• Charles Sturt University research for BaptistCare home care services due to staff concerns about the effects of heatwaves on workforce wellbeing and service delivery in rural and regional NSW
• The research highlights a gap in policy and practice and offers more than 30 practical strategies to help aged care providers protect their workforce and clients
• The research also developed sample resources to support BaptistCare to develop evidence-informed heat policies and procedures

A new three-year Charles Sturt University research project has uncovered how extreme heat is quietly disrupting home care services in rural New South Wales.

The study was conducted by a team of Charles Sturt researchers in partnership with BaptistCare and reveals the physical and psychological toll of heatwaves on aged care workers and the urgent need for climate adaptation in the sector.

The research titled ‘The impact of climate change on the delivery of home care services’ was led by Senior Lecturer in Marketing Dr Jodie Kleinschafer in the Charles Sturt School of Business.

Dr Kleinschafer said the report presents the findings of a three-year mixed-methods research project investigating the impact of climate change ─ specifically extreme heat ─ on the delivery of home care services in rural New South Wales.

“The research was initiated in response to concerns raised by BaptistCare staff about the effects of heatwaves on workforce wellbeing and service delivery,” Dr Kleinschafer said.

“As climate change intensifies, rural communities are especially vulnerable and aged care workers are delivering essential services in increasingly harsh conditions, often prioritising client wellbeing over their own safety.

“Our multidisciplinary approach combined weather data, interviews and industry insights to produce actionable findings that can inform national aged care policy.”

Conducted between September 2022 and September 2025, the project was a collaborative initiative between BaptistCare (Murrumbidgee, Mid North Coast and Far North Coast) and a multidisciplinary research team from Charles Sturt.

This included Charles Sturt researchers from the Regional Work and Organisational Resilience Group (RWOR), the Three Rivers Department of Rural Health (TRUDRH), the Rural Health Research Institute (RHRI) and the Gulbali Institute for Agriculture Water and Environment.

The research project was funded by the RHRI Small Grant Scheme and BaptistCare to explore two key questions:

• What is the impact of extreme heat/heat stress on the physical and mental health of aged care workers and their ability to deliver home care services to rural clients?

• How can BaptistCare manage the impact of extreme heat on their workforce delivering in-home services?

The research also reviewed heat mitigation strategies from other industries and developed a comprehensive list of more than 30 strategic recommendations relevant to aged care service delivery as well as sample resources to support BaptistCare in developing evidence-informed policies and procedures.

These include guidance on heat policy content, training modules, environmental assessments, client information sheets and staff checklists.

“With the Australian Government’s Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (2025) coming into effect in 2025, providers must demonstrate commitment to workforce wellbeing and person-centred care,” Dr Kleinschafer said.

“This study offers timely, evidence-based recommendations that align with these reforms and support climate resilience in aged care.”

Ms Araz Wallbank, Senior Manager for BaptistCare At Home, said the research provided important insights at a time of big change in the aged care sector.

“It was wonderful to partner with the Charles Sturt University team on this important project as we look at how we can elevate our person-centred care further in extreme heat days,” Ms Wallbank said.

“We have gained many insights on the impact of hot weather from the research team, but more importantly, directly from our clients and care team about how even small changes can go a long way to increasing comfort and wellbeing.

“This research provides a foundation for future planning and adaptation in how we deliver care now and into the future, especially for our home care services in rural areas which can be more impacted by extreme weather.”

Key research findings include:

• No consistent causal relationship was found between Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) and absenteeism, likely due to data limitations, cooler overall weather patterns and lower incidence of heat waves during the study period
• Staff reported significant physical and psychological impacts from working in extreme heat, including fatigue, dehydration and heat stress symptoms
• Staff demonstrated high levels of commitment to clients, often prioritising client needs over their own wellbeing
• Focus groups revealed diverse perspectives on heat mitigation, with strategies varying by role and individual tolerance to heat
• Clients expressed strong support for staff safety and contributed valuable insights into feasible mitigation strategies
• Care facilitators played a pivotal role in bridging organisational policy and frontline practice, offering practical suggestions for implementation

The Charles Sturt research team included Dr Jodie Kleinschafer, Associate Professor Maree Bernoth, Associate Professor Elyce Green, Associate Professor Larissa Bamberry, Professor Andrew Hall, Professor Julaine Allan.