End of Life as Catalyst
Open House Melbourne’s Catalyst Podcast series looks at themes or issues that act as catalysts for creative design thinking and clever design solutions. Joining Open House Melbourne Executive Director and Chief Curator, Tania Davidge, each episode features a designer or creative in conversation with a client or field expert to unpack the topic through the lens of design and the built environment.
In this episode, we are looking at the End of Life as a Catalyst for the design of palliative care facilities.
What impact can good design have on spaces focused on the end of life?
This Catalyst Conversation will consider the design of the places in which we might die and reflect on how we can live a good life, right up until the end. It will look at what it means to die with dignity and address how we can help our loved ones to lead the conversation, allowing them agency at the end of life.
Listen in your favourite podcast app:
Spotify • Apple Podcasts
Dr Mark Boughey, Director of Palliative Medicine at St. Vincent’s Hospital
Mark has oversight of the Centre’s education programs, as well as supervising a broad range of palliative services, research and education in his dual roles at the Centre and at St Vincent’s Hospital. He is also involved in service development on a local, state and national level as Chair and Clinical Lead of the Victorian Palliative Care Network. Mark is involved in the International Collaborative for Best Care of the Dying Person, and Chairs both the Renal Supportive Care Pathway Working Group and the Victorian Aboriginal Palliative Care Collaborative. Nationally, Mark is the immediate past president of the Royal Australian College of Physicians Chapter of Palliative Medicine, and has mentored emerging palliative medicine leaders in less developed countries through the International Palliative Medicine Leadership Development Initiative.
Rebecca is an architect and academic whose research explores the ways that architecture embodies care by examining lived experiences and perceptions of care environments; and the processes through which architects design and deliver curative environments. She recently completed a three-year Australian Research Council funded study on Designing for Palliative Care, during which she interviewed patients, family members, medical staff, architects, hospital administrators and government clients involved in the delivery of palliative care facilities. She has been invited to speak on this work internationally, and to consult on the new Design Guide for Palliative Care currently under draft by the Australian Health Infrastructure Alliance.
The Catalyst Podcast series was recorded at The Push, Collingwood Yards. The Push is a youth music organisation and charity with the purpose of giving every young person the opportunity to participate and thrive in Australian music. Over three decades The Push has supported millions of young people with access to contemporary music programs and events.
Produced with the assistance of the Alastair Swayn Foundation. Find out more at alastairswaynfoundation.org
