australian Government is providing funding for credentialed pharmacists to work on-site in residential aged care homes (RACHs) in a clinical role. Guidance for managing the measure has been released: Pharmacist and Residential Aged Care Home Guide