Courageous Conversations: Living With Clarity & Honesty
Sunday 23 August 2026 | 10:30 AM
Currumbin
Join us for a meaningful and uplifting community event designed to open hearts, spark important conversations, and support one another.
Join us for a warm, welcoming community gathering as part of Dying to Know Day activites, a national day to inspire Australians to talk about death, dying, and what matters most in life.
This free, family-friendly event brings together our Gold Coast community to have the conversations that truly count.
What to expect
- Honest discussions about life, wishes, and what matters most
- Support and guidance for newly diagnosed individuals and their loved ones
- A safe and welcoming space to explore:
- What do you want to do before you die?
- What does living well look like for you?
- Practical tools to help create space for open, courageous conversations
Our panellists
- Diego Dominguez survived the September 11 attacks in New York. He will share how walking so close to death has shaped the way he lives, loves and thinks about what matters most.
- Femke Romeijn, social worker, counsellor, educator and AASW Accredited Supervisor, Clarity Collective, will weave her lived experience with practical tools we can all use to open honest conversations.
- Lyn Berger, social worker and grief and bereavement coordinator, will explore grief and loss through a trauma informed lens, and the work of creating safety for one another.
- Carol Peach will reflect on what courageous conversations mean to her, in her personal life and in her work supporting communities to age well and die well.
- Mariza Bray, registered counsellor and founder of Flyhome Counselling, specialises in palliative care, serious illness, grief and bereavement. She is also a ceramic artist. Mariza will speak to the emotional, social and spiritual dimensions of illness and loss, and to her belief that courageous conversations are not about death, they are about life and everything that still matters.
Human Library
Ever wanted to sit with someone who truly understands? Our Human Library invites you to borrow a person, a real human with a real story, and have an intimate, honest conversation about what it means to live courageously. Each "book" offers a unique lived experience, perspective, or wisdom around life, death, and everything in between. Come curious. Leave changed.
Family-friendly activities
This is an inclusive event for all ages!
- Arts-based activities designed to explore life, memory, and what matters most
- Face painting for children
- Warm, supportive environment for families and friends
Conversations about life and death don’t have to be frightening, they can be empowering, connecting, and deeply meaningful.Let’s come together to support one another in living fully, with clarity, courage, and compassion.
Whether you're curious, seeking support, or wanting to connect, we invite you to join us.
Start the conversation. Share what matters. Live fully.
Getting there
Consider using public transport or active travel. Plan your trip with Translink's journey planner.
Parking may be limited. For metered parking, use the EasyPark app to start, end, and extend your parking direct from your phone to avoid fines. For more information visit City of Gold Coast's Parking page.