SA Death Festival 2025
A South Australian community event brought to you by Pure Land Home Hospice
October 19, 2025
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Centennial Park
760 Goodwood Road, Pasadena, South Australia
Welcome
What is the South Australia Death Festival?
The South Australia Death Festival is a public celebration and exploration of death as a universal truth — a space to reflect on life, loss, and the human experience through panel dialogues, storytelling, workshops, art, and meditation. Rooted in the belief that facing death helps us live more fully, the festival invites deep thinking, connection, and collective compassion.
Organised by Pure Land Home Hospice, an NGO offering free, community-based generalist palliative care, this festival is designed to demystify death and spark meaningful conversations across cultures, faiths, and generations. We’re proud to once again offer this festival to our valued community.
• All sessions are free of charge to ensure equitable access to all, but we kindly ask for your support in making the festival welcoming and easy for everyone.
• Please book early and only register for sessions you will attend, out of respect for our facilitators and volunteers. If you need to cancel, you can easily do so [HERE].
• Please take care not to double-book overlapping sessions, and allow time for parking and registration on the day. A map of important Death Festival locations is available [HERE].
• Gold coin donations are welcome but entirely optional.
This festival is a labour of love by a small but dedicated volunteer team. We thank you for joining us in creating a more compassionate and death-literate South Australia.
2025 Program Overview
This year’s Death Festival program is spread across several thoughtfully curated spaces. Clicking on each space will bring up different activities and programs you can book for that space.
1. Jubilee Complex Foyer
Our main venue for large-format talks, keynote presentations, and interfaith panels.
2. Meeting Rooms (behind Wildflowers Café). These indoor rooms host more intimate sessions for the following:
• Room 1 – Children’s Sessions
• Room 2 – Small-Format Talks
• Room 3 – Interactive Workshops
3. Meditation Tent
A quiet, restorative space for guided meditations and reflective practices.
4. Death Café Tents
Join informal, peer-led conversations about death, dying, and grief in a safe, welcoming environment.
5. Behind the Scenes
TEXT TO COME FROM CP
6. Garden Activities
Drop-in spaces for diverse activities, performances, marketplace, and gentle movement outdoors.
Important:🔔
Please check your session times carefully and avoid double-booking, as most activities run simultaneously.
FESTIVAL FORUMS
Interfaith Panel Discussion: Perspectives on Spirituality at the End of Life Panel Session | 9.00 am – 10.30 am
Join us for a thoughtful and wide-ranging panel discussion exploring how diverse faith traditions support the spiritual needs of those nearing the end of life. Our first interfaith panel brings together voices from Buddhism, Christianity, Aboriginal and Islam spiritual traditions, offering rich insights into how different cultures and beliefs understand death, dying, and the sacred act of accompaniment.
Panellists will share rituals, teachings, and reflections from their respective traditions—highlighting the deep wisdom and care that shape how we support individuals through life’s final transition in a session that invites deep listening and respectful dialogue across spiritual lines. Questions welcomed when prompted.
Speaker Panel:
• Venerable Tenzin Chodron: Tibetian Buddhist nun, __________.
• Minister Jesse Size: minister from______ and chaplain of ______
• Kaylene Dyinawili Wombat: ______ of ______ people/country
• A speaker of the Muslim faith (Pending)
Facilitator:
• Catherine Ooi, Chairman of Pure Land Home Hospice
Important:🔔 Please be seated by 8:50am for Introduction and Welcome
Extending Life or Accepting Death? The Role Of Science And Medicine In The Final Chapters Of Life Talk | 11.00 am – 12.00 pm
In a world where medical advancements can extend life far beyond what was once imagined, how do we navigate the boundary between healing and holding on? This timely and provocative discussion by experts from SAHMRI medical research institute explores the role of science and medicine in the final stages of life.
Speaker:
• A/Prof Hannah Wardill, Medical Reseacher/Investigator at SAHMRI
Beyond Hospitals: making comfort care accessible to all - Panel | 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm
This session explores how we can move beyond hospital walls to deliver compassionate, holistic support to people where they want it most— placing power back in the hands of families. Join us as we discuss the challenges, possibilities and economics of making good care a reality for everyone and hear from those working on the front lines of making this happen.
