Being there for someone who is dying

A new way to support people who are dying in the community

A billboard that says 'Community is Strength'

As Australia prepares for Dying to Know Day on 8 August 2024, JESSIE WILLIAMS, a major force behind the day, shares her thoughts about a new idea she and her team are working on to improve the connections between the dying in our community and those who’d like to actively … Read more

A beautiful death – writer Richard Flanagan talks about it.

One of the most beautiful things I ever saw - Richard Flanagan 'In strong, safe hands' Good Weekend, October 28.

‘A beautiful death’ is an expression few of us feel we have permission to use. Yet writer Richard Flanagan has done just that. Can we say this too? Richard is a Tasmanian author who’s won the Booker Prize, one of the world’s leading prizes for fiction writing. His snippet about … Read more

Sponsored Article: Grief Care is here to support you.

Grief Care staff - Sigrid Evangelista, Patricia Thomas, Sinead Kent and Carmela Di Pietro

The experience of grief is universal and inevitable for each of us. It is felt physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and socially and it is a natural response to loss, bereavement, and trauma. Grief is part of being human “But we live in a grief-avoidant culture, that encourages us to move … Read more

Good Grief! loves death doulas.

Three death doulas interviewed by Lianey Smith for the Western Independent.

Annique Lee talks about how she became a death doula. To find out more, read Lainey Smith’s story. Death doulas are a valuable asset on the ‘death scene’, to help people manage the death of someone they are caring for. We’re very pleased that Lainey Smith from The Western Independent … Read more

‘Comfort Food for Grief’ – Lyndey Milan’s Stuffed Eggplants.

Lyndey Milan's recipe for Stuffed Eggplants

“I find this dish incredibly comforting on a personal level,” explains Australian cooking and media personality, Lyndey Milan. “Not sure if it is because it includes mince – beef or lamb is fine – which is easy to eat and digest and brings back memories of childhood. “Or the hint … Read more

The five stages of grief are a furphy.

The group starts gathering at the 10am Understand Death Better session, August 3, Hunters Hill

Yes, that’s right, the five stages of grief are a furphy. Even the person who’s first credited with thinking up this idea has said so. And yet the idea of five stages of grief has taken hold of the popular imagination so effectively that it’s one of the most popular … Read more

Join us when Good Grief! goes to Hunters Hill.

Hunters Hill, photo courtesy Stanton, Hillier Parker.

I spent yesterday introducing Good Grief! to the Hunters Hill community in Sydney as we prepare for the next Understand Death Better Q&A session, on August 3. Hunters Hill is a picturesque suburb of Sydney, one of the earliest areas settled on the stunning harbour, with strong French influences, golden … Read more

Palliative care is now about living as well as possible

Professor-Richard-Chye-1

Expert in palliative care Richard Chye talks living. This article was inspired by our survey results asking the question ‘What is your biggest question about dying and what is your biggest fear?’ and is the fourth in a series exploring the concerns you raised. It first appeared in our Good … Read more

Live the Life You Please and Q&A session.

Live the Life You Please.

Discussions about that taboo subject – death – will open up when a new film, Live the Life You Please, plays at the Event Cinema Bondi Junction at 6pm, on May 24. The film introduces Australians of all ages, and from all over Australia, who are “experiencing their last chapter” – that … Read more

It’s legal to withhold life-sustaining medical treatment

This article was updated on April 25, 2023. It discusses the right to withhold life-sustaining medical treatment for yourself or another. It’s legal. You’re allowed to say ‘no’ to medical treatment. And if you’re the person responsible, you’re allowed to say no on behalf of the person you’re responsible for. … Read more

Why not attend an online talk by death anxiety guru Dr Rachel Menzies?

National Palliative Care Week SESLHD- online event

Rachel Menzies is talking about death anxiety. She will be the guest of the Grief and Bereavement team, Sutherland Hospital, Sydney, speaking at their online National Palliative Care Week event on May 22 from 2-3pm. It will be held online via Teams. Rachel is co-author of the book How the … Read more

Last Days program launched.

HammondCare's Last Days Program.

Last Days, a HammondCare program designed to help people with “knowledge and tools to navigate a person’s last days”was launched in February and is now taking registrations from people in the community. Last Days provides “practical and effective education to improve knowledge and confidence for those caring for someone in … Read more

National Advance Care Planning Week – 20-26 March.

Advance Care Planning Week

Your Advance Care plan tells people what your wishes for your medical care are, when you can no longer speak for yourself. An Advance Care Directive is the formalised version of your plan. Advance Care Planning Australia is holding events across Australia during Advance Care Planning Week. Get more information. … Read more

Who makes it out alive?

Who Makes It Out Alive?

This article was updated on March 14, 2023. It discusses palliative care patients. What a great headline. Katrin Gerber has used it with the added thought – “Predicting survival to discharge of hospital patients referred to residential aged care.” Dr Gerber and her team looked retrospectively over a two year … Read more

Improving palliative care in nursing homes.

Kathleen Wurth blogged at Caresearch recently.

This article was updated on March 11, 2023. It discusses death and palliative care in nursing homes. We’re still hearing uncomfortable stories from readers about the deaths of their elderly in nursing homes. Sometimes only a little thing went wrong, making the family sad for the dying person, and undoing … Read more