“If you are old enough to make choices about your life then you are old enough to make choices about your death”

Let’s talk about death, baby!

Cark It Cafe is a safe space to talk about all things dying and death

Cark It Café is a unique take on the traditional death café—a space for open and honest conversation about death, dying, and everything in between. In a comfortable, informal setting, you’ll meet others and discuss life’s most inevitable topic over food and drink—whether it’s tea, coffee, cakes, or perhaps bubbles and nibbles.

Death cafés are not-for-profit gatherings where there’s no agenda, no set topic or theme—just a safe space for anyone to share their thoughts, experiences, or questions. It’s not a counselling session, but rather a chance to talk freely, explore your feelings, and find community in what can often feel like a lonely or uncomfortable subject.

Check out additional materials and resources Here

A Death Cafe? Where did you get this crazy idea?

Inspired by the original Café Mortel concept created by Swiss sociologist Bernard Crettaz in 2004 and later developed into the death café model by Jon Underwood and Sue Barsky Reid in 2011, death cafés have now spread across 81 countries, fostering vital conversations about death worldwide.

Jewelz Hanssens will be your guide

Jewelz is a trained death doula - that is someone who assists people and their families plan for the end-of-life. Also known as end-of-life doulas or consultants, we help with emotional support and difficult conversations during the end-of-life time.

“My journey into the world of death doula work began with my own personal experience caring for my father during his journey with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. The challenge of discussing death with him sparked a passion in me to support others in making empowered choices about their own death journeys.”

Jewelz completed her studies with LifeOptions (Denise Love) and TAFE’s Midwifing Death course in 2021.

In the first week of the death doula course, Jewelz knew that she wanted to support others to make choices about their dying time. To be there for the person, their family, and friends. Jewelz wants to bring death out of the taboo box or out of the too hard basket.

On top of her death doula work Jewelz is also a professional hula-hoop artist and performer and has been fondly referred to as the “hoola doola”.

“It was an intense time but an honour to be able to grant Dad his wish to die at home.”

The Cark It Café Twist

While following the traditional death café model of open discussion, Cark It Café brings something extra. There may feature guest speakers on various death-related themes. These events may carry a small fee, but the conversations that follow will remain open and free for all to join. Occasionally there will a Cark It Cabaret, curated by Jewelz sister Lisa Hanssens, who will be bringing you an evening of deathly delights.

“At Cark It Café, I believe there’s power in knowledge, and by bringing awareness to death, we can all approach it with more clarity, confidence, and compassion.”

Death is the only certainty we have in life, yet it remains shrouded in fear and uncertainty.

Jewelz and Cark It Café are proud to contribute to the growing death positive movement, fostering greater death literacy within communities. By normalizing conversations about death, we empower individuals to make informed choices, ultimately enhancing quality of life, well-being, and end-of-life care.