Death Education is knowing what is essential. What must happen in death, what are the rules. This varies according to where we live, what state, what country.

It is understanding what needs to be done (practical care of the body) and what the needs are in transition - emotional, ritual, spiritual, cultural, familial.

Death Education leads to Death Literacy.

“Death literacy helps us understand and act upon our end-of-life and deathcare options” The Death Literacy Institute

In Australia and many westernised countries, our understanding of death & dying has been shaped by industrial and commercial influences.

Along the way, our personal and community grief rituals have changed.

As a result, many people now feel that death and dying are taboo topics—when, in truth, they are among the most deeply human experiences we share. To be born and to die are as natural and essential as every breath we take.

To engage with Death Education, we can first turn inward—to examine what we’ve been taught and what has been modeled for us. By exploring old narratives, we can reconnect with what feels authentic as we live through each death story in our lives.

Death walks with us through life and ideally we don’t engage in Death Education for the first time when we are faced with the death of someone we love.

Two large icebergs floating in cold ocean water with mountains in the background, under an overcast sky. Representing that when we think about death, there is much more below this that what needs to be thought about on the surface.

“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.”

Fred Rogers

  • Bonita hosts at quarterly Death Cafe at Princes Hill Community Centre in Carlton, Melbourne. Book via Events.

  • Bonita is available for 1:1 sessions online or phone and in person group settings. This can be a ‘Death over Dinner’ style or a private Death Cafe.

  • Bonita speaks with warmth, honesty and is often told she brings the ‘human’ to the topic of death & dying.

  • Bonita facilitates Death Education workshops for community groups, health & community professionals, and in many other settings. Each workshop is tailored to the group.