What do We Do?
ChiLL is the acronym for Choices in Later Life, a seminar program that invites participants to explore their options when planning for dying and death. Those who work in this area describe it as the last great taboo. They are concerned that lack of preparation causes unnecessary distress to the dying and leaves the bereaved with extra burdens. We aim to confront fear and ignorance with information and resources that will better prepare everyone for one of life’s inevitabilities.
We go beyond the familiar “making a will” and whether to be “cremated or buried” and introduce the subjects of:
- Enduring Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship
- Advanced Care Planning and How to Assemble an Advanced Care Plan
- How and where to lodge your Advanced Care Plan
- Preparing the Family and Other Carers
- To Do List in preparation for Loss of Capacity or Dying
- Palliative Care – What it is and isn’t and how to access it
- What happens when someone is dying
- Voluntary Assisted Dying – What it is and isn’t and how to access it
- Death Doula services including Local Resources
- Organ Donation
- Funeral Planning and How to Celebrate a Life
- Spiritual, Emotional and Pastoral Care Options
- Funerals for pets and their care if you die
- Getting on with your life after the Death of a Partner
- Bereavement and Bereavement Resources
The emphasis throughout is about how to access the resources, services and people that assist in these tasks.
The Seminar
Our program typically runs for 2.5 hours and ends with a panel discussion with the Speakers, followed by a smorgasbord of takeaway resources for participants.
It is aimed at groups of Seniors with capacity (ideally fewer than 40 at a time) and their Family and Carers, or anyone who works in end-of-life care.
Any space that accommodates such a group is suitable, but good acoustics and a refreshment break is essential, whilst audiovisual resources and a welcoming group seating arrangement is desirable.
Our Contributors
We have a panel of experts who work in the field. They include a doctor, palliative care nurse, a community engagement volunteer in preparedness, a death doula and a counselor for funeral services. They have honed their presentations over a number of seminars presented to groups in Retirement Villages since 2021.
Our Organizers
Max Brinsmead spent four decades overseeing the arrival of lives as an obstetrician but, like a number of his colleagues who were privileged to be part of that process, believes that the medical profession needs to do better at the other end of life. Phone 0409 870 346 Email [email protected] or leave a Note on the Welcome Page to this Website.
Judith Jackson has spent decades as activist and volunteer in the community of Woolgoolga. Judy is a passionate believer in living the best life you can for as long as you can; an advocate for being prepared and dying in comfort and dignity. Phone 0417 923 333 Email [email protected]
Please phone, SMS or email us with your proposal or questions.
See also ChiLL Facebook Group
Testimonials:
From The Hon. Mark Coure MP, Former Minister for Seniors NSW Government.
From Coffs University of the Third Age (U3A)
Takeaways that Support our Seminar:
Advanced Care Planning – A Fact Sheet for Individuals
To make an Advanced Care Directive (or Plan), we recommend that you use the Blue Booklet provided by NSW Health or Phone 1300 208 582.
Advanced Care Directives (Getting it Done) by Jill Nash – A single pdf sheet that leads you you through the steps that will help get this task done.
Advanced Care Planning and Voluntary Assisted Dying – a Factsheet from Advance Care Planning Australia that explains the difference between these two options.
The NSW VAD Navigator Service – Your one stop place for advice and supports for all steps required for voluntary assisted dying in this state. Or Phone 1300 802 133.
NSW Capacity Toolkit Factsheet – Information for people whose decision making is in question.
What is Palliative Care – a 2-page colour brochure that explains what it is. For Palliative Care on the Coffs Coast Phone 6656 7672 or 1800 548 225 after hours.
What Happens when you Die – a 3-page monochrome fact-sheet from Palliative Care Australia that describes some events that may occur in the last days and hours of life.
End of Life Doula Hub – a list of Coffs Coast Doulas and other resources prepared by Rani Foreman, Woolgoolga.
Capacity Resources – Phone numbers and on-line links to help anyone in NSW who a question about their own or another’s capacity to make important decisions in life.
For access to our bank of Handouts Click Here
If a Link does not work or Download, try Refreshing your web browser and Try Again
Seminar Talks and PowerPoints:
Make an Advanced Care Plan – A seminar presentation by Dr Max Brinsmead January 2025 (PowerPoint)(.pdf)
Advanced Care Plans and Other Documents You Need – A seminar presentation by Judith Jackson (PowerPoint)(.pdf)
Are You Ready to Die – A seminar presentation by Dr Max Brinsmead March 2023(PowerPoint)(.pdf)
Palliative Care and Voluntary Assisted Dying NSW – A seminar presentation by Dr Max Brinsmead July 2024 (PowerPoint)(.pdf)
Preparing for the Inevitable – short notes from the Presentation by Jill Nash (.pdf)
Community Palliative Care – A seminar presentation by Nurse Louise de Gabriele (PowerPoint.pdf)
Funeral Planning. A PowerPoint presentation by Heather Maree Hinton at the Cavanbah Centre March 2025 (PowerPoint)(.pdf)
Choices around Funeral Planning and Celebrations of a Life: A PowerPoint Presentation by Betsy White at Shoreline on 8th August 2023. (PowerPoint)(.pdf)
Death Doula – helping the dying and their families through the process: A PowerPoint Presentation by Heather-Maree Hinton at the Cavanbah Centre March 2025.(PowerPoint)(pdf)
Getting on with Your Life – A PowerPoint Presentation by Tony Blair (PowerPoint)(pdf).