Speaker Panel:
• Sophie Shrapnel: CEO, Karuna Hospice
• Melanie Bruhn: CEO, Cittamani Hospice
• Jan McGregor: Co-CEO, Pure Land Home Hospice
• India Wallace, Co-CEO, Pure Land Home Hospice
Where Life Meets Death: Insights from the Edge of Life Panel Session | 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
What do those who work at the intersection of crisis, care, and mortality learn over time? This intimate panel conversation brings together professionals and practitioners who regularly encounter death in clinical, emergency, and spiritual contexts. Through grounded reflection and real-world experience, our speakers reflect on the profound lessons that arise from working in these specialties and share what becomes most visible and vital for themselves and others at the end of life. Questions welcomed when prompted.
Speaker Panel:
• Venerable Tenzin Chodron: nun from the Tibetian Buddhist tradition
• A/Prof David Holden: Medical Head of Unit, Northern Adelaide Palliative Service
• Robert Dridan: Commander, South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service
• Catherine Ooi: Chairman, Pure Land Home Hospice
CHILDREN’S SESSIONS
Holding Hearts: Talking About Grief with Kids - A safe space for children who have lost a parent or sibling | 9.00 am – 10.00 am
“Holding Hearts: Talking About Grief with Kids”-A safe space for children who have lost a parent or sibling
9.00 am – 10.00 am
Meeting Room 1
This gentle session, led by a qualified child psychologist, is designed to support children who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling. Through age-appropriate conversation, creative activities, and quiet reflection, children will be invited to explore their feelings, ask questions, and share stories—if they wish. The focus is on helping children feel seen, safe, and supported as they navigate grief in their own unique way. Parents and carers are welcome to stay close, and a quiet space will be available nearby for rest and comfort. This session is held with great care and respect for each child’s experience and emotional needs.
Session Facilitator:
• (name): (title), (organisation). ]
Goodbyes and Hellos: A Story Circle for Little Heart- Exploring love, loss, and new beginnings through stories and creativity I 10.30 am – 12.00 pm
“Goodbyes and Hellos: A Story Circle for Little Hearts”- Exploring love, loss, and new beginnings through stories and creativity
10.30 am – 12.00 pm
Meeting Room 1
This gentle, circle-based session invites children to explore the themes of change, grief, and connection through beloved picture books such as The Invisible String, Lifetimes, and The Heart and the Bottle. Led by a skilled facilitator with experience in children’s grief, the session uses storytelling as a doorway to help children understand that goodbyes don’t mean love disappears—and that every ending can carry a beginning. After the story circle, children will be guided in a quiet drawing or writing activity, where they can express their feelings, remember someone special, or simply reflect in their own way. This is a safe, nurturing space designed to help children feel seen, supported, and connected—no pressure to share, just gentle encouragement to explore. Parents and carers are welcome to stay nearby or join in quietly. Ideal for children who have experienced loss or are navigating any kind of change, this session is a soft-landing place for little hearts.
Session Facilitator:
• Barbara Binns (title), Pure Land Home Hospice
Holding Love: Making Memory Boxes & Heart Maps - A creative space for children to remember someone they love I 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm
“Holding Love: Making Memory Boxes & Heart Maps”-A creative space for children to remember someone they love
1.00 pm – 2.00 pm
Meeting Room 1
This special session offers children a quiet, supported space to gently honour someone they have lost—be it a parent, sibling, grandparent, pet or friend. With the guidance of a qualified facilitator experienced in children’s grief, children will be invited to create a memory box or heart map—a personal keepsake filled with drawings, symbols, words, or treasures that remind them of the person they love. Through this process, children are gently encouraged to reflect, express, and remember in their own unique way. The session will be a hands-on creative time. This is a safe, welcoming space—no pressure to share, just gentle support to explore feelings of love, loss, and connection. Parents and carers are welcome to stay nearby. Sometimes, it’s not about finding the right words—it’s about making space for the heart to speak.
Session Facilitator:
• Merel Purmer, (title), The Art of Expression.
