Australia death literacy report shows widespread lack of end-of-life preparedness

The 2026 National Death Literacy and Readiness Report indicates that a significant portion of the Australian population is unprepared for the death of loved ones. Findings show that 48 per cent of Australians have not prepared a will, while 54 per cent are unaware of how to access palliative care.

Further data reveals that 63 per cent of respondents do not know the necessary steps to take if someone dies at home, and 58 per cent are unfamiliar with the required paperwork for death planning. Additionally, only 23 per cent have documented their end-of-life wishes in an advance care directive, and just 11 per cent have addressed the management of online assets.

Dr. Kerrie Noonan, Director of the Death Literacy Institute, noted that while experiencing death is common, many people lack the literacy to navigate it. Experts suggest that discussing end-of-life wishes before a crisis occurs can alleviate the emotional burden on families. Senior project officer Holly Smith emphasized that as Australia's population ages, improving death literacy and end-of-life care capacity must become a national priority.