Dying is a social process. Conversations that Count aims to normalise the place of death in life by building capacity within organisations and communities to confront fears, ask questions, reflect on experiences, and identify what is important at the end of life.
There is an urgent need to embed conversations about living and dying deeply into the healthcare trajectory and throughout our social fabric from the time when one is healthy, through diagnosis and along all the stages to death.

Conversations that Count provides a safe space for participants to:
▪ discuss what is meaningful to them in relation to the end of life
▪ explore people's concerns about suffering in the context of dying and death
▪ explore what carers and family members need for support in addressing the complexities of end-of-life care.

The program has two components:
▪ facilitated conversations to build individual capacity to address one’s own concerns and to be present for others in discussing dying and death
▪ capacity building for organisations to enhance staff and volunteer confidence in discussing dying and death with service users and community members.

The program builds on a pilot study, Conversation among friends, which piloted a methodology for trauma-informed conversations about the end of life. The pilot study’s findings have been reported publicly here. Pilot participants considered that the process helped them to consider their own needs and preferences for the end of life and raised awareness of ways to support others as well.

Organisations providing community-based care are well-placed to improve preparation for death by normalising the reality of death in the face of life. Conversations that Count will:
▪ build capacity within organisations, families and communities to discuss the end of life before it is necessary, and improve capability for discussions and planning at the actual end of life
▪ reduce the number of people experiencing loneliness and isolation at the end of life through improving community understanding and engagement with the realities of dying and death
▪improve individuals’ ability to die in the place of their choice by providing better social and community support
▪ assist participants to be more comfortable having open and caring discussions with others about the social and emotional needs at the end of life
▪ equip participants to considers ways to build death support within their own communities.

Linda Kurti 0412 040 217; linda@stillpointstrategy.com.au
Harpreet Kalsi-Smith 0402 249 058; harp@kindness.company