The Garden of Memories- A Nature-based Grief Ritual I 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm
The Garden of Memories- A Nature-based Grief Ritual
2.30 pm – 4.00 pm
Meeting Room 1
When someone we love dies, it can feel confusing, sad, or heavy inside. Natural elements can be a kind friend during those times—it helps us feel calm, safe, and not so alone. In this session, children will be gently guided to honour the person or pet they miss through simple, beautiful activities using stones, leaves, water, and words. There will be time to sit quietly, listen to a short story or poem, and place a small offering into nature as a way of saying goodbye—or just “I remember you. This gathering is about sharing, healing, and knowing it’s okay to feel however you feel. We’ll create a peaceful space together, held by the trees, the sky, and each other. Grief is love that misses someone. And in nature, love always has a place to grow.
SALON SESSIONS
Back to Earth: Natural Burials, Your Final Earthly Gift Talk | 9.00 am – 10.00 am
As more people seek meaningful, affordable and eco-conscious end-of-life choices, natural burial is emerging as a beautiful alternative. This talk explores what natural burial really means, the best practice standards for Australian, the ways it supports family and community in the grief and how it can honour both the person who has died and the earth itself. Our talk will explore the environmental, financial and emotional aspects of returning to the earth. Come with your questions!
Speakers:
Rebecca Lyons & Heidi Greg
Rebecca and Heidi are both independent Funeral Directors & End of Life Doulas as well as board directors of the Australian Home Funeral Alliance (AHFA) and the Natural Death Advocacy Network (NDAN).
Wills, Death, and the Law: A Practical Guide To Legal Essentials For South Australians Talk | 10.30 am – 12.00 pm
Get clear on what matters most and plan ahead! This practical session opens with a brief presentation from Centennial Park covering XYZ(?), followed by an expert lawyer on wills who will walk us through what happens if there’s no plan in place, and how to make sure your wishes are known and respected. Bring your questions—there’ll be time for Q&A. Whether for yourself or someone you love, you’ll leave feeling more informed and empowered.
Speakers:
• Beccie McMillan: Marketing Communications and Community Engagement Officer, Centennial Park
• Legal expert (TBC)
A Yarn from Country: Spirit, Culture, and Care Fireside Chat | 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm
Come into this yarning circle between Catherine Ooi and Cindy Paardekooper, a proud Kokatha woman. This yarn will explore Cindy’s journey of founding a national First Nations palliative care organisation, the unique care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and cultural perspectives on death, dying, and the spirit’s journey. Our circle welcomes and invites you to join us in a gentle, respectful sharing.
Yarn Weavers:
• Cindy Paardekooper: Founding Director of the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Palliative Care Association (NATSIPCA)
• Catherine Ooi: Chairman, Pure Land Home Hospice
Behind The Scenes Of A Modern Funeral: Insights From A Funeral Director | 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm
Step into the reality of contemporary funerals in this open sharing session with a Funeral Director. From caring for the body and managing logistics to navigating family dynamics and creating meaningful ceremonies, Darren gently lifts the veil on what truly happens after someone dies. Whether you’re grieving, planning ahead, or simply curious, this honest conversation invites your questions and offers clarity, empowerment, and a deeper understanding of one of life’s most profound passages.
Speaker:
• Darren Lewis, Funeral Director, Farrell & O’Neill Funerals
WORKSHOPS
Advance Care Planning: Made Simple | 9.00 am – 10.00 am
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is about making sure your values, wishes, and preferences are known—so that if you’re ever unable to speak for yourself, others can act with clarity and confidence on your behalf. This free workshop will guide you through what Advance Care Planning involves, how to get started, and why it matters—for both you and your loved ones. You’ll learn how to choose a substitute decision-maker, document your choices, and differentiate between key documentation and what they are meant to do.
Facilitator:
• Jan McGregor, CEO, Pure Land Home Hospice
Important:🔔 Please bring pen(s) and be seated well before session begins.
Writing Through Loss: Grief in Poetry Workshop | 10.30 am – 12.00 pm
In this gentle and expressive workshop, you’ll be guided to explore your grief through the healing power of poetry. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or simply curious, this is a space to give shape to what can feel unspeakable. Using simple prompts and reflective pauses, we’ll write from the heart — honouring memory, love, and all that remains. No experience needed, just a willingness to show up with your story.
Facilitator:
• Michael Ladd, professional poet
Important:🔔 Please bring pen(s) and be seated well before session begins.
