Resources & Handy Links

Below is a growing list of government, private, and registered charity organisations that empower people through knowledge, support, comfort, and compassion while respecting everyone’s individual values, beliefs, and cultures.

This guide is for informational purposes only. It is important to check the Australian State and Territory rules that apply to your specific circumstances.

We welcome you to share your personal experiences and feedback: info@endoflifedoulawendy.com.au

Advance Care Planning Australia

An Advance Care Plan involves making decisions about your future health care and documents the types of social, emotional and spiritual care you may or may not wish to receive if you become seriously ill and are unable to communicate your preferences or make treatment decisions. https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au

Enduring Power of Attorney

An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal document that outlines who you would like to manage your affairs during your lifetime. Usually, an enduring power of attorney takes effect when you lose capacity to manage your own affairs.

Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney is a document you can sign appointing another person to act for you regarding your legal and financial affairs.
NSW link:  https://www.tag.nsw.gov.au/wills/make-power-attorney/what-power-attorney

Enduring Guardianship

An enduring guardian is someone legally appointed to make everyday living decisions should a person become unable to make these decisions for themselves. The person may be unable to make those decisions due to various circumstances such as old age or illness. The word “enduring” indicates that the responsibility is continual, typically until death. https://www.tag.nsw.gov.au/wills/appoint-enduring-guardian

*Enduring Guardian and Enduring Power of Attorney:  While we can’t always see what’s around the corner there many ways to prepare for difficult times. Enduring guardianship and enduring power of attorney are two ways to protect us when life hits us between the eyes

Last Will and Testament

Your will names who you want to give your estate to (your beneficiaries) and who you would like to administer your estate when you pass away (your executor). A will is a legal document that spells out your wishes regarding care of your children, as well as distribution of your assets after your death. Failure to prepare a will typically leave decisions about your estate in the hands of judges or state officials.

Wills can be completed online and there are a variety of websites that offer this service. Some people (usually those) with large estates will seek the advice of a Lawyer and have them draw up the Will according to the persons wishes. It is good to review your Will every two years or so especially if separating from a partner or buying a new home etc. An example of an online option: https://legalwillkits.org

Organ donation Australia

Organ and tissue donation is when you decide to give an organ and or tissue to save or transform the life of someone else. You can donate some organs and tissues when you are alive, however most organ and tissue donations come from people who have died. https://www.donatelife.gov.au/all-about-donation

The Gift of Life Foundation has been established to make Australians aware of our organ transplant crisis and encourage more Australians to become donors. https://giftoflife.com.au

Australia Financial and Carers support

My Aged Care Assessment ACAT team 1800 200 422. Initial on the phone assessment and if required they will arrange a face-to-face meeting in your home to assess the situation. Next step is financial assessment. https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/assessment

End of life Support Services

The Australian states and territories have a variety of End-of-Life support services and packages for patients with a progressive life limiting illness or condition. Please ensure you refer to your personal state laws. www.health.nsw.gov.au/ohc/Pages/end-of-life

Power of choice at the End of Life Voluntary assisted dying is also sometimes called assisted dying, voluntary euthanasia or medical assistance to die. Go Gentle Australia believe in the power of choice. Go Gentle empowers people to choose the end-of-life care that is right for them, including the option of voluntary assisted dying. We amplify the voices of individuals, families and health professionals to ensure their views are heard and understood.
https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_australia

Dementia Australia Dementia

Australia is the national peak body supporting people living with dementia, their families and carers.  https://www.dementia.org.au

Gather my Crew

Helping people to help people. An Australian charity with a mission to build support and connection and assist with co-ordinating friends and family via a free app:  https://www.gathermycrew.org.au/

Children’s Hospice Care

There are currently three children’s hospices in Australia
Very Special Kids – Melbourne, Victoria 03 9804 6222 www.vsk.org.au
Bear Cottage – Sydney, NSW 02 9976 8300 www.bearcottage.chw.edu.au
Hummingbird House Brisbane Qld 07 3621 4364 www.hummingbirdhouse.org.au

Palliative Care

Australian Government Department of Health & Aged Care
Palliative care helps people live as fully and as comfortably as possible with a life-limiting illness  https://palliativecare.org.au/
https://www.health.gov.au/topics/palliative-care/palliative-care-throughout-life

Green Funerals

A green burial is an alternative to traditional funerals. They rely on more sustainable materials and avoid elements or traditions which can harm the environment.  https://www.gatheredhere.com.au/green-funerals-australia

The Groundswell Project Australia

Works with individuals, organisations and communities to improve how people in Australia die, care and grieve. https://www.thegroundswellproject.com/

What help is available when your loved one has passed

Grieving the death of someone in your family is a tough thing to go through. There are many things to consider. Services Australia has payments and services that may help you. There are different ways they can help after the death of a loved one. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/what-help-available-when-loved-one-dies

Natural Death Advocacy Network

NDAN is an acronym for Natural Death Advocacy Network.  We are a growing Australian network and advocacy partnership of community facilitators, professionals, activists and educators working to enrich the experience of dying and death.

