Growing impacts
Policy & Government Impact
Death Literacy in Policy: From research to public policy
Death literacy has evolved from an Australian research concept into a framework informing public policy, health-system reform and community development internationally.
The Death Literacy Institute works with governments, health services and community organisations to translate evidence into policy, implementation and evaluation. This page documents where death literacy has influenced government strategies, policy frameworks, health-system initiatives and public health palliative care internationally.
Why policy matters
Death literacy is increasingly recognised as a measurable indicator of community capability.
Its adoption demonstrates a shift from awareness campaigns towards evidence-informed public health policy capable of measuring and strengthening community participation in end-of-life care.
Evidence of Impact
Australia
Primary Health Networks.
Local Health District implementation.
Singapore
Scotland & UK
Research
Death literacy is now an international area of public health palliative care research spanning community development, health services research, implementation science, policy, educationand evaluation.
Since first conceptualising death literacy through the Caring at End of Life (CAEOL) research program at Western Sydney University, our work has focused on understanding, measuring and strengthening the skills, experiences, action and knowledge resources that enable people and communities to support dying, caregiving, grief and bereavement.
Today, death literacy research is undertaken by universities, governments and health services across Australia, Europe, North America and Asia.
Evidence of Impact
Key publications
Noonan et al., (2016) Developing Death Literacy
Noonan et al. Progressing the Death Literacy Index: DLI-R and DLI-9.Palliative Care and Social Practice (2024).
Leonard et al. Developing a Death Literacy Index.Death Studies (2022).
Death
Policy & practice uptake
DLI adopted within Australian Government Greater Choices Program evaluation.
DLI used by PHNs, Local Health Districts and community organisations.
International reach
Independent translations and validations in Australia, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Japan, Ireland, Canada, Türkiye, China, USA and the UK.
International PhD projects and collaborative research programs.
International Death Literacy Network and biennial symposiums.