Palliative Care Queensland (PCQ) has launched a new campaign in collaboration with Cocogun and Rowdy, centred around a stop-motion animation short film titled 'The Cassette'. The film narrates the story of a man visited by Death, who decides to depart on his own terms. The campaign aims to encourage conversations about death before the final chapter arrives.

The film was directed by Catherine Prowse through Rowdy. The strategic and creative choice of using stop-motion animation was to approach the topic of death in a relatable, heartwarming, and provocative manner without being insensitive or too confronting. More information about the campaign can be found at palliativecareqld.org.au/makedeathlesscary.

Louise O’ Neill, CEO of PCQ, expressed her views on the importance of palliative care and preparing for death. "Death happens to us all, but our experiences and beliefs around this universal moment are unique. However, whatever those individual perspectives, preparing for death makes it easier for everyone. At PCQ, we passionately believe that empathetic palliative care starts with those living with a life-limiting diagnosis, reflecting on how they want their final chapter to play out - how they would like to be treated, where and who they spend their time with. The aim of this campaign is to encourage people to have conversations before the final chapter arrives so their wishes are clearly communicated and considered. Preparing for death ensures we are afforded expert, sensitive care, and die with the utmost dignity. It also makes it easier on loved ones. We are grateful for the ongoing support from Queensland Health."

Dr Anthony Herbert, PCQ Board President, echoed these sentiments, stating, "Palliative care is a human right for every age and every stage. Navigating this uncertain and difficult time can be overwhelming, but the right resources, information and support can be a huge help. And being prepared for death rather than scared of it, can make the journey calmer, less stressful and more comfortable for people with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones."

Chiquita King, Cocogun co-founder and MD, highlighted the strategic and creative choice of using stop-motion animation to approach the topic of death. "We needed to approach the topic with the utmost sensitivity and respect, while challenging people’s reticence to talk about the inevitable. Stop-motion animation was a deliberate strategic and creative choice to ensure we captured a story that was relatable, heartwarming and provocative without being insensitive or too confronting. We believe the story we’ve told and the way we’ve told it, lands the message in a unique and memorable way that will have an important impact on the way we think about death as a society."

Catherine Prowse, Director of the campaign, also shared her experience. "It was a wonderful experience directing a film about such an important subject that touches everyone at some point during their lives. My approach was to heighten the emotion and add that human touch by creating a tactile, hand crafted feel across every element of puppet, prop and set design," she said. " I'm really proud of the minute attention to detail all the crew brought to the project, and I hope it adds an extra layer of depth to a beautiful story we're telling."