Eurobodalla Shire Council is taking steps to empower its community to live and die well.
Over the past three months, the Council asked community members to contribute their shared experiences of death and dying as part of the Healthy End of Life Project (HELP).
The research project was conducted in collaboration with La Trobe University and Palliative Care NSW and funded by COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW Public Health Network.
Council’s Community Care Manager, Sally Pryor said 230 community members were involved in the survey and shared personal experiences that were “very moving”.
“We’re so grateful that members of our community were willing to open up about this tender subject so others could benefit in the future,” Ms Pryor said.
Following community sessions, an agency mapping workshop and a successful survey, the greatest need identified was for a people and their loved ones to feel supported during such a critical time, she said.
Ms Pryor says the Council’s Community Directory, located on its website, was the perfect platform to include a Healthy End of Life category to a list of supporting services.
Council gave the go-ahead to add the new category as the first step to assist residents, she said.
“The community directory category is just one small way we can help people experience a healthy end of life.”
The End of Life category will go live later this year, with the potential to list more than 50 support services that were identified during the HELP workshop.
