Unit of competency Outline
Information current as of
20/10/2026 10:13 PM AWST
20/10/2026 10:13 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Provide information and strategies in palliative care
Provide information and strategies in palliative care
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTAHW424B
HLTAHW424B
State Code
D5686
D5686
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Deleted
Deleted
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
22/07/2011
Original Release Date
25/03/2011
Nominal Hours
50
Field of Education
061305 - Indigenous Health
Description
This unit describes the competencies required to conduct health promotion related to palliative care as part of primary health care services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communitiesSpecific advice provided may be limited by close supervision or established guidelines in line with community needs and health provider guidelines
General notes
N/A
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Provide information and support related to palliative care
- 1.1 Provide accurate information to the community about the principles underpinning a palliative approach to health care
- 1.2 Promote and respect the role of older people as elders and custodians of cultural knowledge
- 1.3 Discuss the relevance and appropriateness of palliative care with the community
- 1.4 Provide accurate information to the community about available palliative care services and resources in conjunction with associated medical and specialist advice and services
- 1.5 Provide clients with advice on healthy living matters
- 1.6 Conduct community workshops/discussions about health issues affecting the frail, aged and disabled
- 1.7 Identify available support for clients in the palliative stages of illness and their families/carers
- 1.8 Encourage family and community support for frail and aged clients
- 1.9 Assist carers of clients to make appropriate appointments with specialists and other agencies
- 1.10 Support clients and families in accessing HACC programs, respite care and long-term residential aged care options according to need
- 1.11 Provide support and assistance to families coping with grief and dying, according to identified needs and cultural protocols
2. Follow-up palliative care programs
- 2.1 Evaluate palliative care programs in line with organisation guidelines and community requirements
- 2.2 Maintain client confidentiality in line with organisation guidelines
- 2.3 Seek respite for carers and organise as required and where possible
- 2.4 Contribute to the development of networks to support the palliative care program
- 2.5 Advocate on behalf of, and at the request of, clients with other internal and external service providers in line with organisation guidelines
- 2.6 Implement strategies to address health issues of frail and aged clients in line with community requirements and organisation guidelines
RANGE STATEMENT
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Cultural respect
This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well-being, community capacity and governance
Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices
Community control
Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process
Supervision
Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements
References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals
A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines
Legislative requirements
Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute 'usual practice' due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by 'usual practice circumstances'
Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework
Strategies to address health issues of frail and aged clients may include:
Collection of data as a basis for preventing, containing or eliminating diseases or conditions causing health problems.
Identification of relationships between health and nutrition, demography, culture, socio-economic status and general health.
Use of a community development approach to devise strategies to improve health.
Palliative approach to health care includes:
Maximising self-care and self-determination
Recognising clients need for pain relief
Recognising the signs that death may be imminent
Assisting in the psychological and spiritual aspects of care
Providing a support system for clients and family
Participating in a team to address needs of the family and wider community
Accessing professional advice from a specialist as required
Organisational understanding of the aim and impact of palliative care on clients and staff
Identifying the resident and family as the unit of care
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Cultural respect
This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well-being, community capacity and governance
Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices
Community control
Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process
Supervision
Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements
References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals
A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines
Legislative requirements
Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute 'usual practice' due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by 'usual practice circumstances'
Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework
Strategies to address health issues of frail and aged clients may include:
Collection of data as a basis for preventing, containing or eliminating diseases or conditions causing health problems.
Identification of relationships between health and nutrition, demography, culture, socio-economic status and general health.
Use of a community development approach to devise strategies to improve health.
Palliative approach to health care includes:
Maximising self-care and self-determination
Recognising clients need for pain relief
Recognising the signs that death may be imminent
Assisting in the psychological and spiritual aspects of care
Providing a support system for clients and family
Participating in a team to address needs of the family and wider community
Accessing professional advice from a specialist as required
Organisational understanding of the aim and impact of palliative care on clients and staff
Identifying the resident and family as the unit of care
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects of assessment:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Conditions of assessment:
This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture
Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself
or:
accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care
Context of assessment:
Competence should be demonstrated working individually, under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients
Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible
Related units:
This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects of assessment:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Conditions of assessment:
This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture
Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself
or:
accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care
Context of assessment:
Competence should be demonstrated working individually, under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients
Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible
Related units:
This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application
No information