queer as death collective

DEAD AIR #185 /  by The Departure

DEAD AIR #185
Hayley West, 94.9MainFM

‘I created my mom and talk to her’: AI ghosts and deathslop are changing the way we mourn – The Guardian

Back from the dead: could AI end grief? On the Ground YouTube

‘We thought death could do with a bit of dancing’: welcome to Sondering, the arts festival with its own funeral march – The Guardian

Love & Loss - a 5Rhythms® exploration of the loving, broken heart with Meredith Davies & David Juriansz. Through 5Rhythms dance, reflective practice and ritual you will be guided through the terrain of love and loss. A 2-day workshop to dance with our grief, our gratitude and be held in community in grace. Dates: Sat 31 Oct & Sun 1 Nov, 10-5pm. Early Bird - $200 Before Sep 30 or until sold out. e: 5Rhythms@movingessence.com. St.Marys Hall, Castlemaine.

ONLINE: AHFA and Queer as Death Collective (Naarm) Presents - ‘A Joyous Death’ with Alex Antunes. Sharing a documentary 'HARD/SOFT/STICKY WET: A Joyous Death' (2025) documenting the Corpse Couture event. Mon 19 Oct, 7-8.30pm AEDT Book HERE

PODCAST: ‘For The Love of Brick’ Ep14. For the Love of Alby A Father's Day special episode dedicated to their late son Alby, who unexpectedly died in 2021. Greg shares how LEGO played a role in their relationship and in the weeks after Alby's death.

The Death Worker Summit Turn Your Calling into a Sustainable Practice. Join 20 death workers for honest conversations and practical steps to help you get hired, build meaningful relationships, and build the business around your end-of-life work. A virtual gathering for death doulas, end-of-life educators and planners, grief workers, celebrants, funeral professionals, home funeral guides, holistic practitioners, and others whose work supports people through death, dying, grief, and remembrance. ONLINE: 24-27 Sept. Book 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: Mizmar - Aswan / Tango Whiskeyman - CAN

DEAD AIR #151 /  by The Departure

DEAD AIR #151
Hayley West, 94.9 MainFM

The uneasy history of horror films and disability – The Conversation

Discovery in desk's nook paints picture of Australia's oldest continuously operating crematorium – ABC NEWS

Join The Empty Chair Campaign – add your deceased person to the online memorial, every empty chair tells a story, say their name, tell their story.

Can I Keep My Parents' Skulls & Tattoos? - YouTube

Bringing Death Back Into Life workshop led by myself, Jenny Blake & Nici Wright. Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 April, VENUE TBC. EOIs are open now, please follow this link to register your interest:  EOI Form This workshop facilitated by Australian Home Funeral Alliance, in conjunction with Social Health Australia and the Death Literacy Institute, is funded by the Wicking Trust as part of their Bringing Death Back into Life: Community-led Programs grants - Showing Up for Older Australians: a community approach to building death literacy in rural/regional Australia. 

End of Year Anti-Party Grief Shuffle Death Café, hosted by the Queer as Death Collective. NECCHi East Coburg Neighbourhood House Coburg. Sun, 7 Dec, 1-4pm AEDT. Book HERE

LAST WEEKEND: ‘Piece of Mind’ Finishes Sunday 30 November 2025, Fri/Sat 7.30pm, Sun 2pm. Castlemaine Theatre Company, Etty St. Tickets HERE.

TRACKS: Chicken Song & Suburb - Xylouris White

DEAD AIR #107 /  by The Departure

DEAD AIR #107
Hayley West, 94.9 MainFM

‘I’m a death expert. I designed eight questions to help you think about dying’ The Guardian

Ray Martin: The Last Goodbye - SBS On Demand

The Death Letter Project – Tina FiveAsh LETTER: Lance Proctor | Embalmer / Death Mask Creator

Festival of Death and Dying, Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 November

BOOK: Memento Mori: The Art of Contemplating Death to Live a Better Life by Joanna Ebenstein Purchase HERE

BOOK: Lonely Planet's Guide to Death, Grief and Rebirth Purchase HERE

TALK: ‘Stories of connection and community in planning for end of life’ with Frances Logan and Harpreet Kalsi-Smith, Saturday 9 November, 9-11am AEDT BOOK HERE

Queer as Death Collective – Death Café. Naarm/Melbourne, Sunday 10 November, 3-6pm BOOK HERE

TRACKS: BYE BYE - Kim Gordon / Breathe - Kai Cult