Person-centred care (PCC) and relationship-based care (RBC) approaches are increasingly being viewed as the gold standard of aged care in Australia. However, their applications can often be interpreted differently across residential care settings and industries. To understand how these models are applied in real life settings by aged care workers, we interviewed residential care staff to explore how staff understand and implement these approaches in their practice. The aim was to capture on the ground perspectives of the principles of PCC and RBC, how they are translated into daily practice, and how they align with established aged care frameworks in the Australian context. Eighty staff across a range of aged care roles were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked to define PCC and RBC in their own terms, describe how they incorporate these approaches into their work, and provide examples of moments they shared with residents that reflected the principles of the model. Their answers were analysed for both conceptual and practical insights, while also exploring the link between staff experiences and the theoretical frameworks that shape these models. Preliminary findings suggest that perspectives from aged care staff offer valuable insight into how these models are implemented in residential aged care environments. Through centring staff experiences, the study gives us an insight into how staff practice key components of the models in the context of aged care models and the gaps in their ability to deliver the model. Results of the study will help inform sector-wide discussions on how models are implemented from policy to practice and improve the responsiveness of care delivery. Findings will inform recommendations for strengthening practice and care alighnment within Australian and International frameworks in aged care.