Benjamin James, End of Life Support

05/09/2025

Join Benjamin James, End of Life Support for The Mourning After Podcast. He’s an End-of-Life Doula, Celebrant, and Funeral Director and he invites you on his journey as he navigates the end-of-life experience from a male viewpoint. He's created heartfelt and honest conversations with community members and professionals alike.

https://www.benjaminjamesendoflife.com/themourningafterpodcast

11/08/2025

Human Composting?

In Australia, we currently have three legal options for what happens to our bodies after death: Burial, Cremation, Aquamation.

Human composting (also called natural organic reduction) is already legal in parts of the USA and gaining support worldwide. It may not be the right choice for everyone, but it offers an environmentally conscious, gentle return to the earth, and most importantly, it gives people choice.

Right now, human composting is not a legal option in NSW. That’s why a petition is before the NSW Legislative Assembly, calling for change.

If you believe in expanding end-of-life options, and are a resident of NSW please consider signing. Every signature helps.

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.

17/07/2025

Dying to know? Come along and find out.

For Dying to Know this August, there’s so much happening at Life Rites and beyond. Our team will be facilitating this beautiful “Planting your Mortality Garden” workshop at Mill Hill Centre on Sunday 3 August from 2pm-4pm, where we’ll gently explore end-of-life conversations in a safe, supportive space. Whether you’re curious about starting these important conversations or want to deepen your understanding, this is a wonderful opportunity to connect with others and learn from one another. Come along or let your friends know - these conversations matter, and we’re here to hold space for them together 🧡

Register here: https://shorturl.at/7AoKD

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN
Randwick City Council
Waverley Council
South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
Dying to Know
Life Rites Funerals
Benjamin James, End of Life Support
Kim Somerville End Of Life Doula

09/06/2025

The Masculine Response to Death and Grief: Moving Beyond the Silence 🧡
Grief doesn’t have a single face. It’s not always tears and tissues, nor is it always silence or stoicism. At Life Rites Funerals, we’ve seen that how a person grieves is as individual as their fingerprint. Yet within this diversity, there are patterns, often shaped by gender, culture, and generational narratives, that still influence how people are allowed, or expected, to express their grief.

Words by Benjamin James, End of Life Support from our latest blog for Men’s Mental Health Week, including resources for exploring grief.

Read the blog here: https://www.liferites.com.au/blog/the-masculine-response-to-death-and-grief

20/05/2025

Great to be part of community death conversations alongside Love Project - Living Older Visibly and Engaged and Life Rites Funerals.

27/03/2025

Grateful to have brought this rich workshop to life, alongside the Life Rites Funerals team.

18/02/2025

17/02/2025

Grateful to visit to ABC studio’s today and talk about The Mourning After Podcast and men’s grief with James Valentine. If you wanted to take a listen, I’m on one hour into the show.
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/sydney-afternoons/afternoons/104925530

07/02/2025

Having witnessed how death has shaped Arun Sharma’s creative path, I’m looking forward to supporting him in this next evolution of his artistry—bespoke ceramic urns, crafted for families and communities seeking a vessel that is an extension of their person.

Based in Sydney, Arun welcomes conversations with those who wish to create something deeply personal—a capsule that is not just functional, but a representation of the person it holds. A piece of art that carries presence, memory, and meaning.

If this is something that feels right for you, please drop me a message.

23/12/2024

2024 has been a huge year of growth at Life Rites Funerals 💫

We remain proudly independent, offering a unique set of services and skills. We have cared for more people this year than ever before!

Read our full year wrap-up on our blog to discover what's ahead for 2025:
https://www.liferites.com.au/blog/end-of-year-wrap-up-2024

Thank you for your support in 2024. Go gently at this time of year and we wish you a gentle and restorative time in 2025.

With love 🧡
The Life Rites team

21/12/2024

A deep honour to care for Lex and his beautiful family at Life Rites Funerals. A man who achieved so much in Australian culture and community building was able to continue teaching in his choice of a dignified death. Vale Lex.

They are down to the final minutes. The last goodbyes. And even then the humour that had glinted behind Lex Marinos’ eyes for a lifetime refuses to dull.

01/12/2024

Still time to register for this webinar, or if you can’t make it, there will be a recording available afterwards. Link in bio.

“Ben will discuss masculine grief styles and how men can respond to loss, highlighting impactful stories from various podcast episodes. He will provide practical tools, tips, and techniques to support men both in dealing with end-of-life situations and in their after-death integration back into life.”

This information session will take place on 4 December 2024 from 7pm to 8.30pm AEST.

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvce6sqDMrEtQZZnA23qwYRP9CgQ9Z_wS0 #/registration