Nicole Faulkner is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with over 25 years of experience. With a passion for helping individuals navigate life’s challenges, Nicole brings extensive experience in addressing a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, domestic violence, grief and loss, workplace stress, PTSD, and complex trauma. Nicole is the director and practitioner of Mindical Counselling Services in Toowoomba. www.mindicalcounsellingservices.com.au

Toni trained as a Registered Nurse at Goulburn Base Hospital in New South Wales, graduating in 1982. Over the years, she worked across many areas, including Community Health, Aged Care, Women’s Health, Palliative Care, Public Health, and hospitals. Her passion for elder care began early, earning a certificate in gerontology in 1990 and becoming a Nurse Practitioner in Aged Care in 2008. Toni was the first Nurse Practitioner focused on Aged Care and delirium in the acute hospital setting. Her research interests include delirium, dementia, and how staff knowledge of patient-centred care impacts outcomes for hospital patients with dementia. In her final years as a Nurse Practitioner, she led a community-based Dementia Outreach Service on the Gold Coast. After leaving Queensland Health in 2021, she worked as an NDIS Support Worker with people living with younger onset dementia. Since retiring in 2023, Toni continues to advocate for better dementia care and patient-focused healthcare. She is a consumer representative on her local End of Life Care working group and a founding member of a Death Expo planned for October 2025. Outside of her professional work, Toni enjoys walking, reading, and spending time with her five grandchildren.

Multiple inputs from Staff at Palliative Care QLD have been instrumental in assisting in the Expo. Shout out to: Louise O'Neill - CEO and founder of the Wish Ambulance Debbie Singh Lauren Carr Sarah Northfield - Palliative Care Team - Toowoomba Hospital www.palliativecareqld.org.au

Since the first burial at the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery in 1866, Toowoomba Regional Council have been ensuring our community members are supported through some of the most difficult times of their lives, by maintaining our Region’s cemeteries as a comforting place to mourn, reflect and reminisce. Toowoomba Regional Council endeavours to offer a range of restful interment options individualised to meet the diverse cultural needs of our beloved community. We are honoured to preserve the rich history of our Region by capturing the stories of our community members laid to rest within our cemeteries. Please contact our dedicated cemeteries team to discuss your requirements.

From Healthcare to Funeral Care: A Journey of Compassion With over two decades working in health, including many years in palliative care, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside individuals and families during some of life’s most tender and challenging times. That experience taught me the importance of presence, listening, and care that goes beyond the clinical. Now, as a funeral director, I continue that journey — supporting families as they honour and say goodbye to their loved ones. It’s a role I feel deeply connected to. I believe in creating space for grief, reflection, and love, and helping people navigate these moments with as much peace and dignity as possible. My background allows me to approach death care with empathy, understanding, and a strong belief in the value of person-centred support — both in life and after. www.burstows.com.au

Kate Kunzelmann is the Secretary of Dying with Dignity Queensland. Dying with Dignity was one of the main advocates for the Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation in Queensland. Post-legislation, Dying with Dignity Queensland seeks to educate the public about voluntary assisted dying (VAD), some of whom are not aware that VAD is now legal. Kate has a background in palliative care and hospice care, and a registered nurse for many years. She would like to contribute to public discussion of death and dying, and has a particular interest in end of life preparation documents, advance health directives, enduring powers of attorney, and wills. www.dwdq.org.au

After eight years working in palliative care, Kerena developed a deep and enduring commitment to supporting individuals and families through some of life’s most challenging moments. Her experience in end-of-life care not only shaped her professional values but also instilled a profound sense of empathy and respect for the journey each person takes. Following a period away from the industry, Kerena embraced a new opportunity as the Coordinator of Cemetery Services with the Toowoomba Regional Council. This role, while different in nature, calls upon the same compassion and sensitivity she brought to her previous work. Now overseeing 25 cemeteries across the Toowoomba Region—19 of which remain operational—Kerena is dedicated to enhancing the quality and accessibility of cemetery services for the community. Driven by a strong desire to educate and engage, Kerena is passionate about helping the public better understand the important role cemeteries play. She actively works to demystify what happens within cemetery grounds, sharing insights into the services offered and fostering a deeper appreciation for these spaces as places of remembrance, history, and connection.

You can tell a lot about a town from its cemetery. Toowoomba journalist and author Lisa Herbert operates Cemetery Tours where she shares fascinating tales of the dead and their lasting impact on the region’s history. Her quirky and practical guide, The Bottom Drawer Book: The After Death Action Plan, helps you prepare for the inevitable with humour and heart. Packed with useful info and space for personal reflections, it makes planning your final send-off—whether it’s hymns or pop songs, cremation or cake—a little easier for those you leave behind. www.thebottomdrawerbook.com.au

Eugenie is the Director of Nursing at the Toowoomba Hospice. Eugenie leads a dedicated team consisting of nurses and personal care assistants trained in palliative care and a enthusiastic trained team of administration staff and volunteers support in the smooth running of the Hospice. www.toowoombahospice.org.au

Not only are they our Platinum Sponsor but we have had multiple inputs from Staff at PHN have been instrumental in assisting in the Expo. Shout out to: Amy Wilson - Director - Priority Populations Jennifer Whiting - Commissioning Coordinator Tamara Williams - Design and Communications Coordinator