EVENTS

Creativity & Funeral Rites: The use of Creative Arts during Wakes, Funerals & Memorials. 
ABOUT: This presentation discusses the use of creative practices to honour those who have died/what we have lost, through funerals, memorials and events. We explore secular ritual, its use in modern Australian Funerals and ways to expand, personalise and deepen meaning-making through creativity. Joh Fairley, aka Joh Nyx (She/Her), shared images and videos of past work that she has done in developing secular art rituals around grief, loss and heartbreak.

This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

 

The Bioscope as a cartographic tool to facilitate conversations about death.

​ABOUT:  Chetan Shastri's research and creative practice are situated at the intersection of design and death. During this presentation Chet shared the story of the Bioscope. Chetan's research and creative practice in Australia developed the Bioscope as a cartography of death and tool to facilitate conversations about end-of-life. Reviewing literature about death, co designing with palliative care practitioners, making designed artefacts and using them in community-based settings has been transformative. The research and creative practice contribute to both – how we think about design and how we think about death. Chetan concluded the presentation by reflecting upon emerging social innovation in this space and the potential shape that his own creative practice may take in the future – specifically in the area of designing for death and dying.

This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

 

The Role of Embalming in Home Death Care

​ABOUT:  Amy Sagar will be discusses the process and role of embalming in home death care, including when it is and isn't necessary and environmentally friendly alternatives to body care.

​Amy Sagar is a funeral director for the not-for-profit funeral service Tender Funerals Illawarra which she helped open and operate in 2016. Amy has worked in funeral service for 16 years and studied embalming in 2013.

This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions​

​

Exploring the Masculine Response to Death and Grief

ABOUT:  In this event Ben Gibson, host of The Mourning After Podcast, shared the insights that inspired him to create a podcast focused on the male response to death and grief. Ben discussed masculine grief styles and how men can respond to loss, highlighting impactful stories from various podcast episodes. The session included practical tools, tips, and techniques to support men both in dealing with end-of-life situations and in their after-death integration back into life. 

This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

 

Decolonising Deathcare through home funerals. 

​ABOUT: Decolonisation is a guiding principle that guides Hini’s practice as a celebrant and death educator.  In this talk, Hini shared how Indigenous knowledge informs their drive for community, connection to place and desire to normalise emotions at funerals and death spaces.​

This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions​

​

LESSONS LEARNED: The evolution of home funerals across continents

​ABOUT: The UK and the USA have led the way on home funerals for decades now and as we start to build these practices and communities in Australia, it can help to know where they have come from in modern times and their history. There are lessons with what works and what does not and good people making a real difference in communities around the world. Claire and Lee offered honest, candid conversations about home funerals and the ways in which we can build community knowledge and practice in Australia.

This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

DYING TO KNOW DAY EVENT
ABOUT: Living Wakes are becoming more popular with Australians as the years go by and people start to rethink funerals, celebrations, memorials and all the nice things people say when someone dies. In this special Dying to Know Day event, Annie Whitlocke and Edwin Quilliam will share their personal stories, reflections and experiences with living wakes and share when they meant and how they worked.​
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

WAYS OF BEING WITH A FAMILY WHEN A PERSON IS DYING
ABOUT: Annie shared her own experiences and having learned the hard way what to avoid. How to take long distance separation, age, technology and disabilities into consideration during this period.
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND DEATH
ABOUT: In this session, Bec and Kaz discussed community approaches to end of life and after death care. Drawing from rich personal experiences they will talk through some of the deaths they have been a part of and in particular how Kaz’s husband Stan helped an entire community become death literate. 
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

​CHOOSING A HOME FUNERAL - THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER
ABOUT: In this session Zenith stepped us through some of the fundamental things to consider when organising a home funeral. Drawn from over 30 years of experience helping people do this, this session is aimed to expand your understanding of possible home funeral options. 
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

BUILDING GRIEF LITERACY: THEORY, PRACTICE & PARTNERSHIPS 
ABOUT : This session, with the help of Jo, we unpacked the myths of griefs and include an overview of current bereavement theory. We will also explore what’s happening across the community to increase our grief literacy and how hospitals and funeral organisations can partner to provide wrap around bereavement care to clients and families.
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

