Dying to Know Day is an annual campaign that empowers Australians at all stages of life to live and die well. Dying to Know Day seeks to radically reshape how Australians approach death, dying, and end-of-life planning. This year’s campaign asks Australians to โget dead setโ by taking simple steps to plan for end-of-life.
Kings Funerals teamed up with Barwon Health for a live-streamed discussion answering your questions about death and dying and shared insights into the work of funeral homes and palliative care.
Watch the playback on demand below. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out or add comments to the Facebook thread from the live stream located here.
Get Dead Set Panel:
Beth King, General Manager, Kings Funerals
Julie Cantwell, Prepaid Funeral Consultant, Kings Funerals
Tim Fitzpatrick, Barwon Health Advanced Care Planning Team
Amanda Myring, Barwon Health Spiritual Care
Carol Treyvaud, Barwon Health Community Palliative Care Nurse
With thanks to the Piano Bar, Geelong for hosting us, and Andy Pobjoy for his musical delights.
Leading not-for-profit, The Groundswell Project Australia, calls on Australians to โget dead setโ around death and dying as part of its annual Dying to Know campaign.
This year, the national campaign asked people of all ages and stages of life to prioritise compassionate conversations and โget dead setโ around the reality of death and dying โ because itโs going to
happen to us all. It outlines simple steps people can take around end-of-life planning, which is personal and unique to everyone.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we live, die, and grieve. Early studies suggest that people in Australia who lost a loved one during the COVID pandemic (from any cause) are experiencing more grief, anxiety, and depression than before the pandemic.
Research shows there is a risk that the support received by Australians dealing with death and dying is less than what is needed.
The Dying to Know campaign (which culminates on Dying to Know Day on 8 August) helps bridge this gap by improving death literacy and positivity in individuals, communities, healthcare workers, and other professionals through local and community events. Death literacy is the knowledge, compassion, and practical skills that enable supportive action and active decision-making around someoneโs end-of-life choices.
To โget dead setโ is to prepare for the unique circumstances every person will face at the end of their life. By asking Australians to โget dead setโ, the campaign invites Australians to overcome their
fears or discomfort around death and take action on end-of-life planning in a way that is right for them.
The benefits of planning for end-of-life are clear in the wake of necessary pandemic restrictions – which impacted peopleโs ability to see dying loved ones, arrange or attend important rituals like
funerals and see friends and family for support. By being โdead setโ and prepared for end-of-life, Australians can:
- Have a โgoodโ death that reflects what mattered in life.
- Have conversations to ease the anguish of loved ones through the distress, uncertainty, and finality of death.
- Leave a positive legacy that is consistent with how we want to be remembered.
- Have their lives celebrated/remembered the way they choose.
