Yarning your wishes

First Nations people have been caring for their dying community members for millennia. Yarning is an important part of ‘sorry business’ but before then, yarning can also help mob plan ahead for end-of-life.  

No matter what your stage of life, having honest conversations about your end-of-life wishes can be empowering. To support Aboriginal people through this process, we’ve released a new booklet, Yarning your Wishes.  

The book provides culturally appropriate, respectful and mindful information to encourage Aboriginal people to have open conversations about their rights, wishes and how to plan when circumstances change through their lives. 

The book supports yarning by prompting you to think about important questions like: 

• How can I plan ahead? 

• What medical treatment and care do I want in the future? 

• Who will make decisions for me if I can’t? 

• Who will get my stuff after I pass away?

In consultation with Aboriginal Elders, we aim to connect health services with Aboriginal wisdom when assisting and caring for those with life-limiting conditions while honouring connection with land, community, family and tradition. 

In collaboration with Central and Eastern Sydney PHN, the NSW Trustee and Guardian and Randwick Council, we brought together local mob on Dying to Know Day (8 August 2025). Community members from the Malabar area were provided with information and the opportunity to ask questions about advanced care planning and how to set up legal documents to ensure their wishes are respected at the end of their life. 

19 August 2025