Dying to Know Day is an annual Australian initiative held on 8 August each year. The day is dedicated to encouraging open, honest, and compassionate conversations about death, dying, and bereavement. Organised by The Groundswell Project, Dying to Know Day invites individuals, families, communities, and organisations to break the silence around mortality, share end-of-life wishes, and build what the initiative calls “death literacy” across society.

What is Dying to Know Day?

Dying to Know Day is a national day of action in Australia that aims to normalise conversations about death and dying. It is based on the belief that when people can talk openly about death, they are better equipped to plan for their own end of life, support their loved ones, and engage with the healthcare and aged care systems in ways that reflect their wishes and values.

The day was inspired by the book “Dying to Know: Bringing Death to Life,” a collection of essays exploring attitudes towards death and dying. Since its establishment, Dying to Know Day has grown into a nationwide event supported by palliative care organisations, funeral services, community groups, and healthcare providers across Australia.

When is Dying to Know Day?

Dying to Know Day falls on 8 August each year. While the core day is on 8 August, events and community gatherings often extend throughout the month, with hundreds of host organisations running workshops, morning teas, film screenings, and other activities designed to open up conversations about death, dying, and grief.

Why Dying to Know Day Matters

Death is a universal human experience, yet in many modern Western societies it remains one of the most difficult subjects to discuss openly. Research in Australia has found that around 75% of people have not had end-of-life discussions with their loved ones, fewer than 10% have an advance care plan in place, and approximately 45% die without leaving a will. These figures highlight a significant gap between awareness of the importance of planning for death and taking action to do so.

The consequences of this silence can be profound. When people die without clearly expressed wishes, families are left to make difficult decisions under pressure and grief, sometimes resulting in conflict, regret, or outcomes that do not reflect what the deceased would have wanted. Healthcare professionals can also find it difficult to provide appropriate care without guidance from patients about their preferences.

Dying to Know Day addresses these issues by making conversations about death feel less daunting and more normal. The initiative promotes “death literacy,” which includes understanding what happens when someone dies, how to navigate the palliative care and aged care systems, how to have end-of-life conversations, and how to prepare legal and practical documents such as advance care directives and wills.

How to Get Involved

• Host a conversation: Invite friends, family members, or colleagues to a gathering where you can talk openly about death and dying. The Groundswell Project offers hosting resources and conversation guides.
• Complete an advance care plan: Use the day as a prompt to document your end-of-life wishes, including your preferences for medical treatment and care.
• Write or update your will: Dying to Know Day is a meaningful opportunity to put your affairs in order and ensure your wishes are legally documented.
• Attend an event: Search for Dying to Know Day events in your local community, which may include workshops, film screenings, or talks by palliative care specialists.
• Share on social media: Use the hashtag #DyingToKnowDay to raise awareness and share resources about end-of-life planning.

History of Dying to Know Day

Dying to Know Day was founded by The Groundswell Project, an Australian social enterprise focused on building community capacity around death, dying, and bereavement. The day takes its name from the book “Dying to Know: Bringing Death to Life,” edited by Andrew Denton, which brought together essays and perspectives on death from writers, palliative care experts, and everyday Australians.

The initiative has grown steadily since its inception, with participation from palliative care organisations including Palliative Care NSW, Palliative Care SA, hospices, funeral homes, libraries, and community groups across Australia. The Churchill Trust and other philanthropic bodies have supported research and community engagement around the day’s themes.

Internationally, the day connects with a broader movement of “death positive” initiatives, including the Death Cafe movement, which originated in the United Kingdom, and various advance care planning campaigns in Europe and North America.

Noteworthy Facts

• The Groundswell Project is the Australian social enterprise behind Dying to Know Day, working to build death literacy at a community level.
• An advance care directive (also called a living will or advance care plan) is a legal document that records a person’s wishes regarding medical treatment at the end of life.
• Research suggests that patients who have discussed their end-of-life wishes with their families and doctors are more likely to receive care that aligns with their preferences.
• The Death Cafe movement, which began in the United Kingdom in 2011, has hosted thousands of informal conversations about death around the world.
• August has been recognised in Australia as a month for end-of-life awareness, with multiple organisations hosting events throughout the month.

Related Awareness Days

Those interested in health and wellbeing observances may also find value in exploring National Mammography Day and other health awareness initiatives.

Hashtags

#DyingToKnowDay #DeathLiteracy #EndOfLifePlanning #AdvanceCare #GroundswellProject #TalkAboutDeath