Workshop by Palliative Care South Australia | 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm
Meeting Room 3
Drawing From Stillness: Charcoal Still Life Workshop Workshop | 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm
Join us for a contemplative still life drawing workshop using charcoal at the SA Death Festival. Guided by a Nicola Semmens a very skilled South Australian artist, you’ll explore the quiet beauty of impermanence through simple forms and shadows. No experience needed—just a willingness to slow down, observe, and reflect. All materials provided.
Facilitator:
• Nicola Semmens, landscape & still Life artist, Collective Haunt.
Please be seated well before session begins. All materials supplied.
MEDITATION SESSIONS
Stillness in the Shifting: A Meditation on Impermanence | 9.00 am – 10.00 am
In a world of constant change, how do we find peace? This guided meditation offers a gentle invitation to sit with the truth of impermanence — the rising and falling of all things. Together, we will explore how the awareness of change can soften resistance, deepen presence, and open the heart to what truly matters. Through breath, silence, and reflection, you’ll be supported to rest in the spaciousness beneath life’s transitions — cultivating acceptance, clarity, and calm amidst uncertainty. All welcome, no experience needed.
Guide:
• Janne Graham, Meditation Leader, Buddha House
Important:🔔 meet at Info Desk at 8.45am to be taken to the Meditation Tent. Please do not bring yoga mats, we will provide meditation cushions if you would like to sit on the floor or chairs. We regret that we are unable to admit latecomers into the tent.
Awareness of Death: A Buddhist Teaching & Meditation On Living With Meaning | 11.00 am – 12.00 pm
In Buddhism, reflecting on death is not morbid—it is a powerful way to awaken to the value of this precious human life. This inspiring teaching and guided meditation invites us to turn toward the reality of death—not to create fear, but to inspire clarity, presence, and a deeper appreciation of life. Rather than turning away, we learn to meet death with wisdom, exploring the truths we often avoid and allowing space to consider what truly matters. This session offers a quiet and supportive atmosphere to live with greater purpose, sincerity, and alignment with our deeper values. No experience needed—just a willingness to listen inward.
This session comprises of one teaching session and one meditation session.
Guide:
• Venerable Tenzin Chodron: Tibetan Buddhist Nun, Teacher, Social Worker and Patron of Pure Land Home Hospice. Venerable Tenzin Chodron has extensive experience in end-of-life care through her work with Karuna Hospice Services in Queensland.
Important:🔔 meet at Info Desk at 10.45am to be taken to the Meditation Tent. Please do not bring yoga mats, we will provide meditation cushions if you would like to sit on the floor or chairs. We regret that we are unable to admit latecomers into the tent.
Awakening the Heart: A Compassion Meditation | 1.30 pm – 2.30 pm
Meditation Tent: meet at front desk at 1.15 pm
In a world that often feels overwhelming, this gentle meditation offers a space to reconnect with the innate compassion within us. Rooted in Buddhist practice and adapted for all, this session will guide you to open your heart — first to yourself, then to others — through a series of simple visualisations and breath-based techniques.
Whether you’re grieving, supporting someone through loss, or simply seeking more kindness in your daily life, this is a chance to cultivate warmth, resilience, and connection. No experience needed — just a willingness to be present.
Guide:
• TBC
Important:🔔 meet at Info Desk at 10.45am to be taken to the Meditation Tent. Please do not bring yoga mats, we will provide meditation cushions if you would like to sit on the floor or chairs. We regret that we are unable to admit latecomers into the tent.
3.00 pm – 4.00 pm -
Guide:
• TBC
Important:🔔 meet at Info Desk at 10.45am to be taken to the Meditation Tent. Please do not bring yoga mats, we will provide meditation cushions if you would like to sit on the floor or chairs. We regret that we are unable to admit latecomers into the tent.
DEATH CAFES
Death Cafés are a well known global movement that brings together people from all walks of life to explore thoughts, fears, and questions about dying and living. Led by Pure Land Home Hospice’s trained Death Café facilitators, these informal gatherings help break the silence around death and build connection in a safe, respectful setting. Pull up a chair for an open, gentle conversation about death — no agenda, no lecture, just honest sharing with each other over coffee and biscuits. All are welcome.
