Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway
The new End-of-Life Pathway, part of the Australian Government’s aged care Support at Home program, is designed to support older people who wish to remain at home at the end of life. The Pathway is intended to provide additional aged care services swiftly, for people with three months or less to live. It is designed to work alongside palliative care, which can be provided by a specialist palliative care service, and/or a General Practice or other treating medical team.
Palliative Care Australia (PCA) welcomed the commencement of the End-of-Life Pathway in November 2025. This is a positive change in aged care, consistent with strong community preference to receive both palliative care and aged care at home for as long as possible, with appropriate support.
To support awareness and successful implementation of the End-of-Life Pathway, PCA has developed a Position Statement on the Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway, which:
- Explains the Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway.
- Highlights key implementation challenges and opportunities.
- Provides recommendations to support effective, equitable and high-quality end-of-life care at home.
Download Position Statement (full version)
PCA’s Position Statement on the End-of-Life Pathway is also available in a summarised (‘At a glance’) version:
- Support at Home short-term pathways module
Training module to support providers implementing the Support at Home program including the End-of-Life Pathway.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Support at Home program – End-of-Life Pathway fact sheet
Information about the End-of-Life Pathway, including eligibility and provider responsibilities.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Support at Home program manual
Guidance for registered providers on program requirements and operations, including the End-of-Life Pathway.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Support at Home program provider transition guide
Information to support providers transitioning to the Support at Home program.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Aged Care Quality Standard 5.7: Palliative and End of Life Care
Requirements including guidance resources for all providers of aged care nursing and/or transition care services delivering palliative and end-of-life care.
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
- End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC)
Information, guidance, and resources for all aged care staff to support palliative care and advance care planning. This includes the ELDAC Home Care App, which has been designed to help home care workers to provide end of life and palliative care to their clients, whilst supporting their families and carers as their care needs change over time.
End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC)
- Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA)
Palliative care placements and training opportunities for the aged care sector.
Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA)
- Palliative Aged Care Outcomes Program (PACOP)
A national program (including two modules) which supports optimal end-of-life care for residents in aged care homes (ACHs) and their families.
Palliative Aged Care Outcomes Program (PACOP)
- Palliative Care Education Directory (PaCE)
Searchable resource directory of palliative care education and training opportunities for educators and health and aged care providers.
Palliative Care Education Collaborative (PaCE)
- Equip Aged Care Learning
Free introductory and refresher palliative care learning modules for everyone in aged care.
Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania
- palliAGED
Trusted resources, practical tools, and learning opportunities to support providers and staff be prepared and confident in meeting the Aged Care Quality Standards and Support at Home Program expectations.
palliAGED – Palliative Care Aged Care Evidence
- caring@home
Resources and education for health professionals to teach carers and families to manage symptoms for people receiving palliative care at home.
caring@home
- Palliative Care Standards for All Health Professionals and Aged Care Services
Complete resource outlining the National Palliative Care Standards for generalist palliative care, supporting high-quality care across primary, community, hospital and aged care settings.
Palliative Care Australia
- Resource Library
Trusted information, practical tools and support for people – including health professionals – throughout the palliative care journey.
Palliative Care Australia
- End-of-Life Pathway FAQs and Aged Care Resources
Frequently asked questions about the End-of-Life Pathway and relevant practical resources.
Palliative Care Victoria
- Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC)
Education and resources to support aged care service providers deliver culturally and linguistically inclusive care.
Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC)
- Supporting Cultural Diversity in Aged Care
Education and resources to support aged care service providers deliver culturally and linguistically inclusive care.
Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing
- Home Care Frontline Workers Bootcamp
Module on identifying clinical deterioration and when to report.
Ageing Australia
- End-of-Life Pathway guidance for GPs
Guidance on patient eligibility and how to refer a patient to the End-of-Life Pathway.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- End-of-Life Pathway fact sheet for doctors and nurse practitioners
Information about eligibility requirements and clinical responsibilities.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Support at Home Guidance for General Practitioners
Guidance on the Support at Home program including the End-of-Life Pathway.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- End-of-Life Pathway Form
Required form for determining eligibility for the End-of-Life Pathway. For a person to access the Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway, a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner must complete and sign the End-of-Life Pathway form. The form will require you to confirm the person has an anticipated life expectancy of three months or less, and an Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Score (AKPS) of 40 or less. Once you have signed the form, the person, their registered supporter or appointed decision-maker (for aged care purposed), or their Support at Home provider will provide it to an aged care assessor for decision.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Support at Home program – End-of-Life Pathway fact sheet
Information about eligibility, accessing support, and what the pathway provides.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Support at Home short-term pathways video
If you are looking for end-of-life care for yourself, for an older person you care for, or just want to know more about the Support at Home program including how to access the End-of-Life Pathway, this video and page provide helpful information. The video is available in multiple languages here.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Useful resources to understand the Support at Home program
Webinars, factsheets and other resources about the Support at Home program including information about costs and fees, supported decision-making and aged care rights.
Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN)
- End-of-Life Pathway Form
For a person to access the Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway, a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner must complete and sign the End-of-Life Pathway form.
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Information and support for carers
Information and support for carers across Australia.
Carers Australia
- Services and support for carers
Emotional and practical services for carers.
Carer Gateway
- Advance care planning in each state and territory
Information about how to record your future health care choices and where to find the right information and documents for your state or territory.
Advance Care Planning Australia
We want to hear about your experience
Have you, a family member, or someone you care for, accessed the Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway? Palliative Care Australia wants to hear about your experience.
We would like to understand how the aged care Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway is working in practice – from eligibility and assessment to receiving services at home.
- What worked well?
- What could be improved?
- Were there barriers, delays or difficulties accessing the support you needed?
We would also like to hear from you if you, a family member, or someone you care for, tried to access the Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway but were unsuccessful.
Sharing your experience helps Palliative Care Australia advocate for better end-of-life care for older Australians, and their families and carers.
Share your experience using the form below.
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