The impact of grief literacy education in the aged care sector  

About the research project

Residential Aged Care Homes (RACHs) are the setting for approximately one-third of all deaths in Australia, placing registered nurses and care staff at significant risk of experiencing cumulative, often unacknowledged grief and loss. The aged care workforce is highly diverse, with many staff entering the sector directly from school or transitioning from unrelated professions, often with limited exposure to palliative care, dying and death. Deaths can be sudden and emotionally challenging, compounded by the grief of residents’ families and the absence of structured coping mechanisms. High workloads and time pressures further restrict opportunities for staff to process grief, while bereavement support for staff remains largely overlooked.

This project addresses the urgent need for a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to grief, loss, and bereavement support within the Residential Aged Care (RAC) sector. The goal is to enhance staff wellbeing and resilience, improve care quality and deliver broader benefits for residents and family caregivers/care partners.

Project aim:

This mixed methods study will evaluate the emotional wellbeing and resilience of aged care staff following the implementation of an evidence-informed grief literacy program, titled 'Learning through Loss', embedded into routine practice within RACHs. Originally developed by Palliative Care Tasmania for the education sector, this program has demonstrated effectiveness in building capacity and confidence among school staff to support children experiencing loss and grief. For this project, the program will be adapted for the aged care context.

Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected from participating staff, residents and families to assess the program’s impact on grief literacy, emotional wellbeing, and resilience within RACHs.

Primary supervisor

Meet Doctor Sara Karacsony

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

• a living allowance stipend funded by University of Tasmania of $34,315 per annum for 3.5 years
• a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
• a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Other funding opportunities and fees

For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees for undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

• International applicants must be onshore on a current student visa

Selection criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:

• Healthcare background: Undergraduate or Master's degree in a healthcare profession or Public Health

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

• Experience in aged care

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Doctor Sara Karacsony to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
3. In your application:
   • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
   • Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
4. Apply prior to 1 October 2026.

Full details of the application process can be found under the ' How to apply ' section of the Research Degrees website.

Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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