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Death is everyone's topic.
Let's actually talk about it.

Whether you're organising for a local council, a seniors group, a parents' evening, or a men's shed gathering - Sam brings an engaging, practical, and honestly quite funny session on death and dying to community groups across Australia.

No morbid atmosphere. No box of tissues. Just a conversation that's long overdue.

Who books community sessions
Local councils Seniors groups Families Parents groups Youth groups Men's groups Libraries Probus clubs Neighbourhood houses Community centres Carers groups Faith communities And more
Why community groups

Death is the one thing we all have in common. So why are we so bad at talking about it?

Most people go through their entire lives without a single honest conversation about death. Not because they don't think about it, but because nobody has ever created a space where it felt safe and normal to do so.

Community sessions change that. They bring people together around a topic that is genuinely universal, and they do it in a way that is warm, practical, and accessible. People leave with real things they can do differently, whether that is finally writing a Will, having a conversation with an ageing parent, or simply feeling less afraid of a subject they've been quietly carrying for years.

Sam has worked with councils, seniors groups, Probus clubs, and community organisations across Perth and beyond. She understands that community audiences are diverse, and she tailors every session to the specific group in front of her.

"Death happens to literally everyone. It's the one thing we all have in common. So why are we making it so damn hard to talk about?"

Community sessions are typically one hour, which is enough time to open the conversation, cover a topic in genuine depth, and leave people with something to take home. Workshops of half a day or more are also available for groups wanting to go deeper.

Sam also offers home visits for families who would prefer a private, in-home conversation about death and end-of-life matters.

Community consultation and discussion session
Who books community sessions

Any group. Any audience. Any death-related topic.

Community sessions are available to any group that wants to have the conversation. Below are some of the most common - but if your group isn't listed, get in touch anyway.

Local councils

Community programmes, healthy ageing initiatives, and resident engagement events. Councils have been among Sam's earliest and most consistent community partners.

Seniors and retirement groups

Probus clubs, U3A groups, retirement villages, and senior centres. Older adults often find these sessions a genuine relief - finally, a space to talk about what they think about.

Parents and families

Parenting groups, school parent evenings, and family home visits. How do you talk to your children about death? What do you say when they ask? Sam has practical answers.

Men's groups and sheds

Men's sheds, men's health groups, and social clubs. Men are statistically less likely to discuss death and grief, and more likely to benefit from a direct, practical approach.

Libraries and community hubs

Public programmes, community learning series, and special events. Libraries and community hubs have been enthusiastic early adopters of death literacy programming.

Carers and support groups

People caring for ageing parents, terminally ill partners, or others approaching end of life. These audiences often have specific, practical questions that Sam can address directly.

Youth groups

Scout groups, youth centres, and young people's organisations. Young people think about death more than adults assume, and benefit enormously from having an honest, age-appropriate space to do so.

Some of the community organisations Sam has worked with
City of Joondalup
City of Gosnells
City of Wanneroo
National Seniors Australia
Bethanie Aged Care Trinity Village: Catholic Homes Amana Living Joondalup City Probus Club U3A Perth: University of the Third Age
What we can talk about

Whatever death-related topic your group needs.

Sessions are shaped around what matters most to your audience. Below are the most commonly requested topics, but Sam can cover any death-related subject your group is interested in.

Death anxiety

What is death anxiety? Why is it so prevalent in today's society? And what can we actually do about it? One of the most requested topics across all community groups.

Difficult conversations

How and when do you explain death to a child? How do you talk to an ageing parent about what they want? What do you say to someone who is dying? Practical guidance on the conversations people avoid.

The practical basics

What happens to a body after death? What is the medical and legal process? What does decomposition look like? The factual questions people have but rarely ask.

Planning ahead

Wills, Advance Care Directives, Voluntary Assisted Dying, body disposal options, funeral arrangements. Your options, explained clearly and without the usual avoidance.

Grief and mourning

What are the different types of grief? How does grief differ across circumstances? How do people work through it? Practical and compassionate, not clinical.

History and culture

How do different Australian communities approach death? How have attitudes changed over time? Why do we avoid it so much more than previous generations did?

These are just some of the many death-related topics Sam covers. Whatever your group's specific concern, interest, or question, get in touch and Sam will design a session around it.
Formats

Flexible delivery for every kind of group.

In-person is strongly recommended for community sessions, but online delivery is available where needed. All sessions can be tailored to your group's size, setting, and level of interactivity.

Presentation

Sam's most popular community format. Engaging, direct, and interactive enough to get a room talking. Suitable for groups of any size.

Typically 1 hour, including Q&A

Workshop

A deeper, more interactive session with practical exercises, small group discussion, and time for participants to work through their own questions and circumstances.

Half day or full day

Home visit

For families who would like a private, in-home conversation about death and end-of-life planning. A warm, unhurried session in your own space.

Flexible duration, Perth metro area
Tailored to your group

The same topic, shaped for a completely different room.

A men's group and a parenting group both need to talk about death, but what they need to talk about, and how, are completely different. Sam doesn't deliver a one-size-fits-all session.

Before every booking, Sam takes the time to understand who will be in the room, what they're likely to be carrying, and what they most need to take away. The result is a session that feels like it was made specifically for that group, because it was.

Some examples
Parents group
How to talk to children about death at different ages, and what to do when a child asks a question you don't know how to answer.
Men's group
How to talk about death openly, process grief without it becoming a crisis, and have the conversations with family members they keep putting off.
Seniors group
Planning ahead, Advance Care Directives, having honest conversations with adult children, and what a good death actually looks like.
Carers group
Supporting someone who is dying, managing your own grief while caring for others, and knowing what to say and what not to say.
Families
A private home session covering whatever the family needs, whether it's planning ahead, supporting a dying family member, or simply having the conversation they've been avoiding.
Sam Waite presenting to a community group Sam Waite presenting a session on children and death
What people say
★★★★★

"In today's society we need to be open about life journey. It's Life!"

Workshop Attendee · Community Session
★★★★★

"Factual, straight up, well presented"

Workshop Participant
★★★★★

"A very good intro to death literacy. The presenter incorporated a little humour and spoke very clearly about the topic, providing a good understanding. Thank you."

Workshop Attendee

Not sure exactly what to cover? Browse all community topics →

Ready to bring the conversation to your group?

Get in touch to discuss your group's needs, check availability, or ask any questions. Sam is happy to have a no-cost conversation before any commitment is made.

Get in touch About Sam

"Don't put it off until later. Let's have the conversation now."