DED - Advance Personal Plans - What They Are and Why you Want One.

Understand more about Advance Personal Plans (APPs) alongside Samantha Harrington, a Clinical Nurse Consultant and advocate for people to complete their APPs. 

Drawing from her extensive background in end-of-life care, Samantha will present on the vital role of APPs in navigating personal values and critical decisions at end of life, which can alleviate distress for both individuals and their families.

Having witnessed the first hand benefits of Advance Personal Planning, gain practical insights as Samantha breaks down the process of creating and implementing these plans, empowering you to take proactive steps towards your future end-of-life health and wellbeing care.

Following the presentation, you will have the chance to start work on your own APP and work with others to share ideas and find common needs.

For more details, visit Advanced Care Planning Australia and download a blank APP here.

Tea, coffee and cake will be available to accompany the conversations.
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Samantha is a Clinical Nurse Consultant who has been working with NT Health since 2002.  During this time she has worked with Renal Services as a dialysis nurse for 13yrs, until moving to a position with Territory Palliative Care in 2015 as the Rural & Remote Case Manager for Top End. Samantha has participated in various projects at a national level including;  the development of APP resources for Paediatrics and First Nations peoples, as well as advocating for improved systems to encourage uptake of APPs by ALL adults, regardless of their health status.

Samantha’s roles have taken her across all parts of the Top End, and she has 20+ years’ experience completing APPs with people from many cultural and religious backgrounds. She has witnessed first-hand the benefits of Advance Personal Planning, which has fuelled her passion for this very important topic.

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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.
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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.
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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 from DED Euphemism workshop 2024. Photographer Paz Tassone.