compassionate communities

DEAD AIR #183 by The Departure

DEAD AIR #183
Hayley West, 94.9MainFM

Woman laid to rest in coffin made from mushrooms in Australian first – The Guardian

NDAN Presents - How Mushrooms Are Changing the Way We Say Goodbye with Bob Hendrikx, founder & CEO of Loop Biotech, award-winning inventor, architect and bio designer. Fri 18 Sept 7-8pm AEST. Details HERE book HERE

The Missing Navigator: Why End-of-Life Doulas Belong at the Heart of Compassionate Communities – Your Path Guide

When a Narcissist Is Dying You Don’t Have to Be There - Hospice Nurse Julie, YouTube

The Digital Life of Grief - Online Mourning in the Age of Hashtags, Algorithms, and Social Media’ - Open Access link HERE

The Role of Men’s Sheds in Supporting Men Through End-of-Life Experiences – Seminar hosted by The Good Death Impact Network and The Care Lab at UNSW. Presenter: Dr John MacArtney, Associate Professor, Warwick Medical School, UK. - in person & online, Tues 8 Sept, 2-3pm, book HERE

AHFA presents: ‘Death Literacy as Community Practice. What if caring for people at the end of life was understood not only as a health service responsibility, but as a shared community practice?’ ​With Dr. Kerrie Noonan, online, Tues15 Sept, 7-8.30pm AEST Details HERE Book HERE

The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day (10 Sept) is Changing the Narrative on Suicide, with the call to action: Start the Conversation. Castlemaine resources: Castlemaine Safe Space, 74 Mostyn St on Tuesdays 4-6.30pm, Thursdays 9.30am-12pm & Saturdays 1.30-4pm. ELM - Every Life Matters, Peer Support Group which meets on the last Monday of every month at Safe Space. Email: theelmpsg@gmail.com

Remembering Rainbow: LGBTIQA+ Memorial for World Suicide Prevention Day 2026. Collingwood Town Hall, 140 Hoddle Street, Abbotsford. Thurs 10 Sept, 6-8pm, details HERE

A weekend immersion into shrouding and weaving hosted by master weaver of 30+ years Zimmi Forest from NSW and facilitated by local, independent death worker Hayley West of The Departure. Together, we will weave a shroud carrier and/or a coffin out of the invasive Cats Claw vine.  An opportunity to learn and share curiosities and questions around the practice of shrouding and open up conversations anything death, dying and grieving. All materials and morning teas are provided. Book via Humantix, search for 'Coffin Weaving Castlemaine' or contact Hayley directly at hello@thedeparture.com.au  Sat 10 Oct, 9:30am – 4pm & Sun 11 Oct, 10am-3.30pm. Venue: The Old Gaol, Castlemaine. Book HERE

TRACKS: Paradise – Vague Rituals / Stupid Thing – Good Moon

DEAD AIR #165 by The Departure

DEAD AIR #165
Hayley West, 94.9 MainFM

Are You Dying to Know? Scared to view your loved one - YouTube

BOOK: Creative and Aesthetic Ways of Grief: All Things Reimagined, a new publication as part of the series in Death, Dying, and Bereavement. Pre-order HERE

BOOK: Compassionate Communities in Action: Global Stories of Care, Loss and Connection brings together practical examples of compassionate cities and communities from around the world. Purchase hard copy HERE, Open Access version also available.

ONLINE: Supporting LGBTIQA+ people bereaved by suicide. Webinar facilitated by Switchboard's Bereavement Group Facilitators Grace Lee and Jon B, Wed 8 April, 12-1pm AEST, Register HERE

The Castlemaine Cemetery Trust has engaged Know Your Place to manage the Castlemaine Cemetery Burial Recovery Project. Community info session: Sat 2 May, 10am–12pm, Old Castlemaine Gaol. Please RSVP HERE

Entries open soon for the 2026 Australian Hearse Nationals in Maldon, part of the Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas, $45 per entry. Check the Facebook group for updates.

Central Victorian Meet Up – Australian Psychedelic Society, 12pm The Albion Castlemaine. Please RSVP by either marking yourself as 'Going' on the Facebook event, or email stu.h@psychedelicsociety.org.au

Showing Up For Each Other: Community Death Care Workshop - funded by the Wicking Trust. Supported by the Australian Home Funeral Alliance, in conjunction with Social Health Australia and the Death Literacy Institute. Led by myself, Jenny Blake & Nici Wright. Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 April, Castlemaine. EOIs have closed, but you can join the waiting list HERE

TRACKS: songs from Julian Williams new album - A TADPOLE POOL OF STARS

DEAD AIR #134 by The Departure

DEAD AIR #134
Hayley West, 94.9 MainFM

‘Death is not a mystery’: what happens to your body when you’re dying?The Guardian

Was the deceased Sarco euthanasia assistant Willet wrongfully held in custody in Schaffhausen?- NZZ article

This Facility Cremates Bodies With Water (Not Fire) - SBS The Feed - Alluvium Water Cremations in Tasmania.

The Death Dialogues for Pet Loss. Honour your pet’s memory in a warm virtual space for open, thoughtful conversation about loss, love, and connection. Sun, 22 Jun, 9:30-11am AEST. $7 Book HERE

CDAS online conference 2025 Death and Transitions 11 - 13 June. (full $166 half $83). Full program HERE.

NDAN Presents - A Rotten Business: Human Decomposition with Cat Irving, Human Remains Conservator, Surgeons’ Hall London. Fri 13 June 7-9pm AEST. $5 NDAN members/$20 everyone else. Book HERE

The Grieve Project 2025 is a national storytelling project about grief and loss. It is a storytelling competition, anthology, live event, workshops and more. Submissions close 30 June. Info HERE

Fourth International End-of-Life Doula Online Symposium. Sept 5-6, registration opens soon The Good Death Impact Network 

Compassionate Communities Australia National Forum. Tue 9 Sep, 8:30am-5pm AEST, Brisbane. Book HERE

TRACKS: Hit or Miss – Odetta / Drop Out Boogie – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band / To Hell With Good Intentions - McLusky