DED - Island of the Dead

For our final Death Education & Discussion (DED) of 2025, we invite you into a conversation about compassion, choice, ritual, and new ways of meeting death.

We’ll be joined by Heidi Grieg of KI Doula Services, who earlier this year featured in the ABC Compass episode Island of the Dead. The episode explores Kangaroo Island (known to First Nations as the Island of the Dead) and the community members embracing natural burial practices. Heidi appears as a practising death doula and funeral guide, offering a glimpse into how dying can be met with community, personal flair, and care that fosters new rituals.

Together we’ll watch Island of the Dead, followed by a live online conversation with Heidi, who will share her experiences as both a doula and the provider of a private natural burial ground on Kangaroo Island.

About Heidi
Before training as an End-of-Life Doula and funeral guide, Heidi worked for many years as an educator and advocate in mental health and disability, and has over two decades of experience as a meditation teacher. She began her career as a nurse and now also serves her local community as an Ambulance Officer. Heidi brings a calm, practical, and down-to-earth approach that honours the wishes of individuals and families, helping them experience death as an intimate, loving, and meaningful part of life.

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

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.

Image: Creative Commons - accessed from Wikicommons