FUNDING OUTCOMES FROM THE GOOD DEATH IMPACT NETWORK Part 2: Good2Go Festival

By Shanna Provost & Lauren Anseline

Big change often starts small through community grassroots activities. One of GDIN’s systemic change levers is ‘Fund for Outcomes’ which recognises that often these grassroots initiatives don’t attract the attention of big funders, yet they can be the catalyst for ripples that eventually cause systemic shifts.

Allocating funds for projects each year is part of GDIN’s Innovation Fund, a process of participatory granting where GDIN members present their ideas to the members of the network. The network then discusses the potential of each idea to align to GDIN’s principles, systemic levers, and purpose. Instead of external funders determining priorities, this deliberative process invites the members – those who live and work within the sector’s realities, challenges and opportunities – to directly influence what gets funded. This process is not just about giving out funds. It’s a practice of connection, transparency, collaboration, and relational trust which is the culture the network wants to grow in the end-of-life sector.

In 2024, one of the Innovation Fund’s supported projects was the ‘Good2Go Festival’, a pilot series of workshops designed and facilitated by GDIN member Rose Sexton.

Good2Go Festival: Using creativity to catalyse conversations

Co-funded by GDIN and Murray PHN, the Good2Go Festival – hosted by the Good2Go Project – invited community members to explore death and dying in creative ways with the goal of increasing conversations about death. Held in Wangaratta and Beechworth, the festival used the arts to open conversations, rather than relying on information-heavy talks, helping people move beyond their rational mind and into an experience.

Festival activities included art therapy, comedy, death cafes, the screening of Films 1 & 2 of the ‘When You Die’ film series, plus a three-part information series on death and dying.

While the initial festival occurred in 2024, in 2025, it has continued to gain momentum as the collective has grown, expanding into Albury/Wodonga, and establishing a regular Death Café in Wangaratta, as well as similar events across the region. Two afternoon events as part of the Good2go expos were hosted in Albury and Wangaratta.

The most powerful stories were seen in moments of connection for participants. Festival coordinator, Rose Sexton recalls:

“An elderly German couple who had no relatives and no internet found their way to a death cafe. I was so glad they came as they were so vulnerable in their situation. Another person attending the death cafe was part of the conversation, sharing their vulnerability in grief. When I stepped away for a moment she continued to inform and support the couple as a natural part of the conversation. This was wonderful to see: the power of connection and shared experience.” 

The facilitators saw ‘beautiful evidence of networking stronger together as a collective with a shared response to increasing Death Literacy. Making a difference through a shared delegation and support.’

What’s next: building a local collective

The festival ended up sparking a community-led group called the Good2Go Collective, a network of local practitioners that includes death doulas, funeral directors, a house de-clutterer, and a probate consultant. Members meet regularly to support one another and their wider community.

The Collective plans to expand their activities with information and presentations on topics there is community interest in, such as Advance Care Planning, and Voluntary Assisted Dying. The growing momentum allows the Collective to host a range of events across the year, such as death cafes and involvement in the Seniors Festival, with a 5-date tour of a one-woman show called “Swedish Death Cleaning vs. EVERYTHING (the Shed) in Adelaide in late October. You can book for this tour here.

Are you interested in connecting with Good2Go? Reach out to Rose Sexton for more information.

In our next article, we’re spotlighting the Carked It! game, a GDIN-funded and award-winning game designed to raise death literacy designed by Simon Lowe.