In today’s Guest Blog, we are delighted to hear from John Adams about his recent visit to Australia where he was continuing his journey to open up the conversation around death, dying and bereavement and to promote international collaboration to inspire local change.
This September, I was fortunate to spend just over a week in Australia, continuing the journey of breaking the silence around death, dying, and bereavement. Four days in Brisbane and four in Sydney. I met with funeral directors, recorded new episodes of Death: A Changing Industry, and spoke at the ACCA conference that reinforced just how global the movement for bereavement education has become.
Listening and Learning in Brisbane
My time in Brisbane was spent visiting funeral directors and recording podcasts for Death: A Changing Industry (DACI) from within their funeral homes and Crematoria. These conversations were deeply insightful, exploring the challenges they face, the cultural shifts shaping Australian funerals, and how, despite the geographical distance, many of the issues mirror those we’ve seen in the UK. The word that kept coming up was ‘experience’ and how a funeral directors role is not just about providing a funeral, but how our profession care for the bereaved in a consistent manner throughout the contact we have. I am excited to see where the journey starts and ends as I see this moving over time.
What stood out most was the desire for greater openness, a collective will to help society engage more honestly with death and grief. It’s a theme I’ve seen grow stronger across every country I’ve visited.
Speaking at the ACCA Conference
The trip then took me to Sydney, where I had the privilege of addressing the Australian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association (ACCA) conference; an organisation that supports cemetery and crematorium professionals across the country, they work in collaboration, through innovation, and show the highest standards of care.
My presentation, titled “Beyond the Silence,” focused on the recent landmark announcement in England that will see grief and bereavement education included in the national curriculum from September 2026. I reflected on the journey to reach that point, from my time as National President of the National Association of Funeral Directors to the campaign’s success and what it means for society for now and the future.
It was heartening to see how deeply the message resonated. Following the conference, steering groups have already been established in Australia to explore how bereavement awareness could be introduced into their own education systems, a powerful example of how international collaboration can inspire local change on levels.
Conversations That Matter
During my time in Sydney, I was honoured to interview several remarkable individuals for DACI, including Asha Dooley, President of Funerals Australia, who offered insight into the evolving standards and expectations within the profession. I also sat down with Olivia Murray, a passionate advocate who has spoken in the Australian Parliament about introducing bereavement education into schools. She is only 15 years of age and attended the interview with her Father, Philip, who is also a funeral director. I believe Olivia will become a leading voice in this space for her nation – her dedication and compassion are remarkable.
Looking Ahead: From Australia to New Zealand
The next chapter of this campaign will take place in Auckland, New Zealand, where I’ve been invited to speak at the New Zealand Funeral Directors Association Conference in February 2026. There, I’ll continue the conversation on how we prepare the next generation, not just for loss, but for compassion, kindness, and understanding.
With the curriculum changes beginning in September 2026, my role in the lead up is to help build reassurance within our society: reminding people that education about death isn’t morbid, it’s true empowerment and for me liberating. This is how we can help instil kindness and compassion into our communities. This is not just for young people – these young people will eventually become adults and will then have some basic tools in knowing how to show up.
Continuing the Conversation
This November, I was also invited to speak on BBC Songs of Praise, reflecting on the campaign’s journey, the role of funeral directors within society, and how faith and compassion helped bring reassurance to my own family following the loss of my late mother, Maria.
Moments like these remind me that the work we do, whether in a classroom, a funeral home, or a television studio, all stems from one shared purpose: helping people to feel less alone.
About the Author:
John Adams is a fourth-generation Funeral Director, Past President of the National Association of Funeral Directors, and Funeral Industry Advisor to Child Bereavement UK. He is the host of the podcast “Death: A Changing Industry” and an advisor to whiteballoon. His campaign to include bereavement awareness within the English curriculum led to a landmark government announcement in July 2025.
Link to DACI Podcast: DACI – YouTube
Link to Legacy Share: Legacyshare – Enabling Important Conversations
Link to BBC News Landmark Announcement: Bridgnorth man credits grief education campaign to mum’s death – BBC News