Palliative Care

Dying to Know Day is on tomorrow in Australia.

Dying to Know Day, 2023 - front page collage

You can find a Dying to Know Day event in your community by following the link we’ve inserted here. But what is Dying to Know Day all about? It’s designed to encourage you to become your own advocate about what you want at the end-of-life. This starts with having a … Read more

Dying to Know Day 2023 – getting ready for August 8.

Dying to Know Day, 2023 - Strong Currents Ahead

Good Grief! is a great fan of Dying to Know Day. Dying to Know Day happens throughout Australia on August 8. It’s designed to encourage you to become your own advocate about what you want at the end-of-life. This starts with having a conversation about death, with the people who’ll need … 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

Biography services are for the dying and the living.

Kate Bowman explains the value of biography services.

It’s a common misconception that palliative care biography services are mainly to capture the life story of someone dying for their family. Manager of the Volunteer Support Service Programme at Palliative Care NSW Kate Bowman says ‘the goal is not to give your family a pamphlet with photos – that … Read more

List of Biography Services in NSW – please also let us know about other ones near you. 

Here is a list of Biography services, Photo by Kaitlyn Baker- Unsplash

Here is a list of Biography Services in NSW, which you can contact. They can help document the story of the dying. This list of Biography Services was shared with us by Palliative Care NSW. For more information about the fabulous range of volunteers services that these Palliative Care Volunteers … Read more

We’re back in Mosman again for a second FREE ‘Understand Death Better’ Q&A session.

Understand Death Better - July 10

Following the popularity of our last Mosman Council free ‘Lunch and Learn’ Understand Death Better Q&A session, we are running another one on Monday, July 10.  It starts at 12 noon, it’s free and lunch will be provided. But you need to register with the good people at Mosman Council who are … Read more

Join us in Kirribilli on May 22 – Reflection.

Understand Death Better - Kirribilli, May 22.

How to have the best death possible? We discussed this question and many others in May at Kirribilli. “It was lovely to meet you and be part of the workshop. I very much enjoyed watching you engage with the audience and the way you navigated conversations. From my perspective, it … 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

Mortals with Ross and Rachel Menzies

Rachel and Ross Menzies - Good Grief

This article was updated on April 27, 2023. It discusses death anxiety. Ross and Rachel might be friends, but Professor Ross Menzies and Dr Rachel Menzies are also father and daughter—both psychologists who have authored their third book together, the fascinating Mortals: How the Fear of Death Shaped Human Society. … Read more

Crucial end of life conversations

The many allied health professionals oncology patients have to navigate can be overwhelming. Photo - National Cancer Institute.

by Sandra Moon. This article was updated on April 13, 2023. It discusses end of life conversations. ‘I feel his organs are shutting down,’ my mother said on the phone. But how? Two days before Mum had rung me to ask for help getting Dad to the emergency ward at … Read more

Giving Choice and Power to the Dying

This article was updated on April 3, 2023. It discusses DIY coffins. By Sandra Moon Are you with me in thinking the funeral industry is incredibly expensive? Does giving choice and power to the dying seem like a good idea? With all this in mind would you, could you build … Read more

What is your biggest question about dying and what is your biggest fear?

People walking along a street in silhouette.

This story was updated on March 28 2023. This is our first report on feedback from our consumer survey, which is ongoing. It was published in our March 15 newsletter. Our next report will be in the April newsletter. Please subscribe here, if you would like to follow this discussion … 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