Make their choices matter with advance care planning
Last updated on 1 April 2025
Did you know only 1 in 3 Australians aged 40 and over recognise the term ‘advance care planning’?
But once it’s been explained to them, seven out of ten feel positive about it. That means although many people have not taken the important steps that could make a profound difference later in life, many will recognise how important it is and be open to doing so with a little information and support.
Advance care planning involves planning for future health care. If you become seriously unwell and unable to communicate or make decisions about your own health care, who do you want to make them for you? What would you want them to do?
Your role in advance care planning
All aged care providers, carers and support workers can play a role in advance care planning. You may spend a lot of time with the people you care for and can get to know what’s important to them, what they worry about, and their preferences for health care. This means you are well-placed to support them with advance care planning.
You can:
- Notice any cues that the person may be interested in advance care planning. For example, they might say “I never want to go to hospital again”, or express worries about who would make decisions for them if they weren’t able to
- Explain what advance care planning is and how it can be helpful to the person
- Encourage the person to talk to their family, and to their doctor or other health professionals about advance care planning
- Document any conversations they have with you
- Refer to a case manager, nurse, or other clinician in your service to follow up with the person.
It’s important to remember that advance care planning is voluntary. Your role is to provide information and opportunities for people in your care to understand what advance care planning is, how it can be helpful, and how to do it. It’s important that you respect a person’s choices about whether, how, and when they would like to engage in advance care planning.
What’s the difference between care plans and advance care planning in aged care?
Advance care planning is driven by the individual – it is about their preferences and wishes. Some people might want to talk about, or document, what’s important to them with the health care and their preferences.
Other people might have very specific instructions about medical treatments they do or don’t want. Some people want to appoint a specific person to be their substitute decision-maker for health care.
Care plans, on the other hand, are created by health or aged care services. They set out what care or services will be delivered, and how they meet a person’s needs and goals.
They should be informed by a person’s wishes and preferences for care. If a person is not able to express these themselves, it’s important to consider any advance care planning documents they have.
For more information, check out this resource about advance care planning in aged care settings.
How do you get started?
National Advance Care Planning Week, 17 – 23 March 2025, is the perfect time to expand your knowledge and build confidence in advance care planning conversations.
- Build your knowledge and understanding of advance care planning so you can support advance care planning for people in your care. Start your free online learning today – each campaign is only 10-15 minutes. Visit Online courses | Advance Care Planning
- Visit www.acpweek.org.au for more information and to find awareness raising events Australia-wide.
- Watch Advance Care Planning Australia’s ‘Make your choices matter’ video and share it with others:
Make your choices matter (youtube.com)
- Call the National Advance Care Planning Advisory Line on 1300 208 582 from 9am – 5pm (AEST/AEDT) Monday to Friday for free advice or to get a free starter pack.
- Register for the 9th Advance Care Planning International Conference, 24 to 26 September 2025, Royal Pines Resort on Yugambeh Country, Gold Coast Australia. Visit Advance Care Planning 9th International Conference | Gold Coast QLD, Australia (acp-i2025.org)
Advance Care Planning Australia is an Australian Government initiative administered by Metro South Health.