Over the past few months since this campaign launched, many of you shared your own stories in the petition comments. Many others shared your experiences on the social media posts. Some of you wrote a single sentence. Some of you wrote paragraphs. Every one of those stories stopped me in my tracks - I was simultaneously horrified at the scale of this crisis, and comforted that I was not alone.
Now I am asking you to share those stories somewhere they can do more work.
Professor Ben White, a professor in end-of-life law and regulation at QUT and one of Australia's leading experts in this field, has been clear: any change to the law must be grounded in Australian evidence. Personal stories are part of that evidence, and they are often the most powerful part. Numbers tell parliament the scale of the problem. Stories make parliament understand why it cannot wait.
Hem's story is the foundation of this campaign. But one story - no matter how devastating - is not enough to change the law in eight states and territories. We need parliament, and the public who have never witnessed this death, to understand that what happened to Hem happens to thousands of Australian families every year. In hospitals. In aged care facilities. In family homes. Quietly. Without mercy.
I have built a story collection form. It takes only a few minutes to complete the parts that matter most - your story in your own words, and your consent to share it. There is also a section with more structured questions that will help us identify trends and build a stronger statistical case for parliamentary submissions. And it might help those of you who want to share your experience, but can't articulate it in story form.
If you have already shared your experience in the petition comments or on social media, I am asking you to share it again here. The difference is that this form captures your consent for your story to be included in parliamentary submissions and campaign materials. That consent is what allows your words to travel further than a comment thread.
If you are a healthcare professional who has witnessed this and wants to share your clinical perspective, there is a separate track in the form for you.
Everything is optional. You can share just your story, or just answer the structured questions, or both. Anonymous submissions are welcome.
The settings on this form have been calibrated to ensure everyone can submit a story completely anonymously, you don't need a google account, and you don't need to provide your email address unless you wish to be contacted. This does mean however, that your answers will not be saved as you go, so take care when completing as if your browser refreshes, you will lose any completed work.
What happened to Hem was not an isolated tragedy. Help us prove it.
With solidarity and much respect,
Angie
Founder, Hem's Law
Follow on Facebook | Join the Supporters & Advocates Group | Follow on Instagram
Campaign enquiries: hems.law326@gmail.com