Culturally safe care is about more than just meeting needs - it’s about honouring identities, traditions, and values at every stage of a person’s aged care and end-of-life journey. As an aged care worker, you play a vital role in creating an inclusive, person-centred space where every person feels seen, heard, respected, and supported in ways that matter to them.
What I can do
Supporting a person’s cultural identity enhances dignity, brings comfort, and can improve overall wellbeing. You do this by being mindful of:
- Cultural preferences in language, food, and religious or spiritual practices
- Specific communication needs, such as the use of interpreters or preferred terminology
- The role of family and community in decision-making and care.
Effective communication is key to culturally respectful and safe care. You can support this by:
- Asking about cultural and spiritual needs to personalise care and avoid assumptions
- Involving the older person in care decisions, as well as their family or carers where this is appropriate
- Understanding culturally significant end-of-life rituals and traditions that the person would like respected.
When cultural preferences are uncertain or change over time:
- Consult with the person, their family, or cultural advisors to gain insight
- Use culturally adapted resources and multilingual materials to support understanding
- Adjust care plans as needed to reflect evolving cultural considerations.
What I can learn
The palliAGED Practice Tip Sheets give helpful advice on culturally responsive care communication. There is a version for nurses as well as one for careworkers.
You can also read the Aged Care Diversity Framework initiative of the Department of Health and Aged Care and access the framework action plans.
There are a range of online learning modules on cultural safety specifically for aged care staff. These include:
To learn more about culturally safe palliative care for specific populations, look at:
What I can give
If older people, their families or carers want information on how aged care services support diversity, these resources, available in multiple languages, may help:
What I can suggest
The team might undertake activities to raise awareness of the importance of identity, culture and diversity. Available resources that may help include:
The organisation can also explore its obligations by working through the Inclusive and Culturally Safe Governance learning module (Free: Registration required) and accompanying ‘Flip guide’ (480 kb pdf).
To develop staff capability and confidence in providing culturally safe end-of-life care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples:
- Explore the possibility of a Reverse iPEPA placement in your organisation which brings a specialist palliative care provider to you to train staff over 2-5 days
- Consider implementing the evidence-based Good Spirit Good Life assessment package to improve the quality of life of older First Nations peoples in your care.
Page created 24 February 2025