Modern Deathcare: Dignity & New Options
Last Updated on October 22, 2025 by Team MSW
If you’ve ever wondered what a “good death” really means, this deeply humane ABC Read explores a growing movement that’s reshaping final farewells in Australia — placing families, not just the funeral industry, at the heart of end-of-life care.
It follows pioneering “deathwalker” Zenith Virago and the rise of family-led funerals, community-run providers like Tender Funerals, and the broader “death positive” shift that encourages planning, open conversation, and hands-on rituals that truly reflect a person’s life.
Two things stand out.
- Agency
- More Australians are choosing involvement over outsourcing — from washing and dressing a loved one to painting a simple cardboard coffin in the backyard. Far from morbid, these acts can ease grief, create meaning, and give families a sense of calm control at a time that often feels anything but.
- The Timing
- With the ACT’s voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws commencing on November 3, the article lands right as end‑of‑life choices expand. It carefully explores both the benefits and limits of VAD — how it can be a comfort or “security blanket” for some, yet is not a panacea for the complexity and “messiness” of dying.
For readers approaching or in retirement, this is a gentle nudge to prepare — practically and emotionally. Pre-need conversations, clear wishes, and knowing your options (palliative care, VAD eligibility, community-led funerals) can spare families confusion and conflict later on.
Real families in the piece show how personal, low-cost choices can be surprisingly beautiful: a vigil at home, grandchildren decorating a coffin, an intimate ceremony that genuinely fits the person. And for situations where things don’t go as hoped, the story treats those experiences with honesty and dignity, reminding us to ask for better care, better communication, and more realistic laws.
A line that captures the human heart of the piece:
“The sooner we start these conversations, the better… we all know we’re going to die, so let’s have a chat about it now.” — Kate Reed, palliative care nurse practitioner.
Because planning a meaningful farewell is one of the most loving gifts we can give our families. It doesn’t require grandeur — just clarity, participation, and connection. If you value personal choice, community, and legacy, this movement offers practical ways to align your last chapter with your life’s values.
For moving stories, practical insights, and timely context on VAD and family-led funerals, read the full ABC Long Read here: Death doulas, family-led funerals and the deathcare movement hope to change the way we die.
