Nicole Grundy End Of Life Doula

14/09/2025

VAD & Palliative Care systems aren’t silos, the dying need the best of both worlds & together they work side by side in reducing suffering - for total personal centred care in the end of life space. I know this to be true. Xo

One of the important findings from Palliative Care Australia's 2024 National Palliative Care Workforce Survey, released at today.
VAD and palliative care go hand in hand 🤝
It's not either/or.

12/09/2025

12/09/2025

Yesterday we celebrated the launch of our campaign for reforms to Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) legislation at Parliament House, with support from the Hon Harriet Shing MP, and Minister for Health, the Hon Mary-Anne Thomas MP. We've linked the Minister for Health's video addre...

09/09/2025

Super excited to share this post as many of you will be there in person to hear from Jane & Marianne. I’m forever grateful for this pilot as it is changing the VAD landscape xo

To view the white paper & more

VAD white paper for support workers and professionals
The insights shared in this white paper offer valuable perspectives for anyone supporting or working with families impacted by VAD.

Download the full white paper to explore:

How the VAD process shapes the grief experience.
Key learnings from the Australian-first VAD support group pilot program.
Practical recommendations for improving bereavement care in the context of VAD.

https://griefline.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Supporting-bereavement-for-families-navigating-voluntary-assisted-dying-VAD_white-paper.pdf

https://griefline.org.au/get-help/vad-support-groups/

Dying With Dignity Victoria
Palliative Care Australia
Griefline

We are thrilled to be participating in the Oceanic Palliative Care Conference this week in Brisbane.

On Thursday 11 Sept, Dying With Dignity Victoria Board Member Jane Nosworthy and Griefline's Marianne Bowdler will present insights from Australia’s first VAD support group program - exploring the impact of VAD on grief and bereavement and sharing key learnings from 18 months of lived experience with families and carers.

We’re proud to contribute to the growing dialogue around compassionate, person-centred end-of-life care.

Palliative Care Australia

07/09/2025

Last year was a feast for the senses & time zone calculations ! I’m super excited to see the program line up for 2025. Basking in the festival vibe already just reading the comments xox

✨ Save the Date ✨
We’re thrilled to announce that the 5th Annual Lifting The Lid International Festival of Death and Dying will be taking place online from 14–16 November 2025 — streaming 24 hours a day across 3 days.

Now in its 5th year, this unique international festival opens up conversations around death & dying through:
🌿 Talks & discussions
🎨 Interactive workshops & craft sessions
🎶 Live music, poetry, film & performance
🌍 A diverse line-up of end-of-life carers, grief supporters, artists, writers, doctors, funeral directors, academics, change makers, and many more.

Lifting the Lid is informative, creative, joyful, fun, and life-affirming — welcoming everyone, whether you’re deeply involved in end-of-life work or simply curious.

🎟 Tickets: Accessible to all • Pay What You Can and Free tickets available • All tickets give you access to the whole weekend.

Full programme & ticket links coming soon. Stay tuned! 💜

07/09/2025

06/09/2025

Hopefully The South Library, Parliament House 11 September 2025 will be remembered as a place of compassionate conversations & debate. I will be there in support of reforms & changes to the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Act 2017. I am looking forward to this DWDV Campaign Launch with other end of End of Life Doulas, bringing such rich humanity into the space.

But more than that, the VAD community will combine to offer a place for Members of Parliament (MP) to come & visit, to discuss, question & engage in understanding the importance of these reforms & the life changing outcomes for Victorians seeking the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Act 2017 .

I know from experience allowing practitioners to initiate discussions about VAD & Extend the prognosis timeframe to 12 months for all VAD applicants will support quality of life while dying.

Dad believed he was dying, but his GP wouldn’t talk to him about VAD & his heart specialist said ‘it’s just an old ticker’

He suffered for
52 weeks
8760 hours
525600 minutes

He struggled but soldiered on until he could no more. A public hospital admission in Feb 26 2021 led Dad to request VAD & he entered the care of the navigators & began the process .
April 8, 2021 he was at peace

I’ll be there in my role at the Griefline table & I made a little biscuit takeaway as a nod to Dad & maybe it will encourage fresh convos over a cuppa xo Nic

Dying With Dignity Victoria
Griefline

, ,

02/09/2025

Driving into a gorgeous property in regional Victoria on Sunday, my eyes were treated to the most remarkable view! Troops of Kangaroos ! So many Kangaroos too many to count, many with Joeys inside & out xo

What a backdrop for a Death Caff at Home, specially created for a super group of human beings.

With fire on & a warm welcome, It was a death-style vs lifestyle Q&A, with courageous conversations shared.

Holistic funeral care & the principals of green funerals resonated with these permaculture enthusiasts as did the Values of Natural Grace Holistic Funerals Woodend.

A bag of goodies gifted & the host received a copy of The Bottom Drawer book.

I’m grateful for the invitation.

Death Caff at Home’ is not a public event. The group picks the areas of interest to them, snacks & venue & I bring the end of life doula details xo

Xo NIC

A third instalment the Dementia Deck! Looks interesting

30/08/2025

It’s true there are many end of life planners, books, wish takers & apps but for someone just starting to contemplate mortality this book is more than a note taker x

It’s a step towards death literacy & ignite curiosity. As a Doula tool it a quirky way to introduce a often polarising subject x

20/08/2025

Grief & bereavement Support
These groups are not for VAD patients they are grief support for the carers, lovers, family & friends of VAD patients.

I know they are an important offering in this unfamiliar end of life landscape xo Nicole

After Nov 2, we will have 6 States & 1 Territory with Voluntary Assisted Dying active in law and super chuffed sidled up to that will be access to VAD Grief support for the carers.

For me there is great comfort in Knowing the individuals who are walking with their dying feel supported in this end of life equation as a Doula & a daughter with a legacy x

This is a National service funded by Dying with Dignity VIC delivered by Griefline. Dying With Dignity Victoria Griefline

Let’s break it down

1
Before VAD - For individuals supporting a friend or family member choosing VAD.
Once a month - Drop in group environment / pre-vad
Not for patients

2
After VAD
For individuals seeking group support after the VAD death of a friend or family member
A closed group environment / post-vad

If you know someone who may benefit from Grief counselling & peer support as the carer, lover family & friend click on x

I’ve made little pics to refresh the message x

https://griefline.org.au/get-help/vad-support-groups/