The Power of Choice
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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About The Power of Choice
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
Events
Upcoming
| 28 Feb-5 Mar 2026 |
Adelaide Writers' Week - Adelaide Festival Details to come |
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| 23-26 April 2026 |
Details to come |
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Past events
| 19 May 2025 |
Public talk: The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne Julian Kingma, Andrew Denton, founder of Go Gentle Australia, and host Marieke Hardy come together for a powerful discussion about dignity, compassion and the revolution of end-of-life care in Australia. |
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| 21 May 2025 |
Exhibition and Opening Night: SOL Gallery, Melbourne Join Julian and Andrew Denton, founder of Go Gentle Australia, to open this thought-provoking exhibition of images collected for the book of the same name, which asks us what constitutes a good death? Exhibition dates: 20 May -1 June |
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| 23 May 2025 |
The Sydney Writers Festival Intimate portraits of the face of a good death. See photographs from The Power of Choice collection and hear a conversation between Julian Kingma and Andrew Denton. With host Ashley Hay. |
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| 9 August 2025 |
What constitutes a good death? In The Power of Choice, award-winning photographer Julian Kingma and voluntary assisted dying advocate Andrew Denton explore the stories of those on their final journey. Join them in conversation on the future of end-of-life care with Virginia Trioli. (Cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions) |
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| 10 Oct 2025 |
Brisbane Writers Festival This extraordinarily moving photo essay documents the final days of people preparing for voluntary assisted dying. Honouring the lives and dignity of his subjects, Julian Kingma appears alongside Andrew Denton to discuss this profound work and the real human stories that are often elided by political noise. |
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| 25 Oct 2025 |
At the end of life, we are too often powerless in the face of failing bodies, pain, and separation from loved ones. Voluntary Assisted Dying can return some of that power, to decide when and how we depart this world. Julian Kingma's photobook, including essays from Andrew Denton and Richard Flanagan, is one of overwhelming compassion and love for the parents, partners and friends seeking to leave us on their own terms. As the ACT's own scheme is set to commence in early November, this discussion is an important reminder of why the choice to die with dignity, can reaffirm our lives. Journalist and author, Caroline Overington has written powerfully about Julian’s work, and she joins him here in conversation. |
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In the media
Watch The Power of Choice featured on Ten's The Project (7.00 mins)
Hear Julian Kingma discuss the Power of Choice with broadcaster Neil Mitchell on his NinePodcast (51.00 mins)
Read the story in the Weekend Australian Magazine
Buy the Book | FAQs
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).