The Power of Choice by Julian Kingma

Go Gentle Australia is proud to present The Power of Choice, by award-winning photographer Julian Kingma. 

With forewords from Andrew Denton and Richard Flanagan, and more than 70 moving images, the book explores the human side of voluntary assisted dying and why people make this choice. 

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Pre-orders will be shipped from 1 May 2025

Julian Kingma is one of Australia’s best photographers whose work is regularly exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. Many of his works feature in its permanent collection.

For 18 months, Julian travelled Australia to do something no-one has attempted before – document the people who choose VAD, and the families and health professionals who help them on their final journey. In this nuanced and powerful book, he captures their stories of hope, struggle, courage and acceptance in deeply personal portraits and photo essays. 

His intimate portraits reveal the human face of these compassionate laws and invite us to ask, perhaps for the first time, what constitutes a good death? 

Mute and frozen witnesses, we watched Death take this strong man - my father - and shake him out until he was nothing." 

- Andrew Denton

They chose voluntary assisted dying because they want a good death and not a bad death. Because, dying, they want an end to their suffering, not its indefinite continuation and worsening."

- Richard Flanagan

Buy the Book  |  FAQ

This book contains depictions and discussion of death, which may be distressing for some readers. If you are struggling with grief, loss or difficult emotions, please know that support is available. If you need help please reach out to one of the following services to discuss your support options: Griefline (1300 845 745), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), Headspace (1800 650 890).