National Initiative Urges Australians to Embrace Community Support for End-of-Life Planning
Dying to Know Day 2024
Dying to Know Day, a national campaign aimed at helping Australians navigate end-of-life planning, is encouraging individuals to lean on their communities for support. The initiative, culminating on Thursday, 8 August, emphasizes the importance of open conversations about death and dying to improve death literacy and reshape end-of-life planning.
This year’s theme focuses on the critical role of community in fostering discussions about death and encourages Australians to share their personal end-of-life wishes. Despite research indicating that 87% of Australians recognize the importance of end-of-life planning, only 35% have taken steps to do so. Barriers such as stigma and lack of access to resources often prevent people from taking action.
The Dying to Know Day campaign seeks to break down these barriers by equipping communities with the knowledge and tools necessary to support conversations about end-of-life care and planning. By promoting individualism and empowering people to articulate their own end-of-life preferences, the campaign aims to reduce the stigma surrounding death, dying, and grief.
Carolyn Vaughan, an Illawarra-based Death Doula and expert in end-of-life conversations, stresses the importance of community support in improving death literacy. “Death is often over-medicalized, with conversations left to healthcare providers. This can leave individuals feeling unprepared to discuss or act on end-of-life matters,” Vaughan explains. “By building community capacity to facilitate these discussions, we can ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to take action, whether through workshops or informal talks. Creating a safe space for sharing stories can inspire Australians to think about and express their own end-of-life wishes.”
Jessie Williams, Community Programs Manager at Proveda, the organization behind Dying to Know Day, highlights the powerful role of community in end-of-life planning. “While many Australians understand the importance of planning for end-of-life, there are still significant barriers to taking action or even starting the conversation. This can lead to end-of-life experiences that don’t align with an individual’s values or wishes because they are unaware of what is possible or available.”
Williams emphasizes that fostering communities where these conversations can occur is crucial. “Supporting individuals in discussing their final arrangements helps dispel the misconception that end-of-life planning is a solitary task.”
Dying to Know Day hosts over 100 events annually, with participation growing each year. These events, both in-person and online, play a vital role in encouraging meaningful conversations across Australia, including in remote, regional, and diverse communities.
To register your Dying to Know Day event, find an event, or access support for your end-of-life planning, visit www.dyingtoknowday.com. Join the conversation on social media using hashtags #GetDeadSet, #FinalArrangement, #D2KD2024, and #DyingToKnowDay, or tag @D2KDay on Facebook and Instagram.
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