What I believe

I  believe that we have lost our essential customs, practices and attitudes to death and dying. I think that we isolate and marginalise the dying, the dead and the grieving and  I think that as a community we should challenge this.

I believe that that the management of death, and the care of those who have died has become a commercial enterprise rather than community centered.

I believe that large providers who own the vast majority of funeral services in Australia seek profit before anything else.

I believe that, at a time when people are emotionally and cognitively vulnerable, co-modifying death causes further unease and uncertainty for the dying and the bereaved. I believe this is increased significantly for people in our community who are already vulnerable.

I believe that funeral ceremonies, for those who want one, must offer greater emotional and, where appropriate, spiritual value. I believer that a funeral ceremony must reflect the person who has died and those that are grieving.

I believe that everyone should have access to unbiased information and opinion which enable them to make informed, independent choices according to their values and financial circumstances.

I believe that funerals must offer better value for money and people who are emotionally and cognitively vulnerable should not be taken advantage of.

I believe that many bereaved people need access to a range of practical and emotional support services which the commercial model struggles to accommodate. I believe that these needs can be met only if the work of specialist support agencies is augmented by collaborative, compassionate community engagement.

I believe that most of the tasks funeral directors undertake are not specialist tasks at all and can be undertaken by ordinary people.

I  believe that denialist attitudes to ageing and dying are rooted in fear, that this fear is rooted in ignorance, and that fear can be mitigated by knowledge and understanding. I believe that attitudes to ageing, dying and death must be restored to emotional health in such a way as to reflect their normality and naturalness

I believe that many people playing small parts, according to their abilities, makes us more effective and better able to support each other when it is needed.

I believe that communities must host conversations and encourage initiatives about end-of-life matters among people of all ages, and that these activities are best initiated and hosted by informed people in the community.