Episode Details

Are you ready to face death head-on? In this episode of Don't Be Caught Dead, I chat with Rose Sexton, a seasoned nurse and passionate palliative care educator from Wangaratta, Northeast Victoria. Rose shares her deep insights into palliative care, advance care planning, and the importance of having honest conversations about death and dying before it’s too late. We explore how palliative care is about living well, not just dying, and why planning early can save your loved ones from unbearable decisions later.

Rose opens up about her personal experiences supporting people at the end of life and how community palliative care works, especially in rural areas where resources are stretched. We also dive into the Good To Go Project, a local initiative reshaping how communities talk about death, grief, and loss. If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to start the conversation with your family or wondered what palliative care really means, this episode is packed with practical advice and heartfelt stories to help you prepare.

From the challenges of navigating healthcare systems in rural Australia to the transformative power of death doulas and community support, Rose and I discuss how embracing death can actually help us live more fully. We also touch on the environmental impact of funeral choices and the exciting future of natural organic reduction (human composting). This episode is a must-listen for anyone wanting to break the taboo and bring death back into everyday conversation.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• What advanced care planning really means and why it’s a loving gift to your family
• The difference between community palliative care and hospice, and why early referral matters
• How rural palliative care works and the challenges faced by those living outside cities
• The Good To Go Project and how community collectives can support death literacy
• Practical tips for starting conversations about death with loved ones
• The role of death doulas and why they’re vital in filling gaps in care
• Personal stories from Rose about the sacredness of the dying process
• Funeral traditions, home funerals, and new eco-friendly options like human composting

Resources & links mentioned:

Good To Go Project website

Palliative Care Australia

Death Cafes in Wangaratta and Beechworth

Advance Care Planning information (Victoria)

NSW petition for Human Composting

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY - Signing ePetition - Recognise and regulate Human Composting as a death care option

Remember; You may not be ready to die, but at least you can be prepared.

Take care,

Catherine

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)

MY LOVED ONE HAS DIED, WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Download it here.

SUPPORT SERVICES
If you're feeling overwhelmed by grief, find support through our resources and bereavement services here.

The free 3-minute Critical Info Check helps you see what you’ve already got covered — and what your next step could be.

Three minutes. One next step.

Go to gettingstarted.criticalinfo.com.au

Every Tuesday at 7pm, I host Critical Chat