REFLECTIONS OF MY QUEER DEATH/BIRTH RITUAL
ABOUT: In this session, Alex shared photos and personal experiences of attempting to metaphorically dead while she reflects on the birth/death ritual she hosted - a queer death experiment. Conversations around consent, boundaries, and desires play an intrinsic role in the experiment. 
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

A DOULA'S SUPPORT IN DYING
ABOUT: At this event, facilitate by Tracey Rusden, we explored the role of an End of Life Doula, sometimes referred to as EOLD, including what does a doula do!
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

CREATING RITUALS OF DRESS AND DEATH
ABOUT :  Dr. Pia Interlandi is a designer who addresses death through dress; dress as an act, as a doing, and as a becoming (poiesis). Harnessing a toolkit of skills that combine tacit and explicit knowledge bases, Pia intermeshes scholarly and professional practice, interlacing personal reflection, community engagement, and the rigor(mortis) of academia.
Through her practice, Garments for the Grave, Pia designs rituals for facilitating dressing and addressing the dead body. She co-designs garments with the terminally ill and dresses them with family for their funerals. As an academic, her teaching and research explore the materials and materiality of death, disposal, decomposition and dispersion.
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

CEREMONY REALLY MATTERS
About: AHFA Committee member Zenith Virago shared her decades of wisdom about creating meaningful ceremony. With a legal and community background and work history, she is a seen as a community resource, assisting people to know and reclaim their legal rights, and co-create their own social rites of passage. 
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

WHAT DO I SAY
ABOUT : Do you know what to say when someone is dying, or to someone recently bereaved? AHFA committee member Annie Whitlocke has years of experience she to share on this topic.
Annie has completed Death Doula Australia training 1 and advanced, Death Doula Australia training Death of a Baby, Deathwalker 1 and advanced, and Midwifing Death Amicus. She works as a Clinical Pastoral Education (Monash Hospital) and sits on the advisory committee for Secular Spiritual Care Network.
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

BODY DISPOSAL OPTIONS
ABOUT : Bec Lyons is the President of the Natural Death Advocacy Network and the Australian Home Funeral Alliance. She is a Celebrant, Tedx speaker, end of life doula and independent funeral director. She is a Churchill Fellow and the author of 'A Heartfelt Undertaking' and has travelled the world looking at different body disposal options. During this event, she presented an overview of her research and findings.
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

AFTER DEATH BODY CARE IN THE HOME.
ABOUT : After death body care in the home. People talk about home funeral but what does it take to care for the dead? AHFA committee member, Hallie Halloran is of Ngemba - First Nations, Irish & Belgian bloodlines. She is the owner of Paperbark deathcare and she offers an accessible, affordable & eco-conscious family led service offering the knowledge, advocacy & guidance, so that they may do as much or as little themselves.
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

ARRANGING A HOME FUNERAL.
ABOUT : AHFA committee members Alex and Hini delve into how to arrange a home funeral. What does it involve and where do you start?
Alex Antunes (she/her) is a Naarm based aged care worker and holistic funeral assistant. She is the current treasurer of Natural Death Advocacy Network and a founder of Queer As Death Collective which facilitate monthly Death Cafes for LGBTQIA+ people.
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions

WHAT IS A HOME FUNERAL?
ABOUT : Claire Turnham and Bec Lyons share what a home funeral is and how it all works.
Claire Turnham MBE is a mother of 4 and the UK/NZ based Founder of Only with Love. As a pioneer of the home funeral movement, she is passionate about sharing her skills, knowledge and experience to help others. Claire is recognised internationally as a leading Home Funeral Practitioner, Educator, Celebrant and Advisor.
Bec Lyons is the President of the Natural Death Advocacy Network and the Australian Home Funeral Alliance. She is a Celebrant, Tedx speaker, end of life doula and independent funeral director. She is a Churchill Fellow and the author of 'A Heartfelt Undertaking'.
This event was recorded, and can be viewed via our Information Sessions