Nurturing Compassionate States project delivers free training to aged care workers

Throughout October, the Nurturing Compassionate States project partnered with CO.AS.IT. Italian Assistance Association to deliver four training sessions to 100+ aged care workers and staff across the organisation.

Project Consultant, Bianca Hurle, presenting to CO.AS.IT. staff

These sessions created a safe and engaging space to explore key topics such as:

• Common myths and misunderstandings about palliative care
• The true nature of palliative care
• The important role community workers play in supporting people with life-limiting illness
• What dying can look like and how to recognise changes at end of life
• Practical, compassionate ways to support individuals and families during dying and bereavement

Staff feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants praising the clarity, relevance, and accessibility of the content. Many reported feeling more confident in having meaningful conversations about illness, dying, and caring.

This training forms a key component of the broader Nurturing Compassionate States Project an initiative aimed at empowering communities across South Australia and Victoria to build connection, resilience, and compassion around ageing, dying, caregiving, and grief. By recognising existing community strengths and fostering collaborative partnerships, the project supports communities to come together and contribute to the creation of a compassionate state.

CO.AS.IT. staff members at one of the training sessions

The project seeks to:

• Equip community members, workplaces, local governments, and organisations with practical knowledge and confidence
• Strengthen local capability to support people at end of life
• Foster collaborations across sectors, cultures, and services
• Create environments where no one has to navigate illness, dying, or loss alone
• Create an action plan and design tools for use by all sectors across Victoria and SA to ensure compassion is a part of our everyday life

Partnering with organisations like CO.AS.IT. allows us to lay the foundations for communities that recognise care, empathy, and social connection as shared responsibilities. The enthusiasm and engagement shown by CO.AS.IT. staff highlight the powerful ripple effect this work can generate.

It was truly inspiring to work with such a dedicated and culturally diverse team. We look forward to continuing to support organisations like CO.AS.IT. that are committed to nurturing compassionate, inclusive communities and contributing to a more compassionate Victoria.

The Nurturing Compassionate States Project is a joint collaboration between Palliative Care Victoria, Palliative Care South Australia, Cares Victoria, Carers South Australia and Flinders University. The project is funded through The Wicking Trust for a 3 year project which commenced in South Australia and Victoria from July 2025.