Hello, my name is Craig Sinclair and I’m working with the University of New South Wales and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) on The EARLI project. We are looking for volunteers to join our study, and to help discover whether this program is effective.

The EARLI project is about life story work and advance care planning. We want to know if creating a life story work while discussing advance care planning helps people feel more confident in their decisions about their future care.

Advance care planning means planning for your current and future health care. It involves talking about your values, beliefs and preferences with the important people in your community. Completing advance care planning helps ensure you get the medical care you want if there is ever a time you are not able to speak for yourself.

If you take part, you will be invited to be part of the EARLI program, which involves four or five visits (at your home or a preferred location). A trained member of our research team will help you to talk about your goals and values, and think about your preferences for future care.

In the first visit, you will be invited to share some of your life story. We’ll work together to choose how you want to tell your story. Perhaps it will involve making a small book or a video about your life. Our team can help you with this.

In the next two visits, we will keep working on your life story project. We will also talk about what you want for your future healthcare. This might mean writing down your wishes, nominating someone to make medical decisions on your behalf, or simply discussing what matters most to you.

With your permission, members of your care and support team, such as your doctor or care coordinator, will be invited to join the final session. You can also invite a support person to the meeting if you want. You will have the opportunity to share your life story work, and discuss your preferences for future care.

You can complete The EARLI Project alone, or you can have a family member, chosen family, or friend join you. Being part of the EARLI project is voluntary. You don’t have to take part if you don’t want to. The project is also free of charge. You don’t have to pay to take part.

This research is open to volunteers 65 years and older, or 45 years and older if living with a progressive neurological condition

If you would like to proceed express interest in this role online.

If you have questions or want to learn more about the EARLI project, please get in touch. Contact details will be provided in the return email you will receive when you express your interest in this role.

Thank you and we look forward to helping you tell your story.

Benefits: Learning more about advance care planning options. Having assistance to undertake advance care planning in a relaxed environment that is not rushed. Using memories from the past to clarify important values in your life and things that are important to you in the future. Making a life story project with some assistance. Ensuring your advance care planning documents are shared with important people in your life (e.g. doctor, family members, hospital etc). There is also a small reimbursement of $50 at completion of the study, in the form of a voucher.