Session 1: 10:30am – 12pm hosted by Ben Buttfield and Mary McCloud
Session 1, Tent 1 – Hosted by Ben Buttfield
Time: 10.30am – 12.00pm
Session 1, Tent 2 – Hosted by Mary McCloud
Time: 10.30am – 12.00pm
Session 2: 1:00 pm – 2:30pm hosted by Barbaba Bins and Carolyn Rowe
Session 2, Tent 1 – Hosted by Barbara Binns
Time: 1.00 – 2.30pm
Session 2, Tent 2 – Hosted by Carolyn Rowe
Time: 1.00 – 2.30pm
Session 3: 2:45pm - 4:15pm hosted by Nynke van der Burg and Helen Roberts
Session 3, Tent 1 – Hosted by Nynke van der Burg
Time: 2.45 – 4.15pm
Session 3, Tent 2 – Hosted by Helen Roberts
Time: 2.45 – 4.15pm
BEHIND THE SCENES
Info Desk | 9.00am | 11:00am | 2.00 pm | 45 minutes
Join the friendly Centennial Park team for a relaxed but highly informative behind the scenes tour of the Jubilee Complex, receiving area, Living Legacy Forever Flowers Garden and crematorium.
A motorised buggy will be provided for your comfort, however there are some stairs and walking required.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to gain valuable insight into the inner workings of Centennial Park. Ask questions and learn how we provide dignified care for the departed and their loved ones.
Three tours are available with a limit of 15 people per tour. Meet us at the SA Death Festival Info Desk 5 minutes before, located at the Jubilee Complex Forecourt.
To book please go to : https://bit.ly/3TX3QeP
GARDEN COMMUNITY EVENTS
The Roaming Stoic Philosopher Info Desk | 10.00 am to 11:30 am OR 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm
What does the ancient stoics have to say about life and death? Our Roaming Stoic Philosopher Joseph Hass offers reflections on impermanence, courage, and what it means to live and die well—especially when time is short. Bringing the teachings of Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius into modern everyday moments, Joseph will lead you on a walk amidst tombstones and trees, to converse the way the Ancients did it, surrounded by nature, tombstones, and the circle of life.
Guide:
• Joseph Hass, Communication Specialist & Stoic
Book session 1 here: 10.00am – 11:30am
Register Here
Book session 2 here: 1.30 pm – 3.00 pm
Register Here
Important:🔔 This is a roaming session, so we don’t know where our Stoic Philosopher will take you. Please be at Info Desk 10 minutes before the session starts. Light walking on uneven gravel and sitting on the ground may be required; please dress comfortably.
Lunchtime Picnic & The Adelaide Threshold Singers 12:00pm - 1:00pm in the garden
Join us for a relaxed community picnic in the gardens. Bring your own spread or pre-order a delicious picnic box from Blanco, Centennial Park’s wonderful café and catering company—these were a hit last year and save time lining up at the café. Wildflowers café will also be open from [insert time] with an array of lunchtime favourites and sweet treats, and for a quick coffee or cake, pop into the Jubilee Complex.
While you picnic under the trees, enjoy live music from The Adelaide Threshold Singers, performing from 12:00 – 1:00pm in the garden. Their gentle, harmony-based songs offer comfort and presence to those navigating grief, dying, or simply seeking stillness.
You can also wander through the market stalls, witness a natural shrouding demonstration, and connect with community in a warm and welcoming space.
Natural Shrouding Demonstrations - A Gentle, Earth-Honouring Death Ritual Demos take place at 10:30 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm, & 3:30 pm in the garden
Be a part of the sacred beauty of a natural shrouding demonstration—an ancient, simple, and deeply respectful way of preparing a body after death. These interactive demonstrations offer a hands-on look at how we can care for our loved ones using gentle cloth, intention, and presence. Whether you’re curious, preparing, or just exploring alternatives to modern funeral practices, this is a powerful demonstration on intimacy, love and devotion, physically expressed.
Facilitated by the Natural Death Advocacy Network & Australian Home Funeral Alliance.
Important:🔔 No registration required. Please consult Info Desk or one of our Volunteers for exact location
The SA Death Festival is proudly supported by
The Art of Dying
An exhibition bought to you by Pure Land Home Hospice
