DED - Accessing the AHFA Archive: Creating Rituals of Dress and Death with Dr Pia Interlandi

Over the past few years, the Australian Home Funeral Alliance (AHFA) has hosted a series of powerful community presentations exploring themes such as after-death body care and preparation, legal rights and responsibilities, ritual, emotional support, and the quiet reclaiming of home-based funerals in contemporary Australia.

Join us for a shared viewing and reflection session, as we watch Dr Pia Interlandi’s presentation Creating Rituals of Dress and Death, drawn from the AHFA archive.

“Through her practice, Garments for the Grave, Pia designs rituals that honour the dead through the act of dressing. She co-creates garments with people who are dying, and supports families in dressing their loved ones after death. As an academic, she researches and teaches on the materials and materiality of death, disposal, decomposition, and dispersion.” (AHFA event listing)

This session offers a gentle and practical window into the world of after-death body care, ritual, and family-led funerals.

You don’t need any special knowledge or experience—just a quiet curiosity and a willingness to explore what’s possible when we bring death back home.

As always, there will be tea and cake to accompany the conversation.

Thank you to the Australian Home Funeral Alliance for generously sharing access to this resource. To explore more recordings from the archive in your own time, visit ahfa.org.au.

Content and trigger warning: This session includes reference to death and decomposition, and specifically mentions miscarriage, suicide, and animal death.
____________________________________
Death Education and Discussion (DED) sessions take place on the first Saturday of March, May, July, September and November in 2025 and are an opportunity to tackle the topic of death from different angles. All sessions are respectful, curious, and may include creative elements.

If you have the time and means, please bring some cake or another tasty morsel to share with the group.

These in-person events take place at Darwin Community Arts on Travers Street in Coconut Grove, Darwin. Come and join the conversation about this inevitable part of life in a supportive and welcoming environment.
____________________________________
Please be advised the sessions are not intended as professional therapy or grief counselling. If you need this support please reach out to professionals equipped to give you the support you need. Lifeline 13114, Beyond Blue Webchat, or Amber NT for support in grief after the death of a child.
____________________________________

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this open to everyone?

This event is open to everyone who wants to learn more about end of life and some of the things we can do to support ourselves and loved ones at end of life. We welcome people who wish to contribute to proactive and supportive conversations around death and dying.

Is there a cost?

Attendance for these sessions is free. There will be tea, coffee and water available. If you have the time and means to contribute by bringing a shared plate for afternoon tea that would be welcome.

Is there a limit on how many people can attend?

Due to the nature of the conversation, and the size of the venue, we can accommodate up to 25 people.

Who are the presenters?

Presenters, panel members, or facilitators will change each month. Some months we will have presenters who have worked in the end of life space, and other months will include people with a deep interest in end of life conversations and raising death awareness in the community.

What is the format of the sessions?

The sessions will vary each month but as a general guide the first 10 - 15 minutes will be meet and greet followed by a 50 - 60 minute presentation. There will be time afterwards for people to stay and do a practical and/or arts based activity based on the presentation.

Do I need to be artistic to attend?

Not at all. Whilst we are holding the sessions at Darwin Community Arts the core intention of the sessions is to raise our collective death awareness in the community. Some months we will have more arts based sessions but these are guided sessions and everyone and every artistic ability is supported.

Title photo of shed snakeskin from bush walk around Lake Bennett. Photographer Anneke Barnes.