LOCAL 'GOOD2GO' festival aimed at reshaping the narrative around death and dying will host a number of events across July and August in the North East.

The events will foster and encourage conversations around death, dying, grief and loss in an inclusive and safe space.

The events are presented by North East Funerals, Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW), Hume Region Palliative Care Consortium, Clydes on Murdoch, End Stage Matters, Mason Park Funerals and supported by funding from Murray PHN through the Australian Government’s PHN Program

Rose Sexton co-founder of End Stage Matters and member of NHW's Community Palliative Care Team said on both a local and cultural level, community members must begin to reclaim death and dying.

"By bringing it out of the shadows and sharing our experiences, we become more empowered to care for each other," she said.

“By striving for a society where death is viewed as a natural normal event we become a healthier community through the promotion of emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing, alongside the medical model.”

According to the Death Literacy Institute of Australia, only one in five people know how to navigate the health system when someone is dying or trying to access aged care.

Only one in three know how to navigate the funeral industry, only half of Australians know here to get information about palliative care and only 22 per cent of people know how to access palliative care in local communities.

Death Cafes will be held on Monday, July 8 at Clydes on Murdoch at 10am, Friday, July 19 at the Beechworth Library at 10am, Friday, June 26 at Chiltern Community Hub at 10am and Monday, August 5 at Clydes on Murdoch at 10am.

Information sessions will be held on Tuesday, July 9 at North East Funerals at 1pm discussing eco and green funerals, Thursday, July 18 at The Centre at 1pm discussing ‘advance care planning’, Thursday, July 25 at The Centre at 10am discussing ‘caring at home’ and Thursday, August 1 at The Centre at 10am discussing ‘what happens after’.

Film Screenings of ‘Live The Life You Please’ will be held on Tuesday, July 16 at The Centre at 4:30pm, Thursday, July 25 at The Lodge of St John in Beechworth at 6:30pm and Tuesday, August 6 at Respect St John at 2pm.

Expo on ‘Dying To Know Day’ will be held on Thursday, August 8 at Wangaratta Masonic Hall from 10am to 3pm, it will be a safe place to ask questions you’ve been dying to have answered by professionals.

A gala event will be held at Swanpool Cinema on Wednesday, August 7 from 6pm to 9pm, the event includes screening of ‘Live The Life You Please’, champagne and nibbles followed by a discussion panel with special guest Dr Mark Boughey, with a cost of $15.

For more information visit https://endstagematters.com/clone-of-home/good-to-go/.