Conversations that inspire action
Listen to community leaders, researchers, practitioners and people with lived experience as they share ideas, practical experiences and innovative approaches that strengthen community capability across Australia.
Every conversation is an opportunity to learn, reflect and discover new ways communities can support people through caring, ageing, serious illness, dying and grief.
ABOUT OUR CONVERSATIONS
Connecting people through shared learning
Our Conversations bring together community leaders, researchers, practitioners and people with lived experience to explore community-led approaches to caring, ageing, serious illness, dying and grief. Each conversation shares practical ideas, lived experience and evidence to inspire compassionate action in communities of all sizes.
We believe learning is stronger when people share their experiences and learn from one another. If you have a story, project or perspective that could contribute to a future Conversation, we’d love to hear from you or connect with you through our Community of Practice.
Conversation # 9
Dying at HOME, a lucky dip?
Dr Stephen Ginsborg is a GP and Dr Jo Doran is a palliative care specialist who between them have 83 years experience in supporting people at end-of-life. This conversation explores when someone wants to die at home.
Conversation #8
Strength, vision and legacy: Honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wisdom at Life’s End
Following NAIDOC week, CCAus was honoured to present Aunty Rhonda Radley and Genus Passi who joined us in conversation to share their stories and wisdom on strength, vision and legacy. We explored how culture shapes the way we understand, accept, and respond to death, dying, and grieving. We believe there is much to learn from the strength, spirituality, and interconnectedness that sit at the heart of First Nations approaches to end-of-life.
Conversation #7
Dying to Know: Building community where you live
Jessie Williams and Danni Petkovic explored how Dying to Know can support the further development of Compassionate Communities. They shared news on the Dying to Know theme for 2025 and what support is available to help with planning including their new micro grants program.
Conversation #6
Home funerals through a Compassionate Communities lens
Bec Lyons is a Churchill Fellow and the President of the Australian Home Funeral Alliance and the National Death Advocacy Network. She spoke with board member Harpreet Kalsi-Smith about the practice of home funerals through a Compassionate Communities lens.
Conversation #5
Working together: Health services and communities
Professor Seow explored how health professionals and communities can work together to meet the end of life needs of people living in Australia.
Professor Hsien Seow is the Research Chair in Palliative Care and Health System Innovation at McMaster University, Canada. Hsien is focused on innovating health systems and improving quality of care. He is the co-author of ‘Hope for the best plan for the rest’ – a guide for patients and families facing a life-changing diagnosis. Hsien has also interviewed hundreds of people navigating health services as part of his long running podcast series The Waiting Room Revolution.
Conversation #4
Getting started…
Shane Bailey from Kalamunda Compassionate Communities facilitated a discussion with Julieanne Hilbers from the South West Compassionate Communities Network and Barbara Dennis from Charters Towers Compassionate Communities about how they started their compassionate communities groups.
Conversation #3
The role of arts in death
Victoria Spence, founder and director of LifeRites joined us for a conversation on how the arts and creative practices can support us individually and collectively when dealing with death.
Conversation #2
Community supported end-of-life care
A wonderful heartfelt conversation with Dr. Aditi Sethi who is a hospice and palliative care physician, end-of-life doula, and American Folk and Traditional Indian musician. Featured in the documentary “The Last Ecstatic Days”, Aditi is the founder of the Center for Conscious Living & Dying, and an emerging and important voice for shifting our culture’s understanding and approach to dying, death, and bereavement care.
Conversation #1
Hummingbird House & the role of hospices in connecting communities that care
CCAus had a great start to our Conversation series with the team from Hummingbird House (paediatric hospice in Queensland) who spoke of their commitment to Compassionate Communities practice in creating communities of care.
Compassionate Communities Australia is the national organisation building community capability through advocacy, practical resources, partnerships and community-led action.
