The Wicking End of Life Collaborative is a collaboration between 20 projects of the J.O. and J.R. Wicking Trust “Bringing Death Back into Life – Developing Solutions Initiative”. It aims to amplify their impact by leveraging collective strengths and addressing gaps to reduce fragmentation and build a more cohesive, inclusive, and compassionate end-of-life system for older Australians.

Wicking End of Life Collaborative project summary

Key Themes of the Collaborative

• Conversations and stories about death, dying and grieving
• Caring and networked communities for people dying, caring and grieving
• Communities and organisations working together for more cohesive and inclusive end of life services and systems.

Shared Principles and Values of the Collaborative

• Be dynamic, flexible and iterative in purpose, structure and intent
• Foster trust and provide spaces for connection and sharing
• Be cooperative, inclusive and mutually supportive
• Be relevant and engaging
• Avoid duplication while leveraging diversity
• Respect differences in skills, approaches and philosophies
• Bring authentic lived experience perspectives.

Value Proposition of the Collaborative

By working collectively, we offer:

1. Shared Knowledge and Resources including access to a rich repository of tools, research, and best practices; and to cross-disciplinary expertise in law, medicine, technology, design, and community development.

2. Innovation Through Collaboration including co-design solutions that bridge silos between health, legal, and social systems; and harnessing emerging technologies and creative approaches to improve care and support.

3. Greater Reach and Equity extending impact of projects into communities and ensuring culturally safe and inclusive practices across all initiatives.

4. A Unified Voice for Systemic Change by advocating for policy and cultural shifts that normalise conversations about death, dying, and grief.

5. Efficiency and Sustainability by reducing duplication through coordinated planning and shared evaluation frameworks and building capacity for long-term impact beyond individual projects and funding cycles.

By joining forces, we create a cohesive, compassionate, and inclusive collaborative - one that values emotional wellbeing, strengthens networks of care, and empowers older Australians and their families to navigate dying, death, and grief with dignity and confidence.

Projects

Projects include:

• A member-led innovation fund – Enhancing collaboration within the death, dying, and grief sectors. (The Good Death Impact Network, The Australian Centre for Social Innovation)
• Legal Resources for Solo Agers – Helping older Australians navigate the legal aspects of dying and death. (University of Technology Sydney & Council of the Ageing Australia)
• End-of-Life Planning Tools – Providing accessible resources on advance care planning, palliative care, and voluntary assisted dying. (Queensland University of Technology (QUT)’s Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Go Gentle Australia, Advance Care Planning Australia, Palliative Care Australia)
• ‘Akira Says Goodbye’ – A micro-learning tool designed to help aged care workers discuss death and dying with older people. (Meaningful Ageing Australia)
• Compassionate Communities Resource Hub & Community of Practice – Supporting grassroots, community-led approaches to caring, dying, and grieving. (Compassionate Communities Australia & Perron Institute)
• Future Planning Support for Older Australians in Regional Victoria – Offering workshops and pro bono legal guidance to help older Australians plan for their future. (Justice Connect)
• ‘VOICES’ for Palliative Care – Integrating lived experience into National programs and discussions on advanced illness care. (University of Melbourne)
• Sacred Spaces in Emergency Departments – Creating peaceful environments and educational initiatives to support holistic end-of-life care in hospitals for patients and clinicians. (Alfred Health/Monash University/Bethlehem Griffiths Foundation)
• Wicking End of Life Collaborative – Connecting organisations and experts to maximise the impact of Wicking Trust grant-funded initiatives. (Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration (MARC), led by National Ageing Research Institute (NARI))
• Death Literacy for Medical Trainees – Piloting a program to transform medical culture and support patients, families, and doctors in facing death. (University of Melbourne, Meaningful Ageing Australia, Grief Australia, Australian Medical Student Association)
• Culturally-Appropriate Advance Care Planning for Anangu Elders (TjuKurpa Latja [Last Story]) - Developing resources to support end-of-life discussions. (NPY Women's Council, Anangu Elders, Territory Palliative Care Central Australia)
• Co-Designing an AI-Powered Grief Support App – Offering personalised emotional and practical guidance for older adults experiencing bereavement. (Queensland University of Technology (QUT) & People Tech Revolution)
• ‘I Am Living’ Docuseries – Showcasing real narratives of the terminally ill and their families to normalise end-of-life discussions. (Calvary Care)
• Culturally-Sensitive End-of-Life Care – Providing tools and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to navigate a loved one’s last days. (HammondCare & Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network)
• AI-Assisted Advance Care Planning Tool – Co-designed with older Australians and healthcare professionals to provide a personalised approach to planning for end-of-life care. (Deakin University, Touchstone Life Care)
• Community Services Directory – Integrating with Violet’s AI-enabled platform to connect Australians with vital end-of-life care services. (Violet & Portable)
• ‘Voices of Diversity’ Study – Exploring views on voluntary assisted dying within culturally and linguistically diverse communities to develop tailored resources. (Western Sydney University, South Western and South Eastern Local Health District)
• Seeding action and partnerships for a community of change (Dying to Know) - designed to empower grassroots efforts and foster stronger, more connected communities in the death and dying space. (Proveda)
• Nurturing compassionate communities across South Australia and Victoria through structured, accessible engagement systems for individuals, carers, businesses, and organisations. (Palliative Care South Australia & Palliative Care Victoria)
• Mobilising care and capturing connections for older Australians around death, dying and grieving. (Palliative Care Australia and La Trobe University Public Health Palliative Care Unit)

For more information, contact Collaborative Manager Sue Williams (NARI), E: [email protected].