Our aim is to create an informative, innovative and transparent organization advocating holistic approaches to dying and death through independent research and action. Our main areas of advocacy include death education, funeral planning, family lead funeral care, natural burial and bereavement care. We provide individuals, families and communities with professional, creative and informed assistance to choose meaningful, humane and ecological pathways at the end of life.  https://ndan.com.au/

Preparing for the final arrangements for the deceased

Respecting everyone’s values, culture, and wishes. Regulations for burial, cremation, and the funeral industry in Australia vary by state and are subject to specific conditions. For further advice on caring for a deceased person’s body at home for up to 5 days (and longer with permission), please consult local guidelines.  https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/dotd/Pages/default.aspx

Australian Home Funeral Alliance (AHFA)

The Australian Home Funeral Alliance (AHFA) is the national peak body for home funeral practitioners and advocates, dedicated to the empowerment of families and communities through the provision of ethical and inclusive education, information and advocacy for home funerals and family directed death care options in Australia.

AHFA sits as a bridge between community and professional knowledge, advocating for evidence-based practice standards and an increase of people’s agency and capacity. By bringing together community and professional voices, we aim to foster a healthier culture around death and dying.  https://www.ahfa.org.au/ Making home funerals accessible for all Australians.

Manaaki Mats

Manaaki Mats are a safe, simple, specialist and effective cooling resource for deathcare. Valuable for pregnancy loss, stillbirth and all other deaths including babies, children, teens and adults. Suitable for hospitals, maternity wards, NICU and PICU wards, hospices, funeral homes and community settings.

The mats are non-toxic. Each mat is filled with dry ice polymers (gel) which expand when activated in warm water. The one-way perforation technology allows water to be absorbed but not leak out. Manaaki Mats freeze at a much colder temperature than regular ice therefore staying colder for longer.

Using Manaaki Mats slows down the natural changes that occur after death by keeping the body cool. They are a more natural, environmentally friendly and affordable alternative to chemical embalming. are a safe, simple, specialist and effective cooling resource for deathcare www.manaakimats.org
Please contact info@endlifedoulawendy.com.au for more information and support.

Natural Grace

When someone we love dies, it is natural to experience a range of emotions including shock, anger, sadness and fear. It can be an incredibly difficult time and hard to focus on anything – let alone planning a funeral. At Natural Grace, our aim is to reduce stress and confusion. We will help you every step of the way to ensure your experience is manageable and smooth, allowing you to focus on honouring your loved one and saying goodbye — the way it should be. To ensure your needs are met, we offer a wide range of different funeral services. www.naturalgrace.com.au

Red Nose

Our Bereavement Support Service provides specialised support for anyone affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, baby or child death. With over 40 years of experience supporting grieving families, we understand what you’re going through and we’re here to help. Guiding Light Red Nose Grief and Loss For immediate support call our 24/7 Bereavement Support Line on 1300 308 307. https://rednose.org.au/    https://rednosegriefandloss.org.au/

Death of a loved one

Government resources to support you and your family when there is a death of a loved one https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/death-loved-one

The Mesothelioma Centre

Since 2006, The Mesothelioma Centre at Asbestos.com has been helping connect people impacted by mesothelioma and asbestos exposure with reliable information, world-class treatment, legal services, and so much more https://www.asbestos.com/

Grief Australia

A guiding voice through the universal human experience of grief. Empathy and compassion are our strengths. They allow us to connect with each other on a powerful level, in meaningful ways, supporting each other to see a better future. The journey of grief is universal, but everyone’s experience is unique. By keeping empathy and compassion at the heart of all we do, we create safe and nourishing spaces for people to grow. https://www.grief.org.au

Bereavement Support – Inviting courageous conservations

Find hope and connection. Griefline is here for you with free, compassionate and confidential support every day of the year https://griefline.org.au

Beyond Blue

Our counsellors will listen and help you find the extra mental health help you need. Talk or chat online to a counsellor. If you’re going through a hard time right now, the Beyond Blue Support Service is available 24/7 for brief counselling. Most calls last around 20 minutes. https://www.beyondblue.org.au

Lifeline

You are not alone. We’re here to listen. We are a national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. We exist so that no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone. https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/topics/loss-grief

Dying to Know Day public health campaign

We are all impacted by death in our lives. It might be for the people we love, or it might be our own. Our program runs throughout the year, with an annual day of recognition on August 8. Campaign activities and events that support the day, start in earnest around May and continue to build through to August.

Our mission is to help all Australians to feel supported and inspired by their own wishes for their final arrangements and help to dismantle the misconception that end-of-life planning must be a solitary endeavour.

Together, we can break down the stigma and sense of awkwardness associated with conversations about death, dying and grief. It is a key part of Poveda’s ongoing commitment to supporting the community with this important stage of life. This event is supported by interested individuals and community organisations from across the nation, that share the same belief about the importance of planning ahead regarding end of life.

Events include workshops, casual talks, film screenings, and the hosting of Death Cafes. All registered events will be publicised on our website and in social media. If you are interested in finding out more, go to:  https://proveda.com.au/community-programs/dying-to-know-day    https://proveda.com.au/our-services/end-of-life

 

Book Library

You are personally invited to email info@endoflifedoulawendy.com.au with your recommendations to share.

Understanding What is Loss, Grief and Bereavement
1. On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
2. Finding meaning: The sixth stage of Grief by David Kessler and co-author with Elisabeth Kübler