Death has been a presence throughout my life, shaping how I see the world and my place within it. From an early age, I found myself drawn to questions about mortality, what it means to die, where we go, and how we navigate the sacred transitions at the end of life. These questions deepened over time as I witnessed loss in many forms, leaving me with a lasting awareness of death’s impact and the silence that often surrounds it. While death is a universal experience, the ways we approach it differ across cultures, revealing rich traditions, rituals, and understandings of life’s final chapter.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the edges, the places where life and death meet. Whether by coincidence or something more profound, I have found myself present during significant transitions, bearing witness to the beauty and complexity of these moments. These experiences have taught me that life and death move together- one can’t exist without the other. And when we face death honestly, with a heart willing to hold both the pain and the beauty, we open ourselves to deeper love, fiercer living, and a tenderness that lingers long after we’re gone.
My journey has been guided by death, education, and advocacy—three threads that have profoundly shaped my values, my work, and the way I connect with others. For more than two decades, I’ve worked as an educator in schools, universities, and alternative learning spaces. Along the way, I’ve also supported people through roles in drug and alcohol services, mental health care, human trafficking prevention and rehabilitation, and homeless shelters. After more than a decade living and working within diverse cultures around the world, I’ve come to see how communities honour both death and life through quiet rituals, elaborate ceremonies, and joyful, reverent celebrations.
As an educator, I work to embed death literacy and related curricula within secondary schools and community settings, recognising the importance of making these conversations accessible to all. Alongside this, I’m particularly focused on raising awareness and contributing to broader dialogue around end-of-life care for marginalised and underrepresented communities. Underpinning it all is a belief that every life—regardless of circumstance—deserves dignity, compassionate care, and meaningful acknowledgment at the end of life.
As a funeral celebrant, I work alongside families to craft meaningful, personalised ceremonies that honour their loved ones. As an end-of-life doula, I offer emotional support, practical guidance, and a compassionate presence for those nearing the end of life and their families. My practice is grounded in the belief that death is part of a larger continuum, a passage as much about life as it is about its ending. There is no single ‘right’ way to approach death, and I strive to meet each person where they are with care and respect.
In this work, I am honoured to be a guide, a witness, and a companion through the uncertainties of loss. I aim to hold space for those facing the end of life, to honour the stories that matter most, and to contribute to a more open, compassionate conversation about death and its place within the human experience.
We are all doing the best we can with the resources and experiences we carry. Wherever you find yourself on this journey,
I will meet you there, with an open heart and a listening ear, and no doubt, a big warm hug.
Dallas xx
Narrm, Melbourne, Australia