What Happens when You Die – a Seminar Presentation by Leesa Hoysted, Masters in Palliative Care (PowerPoint) (.pdf)
Voluntary Assisted Dying in NSW – A Seminar Presentation by Max Brinsmead at the Cavanbah Centre March 2025 (PowerPoint/pdf)
What is Capacity – A seminar presentation by Dr Max Brinsmead January 2025 (PowerPoint)(.pdf)
Other Selected Resources:
Estate Planning – Fact or Fiction. A PowerPoint presentation by KC Hilton at the Cavanbah Centre March 2025 (pdf)
Estate Planning: Fact and Fiction – Advice from WNB Legal Pty Ltd Woolgoolga about Wills, Enduring Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship
VAD First Request Patient Information Guide – from NSW Health. Provides an overview of the VAD request and assessment process, then details the 11 steps involved in Voluntary Assisted Dying in NSW. 17 pages
NSW Health Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Steps: A single sheet that lists the 11 steps required for a person to access VAD in NSW. You can pause or stop the process at any time.
VAD in Residential Aged Care A factsheet for Managers and Operators of residential aged care facilities that explains the legal obligations in relation to VAD, and provides practical tips to help residential facilities comply with their VAD obligations.
Do Not Resuscitate – the simplest and intended use of this expression is an instruction to not have heart function or breathing supported or restarted by any means in the event that these two vital functions have ceased. It is an advanced care directive and is as enforceable as any other such instruction that is provided by this means. However, because it means different things to different people, including doctors, we do not recommend that it is used without qualification or, more importantly, without the knowledge and understanding of your enduring guardian or substitute decision maker. We certainly do not recommend that it is worn as a tattoo because you might change your mind. If you want to draw the attention of others to your views on this subject, it can be worn as a bracelet. However we recommend that this bracelet also provide advice about how to contact your guardian/substitute decision maker. This link from Wikipedia explains why.
Other Links:
Making an Advance Care Directive – NSW Form and Information Booklet.
Advance Care Planning – A YouTube video that illustrates why it is important.
Healthy End of Life Planning App – recommended and used by Heather Maree Hinton, this free app is designed for use on an iPad.
NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigator Service – contact details for the free service by NSW Health for everyone including patients, loved ones, health practitioners and providers.
Voluntary Assisted Dying in NSW: This state’s official website with information for patients, doctors and access to the VAD Care Navigator Service.
Appointing an Enduring Guardian – Advice for NSW residents and Form
NSW Trustee & Guardian – A NSW government resource for making your will or power of attorney and an impartial option for guardianship and management of financial affairs.
Person Responsible – a fact sheet from the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal that details the hierarchy of who is the best person that can provide consent to medical or dental treatment for persons who are incapable of consenting to their own treatment. This is also usual when a person has not appointed an Enduring Guardian or substitute decision maker.
Deciding whether a person has the capacity to make their own decisions: Go to the NSW Department of Communities and Justice webpage that addresses this or download the Capacity Toolkit: Information for government and community workers, professionals, families and carers in New South Wales
Dying to Know Day – An annual event, but this website also provides advice about Advance Care Plans, Guardianship, Wills and Super and celebrating a life.
The Australian Death Notification Service is a free government initiative to help people get in touch with multiple organisations using a single online notification.
When You Die – Films, podcasts and more from a US-based charity that promotes death literacy.
Digital Legacy Association: the global organisation supporting the public and professional bodies with digital assets planning and digital legacy safeguarding. Includes advice about Social Media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Digital Estate Planning: from the founder of a Password Manager App. However, you don’t need to use this app to make use of this comprehensive guide. It includes how to hand over all of your digital life to an Executor as well as dealing with a Digital Estate if you are the recipient (Executor).
Who to Notify Checklist: (If someone has died). From Services Australia (pdf Download)
Go Gentle Australia: Committed to making Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) available to all terminally ill Australians. Includes their hour-long webinar that details how to access VAD across Australia.
Dying with Dignity NSW: Committed to making VAD available as a choice in NSW.
Carer Gateway: Advice, support and training for Carers with options for Emergency Respite Care (after registration and interview)
Resources to Support Families Caring for Someone at the End of their Life – from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.
Seniors Rights Service: a community organisation dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of older people
Palliative Care Australia – with advice for patients and carers including how to access these services
What is Palliative Care (A short YouTube video from the Department of Health and Aged Care)
End of Life Doula Directory: Helping you find a Death Doula in your vicinity.
Preparing the Way: Helen Callinan’s end of life doula training organization.
Organising a funeral – practical advice from NSW (government) Services.
Wendy Haynes – A ChiLL-recommended Funeral Celebrant for the Coffs Coast
Spiritual, Emotional and Pastoral Support – website for the Mid North Coast Local Health District Chaplaincy Services. Predominantly for hospital inpatient care.
Cremation Ashes: Fact sheet describing what can be done with them from NSW Health
Grief Australia: Apps, counselling and support for anyone experiencing grief or loss.
How to get a Death Certificate and Register a death – Advice from Bare if you do not have the assistance of a Funeral Director.
Registering a Death in NSW – Advice from NSW Gov including the process without a Funeral Director.
Death Certificate Requirements – Advice from Legal Aid NSW including Who to Notify without the assistance of a solicitor.
Applying for Probate – A step by step guide from Legal Aid NSW.
ChiLL is supported and recommended by:
Linked to Life is a not-for-profit, community-based organisation for people who are frail, elderly, and wanting to continue living independently in their own home on the Coffs Coast.
Updated 27th March 2025