Purpose
Every person, every family and every community in the South West of Western Australia knows what to do when someone is caring, dying or grieving.
Every person, every family and every community in the South West of Western Australia knows what to do when someone is caring, dying or grieving.
Vision
Our local communities are death literate, socially connected and can take practical actions to
care for each other in illness, death and grief.
Our local communities are death literate, socially connected and can take practical actions to
care for each other in illness, death and grief.
Mission
We are socially connected as we age (building and drawing upon formal and informal networks).
We provide spaces and opportunities where it is ok for people to talk about illness, death and grief.
We create a culture where it is ok to ask for, and offer, help.
We place a person and their naturally occurring networks at the centre.
People's end of life wishes are known and supported in a way that is right for them.
Supporting diversity, recognising old traditions and new ways of doing things.
We take an assets/strengths based community development approach that involves acknowledging / activating what already is present and building from there.
We support co-operation between formal services and the community, with the conductor being community members.
We are socially connected as we age (building and drawing upon formal and informal networks).
We provide spaces and opportunities where it is ok for people to talk about illness, death and grief.
We create a culture where it is ok to ask for, and offer, help.
We place a person and their naturally occurring networks at the centre.
People's end of life wishes are known and supported in a way that is right for them.
Supporting diversity, recognising old traditions and new ways of doing things.
We take an assets/strengths based community development approach that involves acknowledging / activating what already is present and building from there.
We support co-operation between formal services and the community, with the conductor being community members.
Meet Our Team
We are a group of positive, proactive people who want to make a difference!
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Professor Samar Aoun
Co-founder and Committee Chair Click here to learn more about About Professor Aoun
Samar Aoun is professor of palliative care, public health palliative care unit, la Trobe university, Victoria and the Perron institute for neurological and translational science, Perth, western Australia. She is a palliative care researcher with a public health approach and a focus on under-served population groups such as people with motor neurone disease, dementia, terminally ill people who live alone and family carers before and after bereavement. Samar advocates for a person-centred health and social care. Her research programs on supporting family carers at end of life and the public health approach to bereavement care have informed policy and practice at the national and international levels. Her recent work on social models in bereavement support has provided empirical evidence to strengthen the compassionate communities approach in bereavement support. She co-founded the south west compassionate communities network in 2018. 
Kate CrossCommittee Member
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT Kate
I have lived in the South West since about 1973 and returned to work in Bunbury after completing my Registered Nurse training in Perth in 1986. Since then I have continued to work in the WA Health system in as a clinician and manager and leader largely in roles based in Bunbury and related to Country WA. I have completed a Bachelor of Nursing Degree and Graduate Diplomas in Health Service Management and Emergency Health. I am really interested in improving access to care closer to home and improving health outcomes and health equity. The compassionate communities approach provides communities (and individuals and families) with a way of building resilience, connection and capacity, something that is very much needed; it also acknowledges the significant role that communities play in supporting people to live their best life and empowering people to maintain and improve their physical and mental health. |
Leanne O`Shea
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Taryn BarrettMarketing and Promotion
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT Taryn
I am the community relations officer for leading South West funeral home, William Barrett and Sons, and a former journalist, public relations officer and mother of three boys. In recent years, I have relished being a part of the important movement to foster more community support for those who are dying but also for those who are grieving. A big part of this is demystifying death and getting more people talking openly about end-of-life planning. For this reason, we welcome people into our funeral home for tours, community education sessions and fun community events such as movie nights and morning teas for charity. Since having my youngest son Connor in 2015 who has Cystic Fibrosis, I have also become an advocate for WA-based charity Conquer Cystic Fibrosis and organ donation. In 2017 I was honoured to receive the Cystic Fibrosis Australia Advocacy Award which was presented by the Governor General of Australia for advocating for the placement of breakthrough medicines on the PBS. I am about to embark on further study in the field of education and hope this knowledge will assist me in supporting ongoing community efforts to increase death literacy among children. I am also married to Adrian Barrett, a funeral director with more than two decades experience who is currently serving as the national President of the Australian Funeral Directors Association. We certainly have a busy lives but we value our connection with the South West Compassionate Communities Network and look forward to seeing what can be achieved by this passionate team of individuals in the years to come. 
Jocelyn (Jo) RobinsonTreasurerClick here to learn more about JO
Jocelyn (Jo) Robinson: BEd(Prim) GradDipCouns. I have been a Bunbury resident for the past 18 years, and for the past two years have provided the community with a suicide bereavement group called Shining Hope WA. As a Counsellor, mother, friend and community member I have been touched deeply by suicide and loss, and therefore have made it my life-mission to care for those who have also suffered in this way. When I’m not working as a Counsellor, or either of my other roles such as Admin/Office worker, and Car Detailer, I am volunteering my time as a Breakfast Club Coordinator to Primary School aged children, training and coaching netball, and assisting members from Shining Hope WA. |
Luke Fuller
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Lisa Miles
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Shelley O'Brien
Dying to Know Day Click here to learn more about Shelley
I was born and grew up in Busselton, living elsewhere around the state before returning with my family in 2002 to settle near my extended family including my now 85 year old mother. My work roles have included working as a registered nurse in Prisons and Community Health. I have also worked in several roles in Suicide Prevention Coordination, as well as being a trainer in suicide intervention and awareness. These roles have bought me into regular contact with people who are experiencing grief and loss as well as people who are considering ending their life. Recently I have semi retired to be more available for my family members and to enjoy more volunteer work. I have an interest in improving community support for those experiencing end stages of life and also improving the way that we talk about and approach dying, as an inevitable stage of living. Shelley O’Brien Mobile: 0438381790 |
Our Working Team
“Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.” – Helen Dyer
It is not without these amazing assistance of volunteers that we cannot operate and succeed. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to these wonderful persons:
- Jeni Henderson
- Hannah Claire
- Michelle Stayt
- Claire O’Berry
- Emma Evans