Workshops for Care Practitioners

Navigating End-of-Life Conversations with Confidence

Become more skilled at facilitating one of life’s difficult conversations.

2 facilitators observing a group of 4 workshop participants role play an end of life conversation scenario within a care setting

Only 53% of doctors and 31% of nurses felt at ease discussing death, which revealed a substantial gap in end-of-life communication, a worrying statistic for medical professionals. Time pressures, uncertainty about how to start, and fear of distressing patients or families can make it even harder. This arts-based workshop tackles those challenges head-on, so you feel ready to have these conversations when they matter most.

In Navigating End-of-Life Conversations with Confidence, you will…

  • reflect on the personal dimension of end-of-life communication,
  • identify and work through personal barriers creatively,
  • and be more comfortable when dealing with emotional situations.

Led by artist-facilitators Kok Heng Leun, Adib Kosnan, and Michael Cheng, the full-day workshop invites you to uncover personal barriers, process discomfort, and strengthen your facilitation of end-of-life conversations with individuals and their loved ones. You’ll leave feeling more assured and ready to initiate, and hold these conversations with greater clarity and intention.

“The workshop was most useful in enabling me to confront my own fears and limitations to initiate end-of-life conversations.” – Workshop Participant

You will be able to:

  • Identify personal barriers to initiate end-of-life conversations with individuals & their loved ones
  • Increase your confidence in initiating end-of-life conversations with individuals & their loved ones

You will gain:

  • A greater readiness to initiate end-of-life conversations
  • An increased sense of comfort in managing your own emotional responses
  • A renewed motivation to engage in end-of-life conversations with individuals and their loved ones

Kindly register by 17 Oct 2025, 2359hrs. The session is limited to 20 pax. Please register early to avoid disappointment. We will be in touch to confirm your registration before you make payment.

This workshop is for
Doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, social workers, community workers, and students

Best suited for trained Advance Care Planning advocates or facilitators.

When
18 Nov 2025
9am–6pm

Where
Aliwal Arts Centre

Workshop Fee
Standard: $325/pax
Group (2–5 pax): $295/pax
Early Bird (till 17 Sep): $280/pax

Registration Deadline
17 Oct 2025, 2359hrs

About the Artist Facilitators

Kok Heng Leun

Lead Facilitator

A prominent figure in the Singapore arts scene and Founding Artist of Drama Box, Heng Leun built his artistic career over decades as a theatre director, playwright, dramaturg, and educator. He is known for his ability in engaging the community on various issues through the arts and championing civil discourse across different segments of society. His multi-disciplinary engaged arts projects include the environmental series Project Mending Sky; Both Sides, Now which seeks to normalise end-of-life conversations; and It Won’t Be Too Long.

For his invaluable contributions, Heng Leun has been recognised with the Young Artist Award (2000), Cultural Fellowship (2014), and the Cultural Medallion (2022). He also represented the arts sector as a Nominated Member of Parliament (2016–2018).

Stacy Huang

Adib Kosnan

Workshop Facilitator

Adib is an actor, writer, director, educator, and NAC scholar with a MA in Arts Pedagogy and Practice from Goldsmiths, University of London. He is currently an Associate Artist with Checkpoint Theatre.

As co-lead artist for Both Sides, Now: Mengukir Harapan (2021–2022), Adib spearheaded engagement around end-of-life conversations within the Malay-Muslim community. He views theatre as a space to shape thought and life through socially engaged work. Recently, he worked on Air (2024), a verbatim theatre project amplifying Orang Seletar voices on displacement and identity. Adib also teaches forum theatre and facilitation as an adjunct lecturer at LASALLE.

Michael Cheng

Workshop Facilitator

Michael is an applied drama practitioner and educator with extensive experience facilitating workshops and socially engaged arts projects. He has worked with diverse vulnerable communities, including people with disabilities and seniors, exploring themes such as intergenerational communication, active ageing, and social support. He has taught applied drama to educators, artists, and community practitioners in Singapore and internationally.

Michael has collaborated with organisations like Lions Befrienders and TOUCH Community Services on impactful arts-based initiatives. He holds a MA in Arts Pedagogy and Practice from Goldsmiths, University of London, supported by National Arts Council Arts Scholarship.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re a healthcare professional, allied health professional, social worker, community worker, or a student, this workshop is for you. You should ideally be trained as an Advance Care Planning (ACP) advocate or facilitator as the workshop expands on existing ACP knowledge to help you deepen your skills in facilitating end-of-life conversations.

Yes — you don’t need any arts experience. You’ll take part in creative and drama-based activities and exercises that will help identify personal barriers and challenges to initiating and facilitating EOL conversations. You’ll also hone your facilitation skills, as well as share and learn strategies to employ in effective EOL communication.

Piloted in 2023 by ArtsWok Collaborative with a healthcare institution, participants shared significant improvements in 3 key areas. You’ll gain greater comfort initiating end-of-life conversations, better management of intense emotional reactions, and stronger motivation to start these important discussions — skills that will enhance your professional practice.

The workshop is designed with a mix of activities — some stimulating, others more reflective. Most activities will require interacting with others. To get the most out of your experience, come prepared to participate, share your thoughts and learn from others.

Gallery

5 healthcare workers use colourful string to connect small pieces of white paper against a wall where they have each written their life milestones

Participants identified individual life milestones comprising its various highs and lows as part of the “Life Journey” activity

A healthcare worker sketching a portrait of a fellow healthcare worker seated in front of her using pen and paper on a table while the person being drawn narrates a personal story

Participants paired up to share personal experiences around end-of-life conversations, sketching each other’s stories and reflecting on what resonated or unsettled them

A group of 11 participants posing to form a still picture with their bodies as part of a drama exercise

Healthcare workers formed ‘still images’ to express unforgettable end-of-life encounters, moments shaped by the environments they were in

Community Voices

“The image theatre exercises provided me with insights to handle complex and difficult conversations, to take a step back and take in the full picture before deciding how we can proceed further.”

Workshop Participant