A sacred threshold – our new Crossroad Companions pilot program

December 2, 2025

You’ve just been told you have a terminal illness. Everything shifts. In the days and weeks ahead, you meet a series of specialists and medical teams. Names, diagnoses, and appointments blur together. Gradually, your identity becomes tethered to your condition. Your GP refers you to oncology. Your care team changes. Your loved ones – carers, family, friends – are coping with their own grief, often unsure how to walk alongside you in this sacred but challenging time.

You start to wonder … Who will walk with me? Who will simply be present?

CatholicCare Diocese of Broken Bay hopes to answer that call through the Crossroad Companions pilot program. Launching in March 2026, the program offers trained end-of-life companions – compassionate, non-clinical guides who walk alongside those facing life’s final chapter.

“It’s called Crossroad Companions for a reason,” says Greg Dresser, Head of Development & Research at CatholicCare. “As a Catholic organisation, we believe this isn’t the end of the road – it’s just taking a different direction.”

The idea came to Greg in 2022 when he and his wife attended a session led by Helen Callanan, founder of Preparing the Way. The concept of end-of-life companions was still new in Australia, but it resonated deeply. “From the start, I thought this was something a Catholic organisation could and should do,” Greg says. “When I joined CatholicCare, I spoke with our Executive Director Tim Curran. We were both exploring ways to strengthen our Catholic identity and support parish life.”

With support from Bishop Anthony Randazzo, the program developed as a deeply Catholic response to end-of-life care – one that honours the value of every person, even in their most vulnerable moments.

“It also offers a positive alternative to Voluntary Assisted Dying,” Greg says. “The Church has been clear about what we won’t do, but this is about what we can do – offering presence, compassion, and accompaniment.”

Greg highlights the importance of this alternative, pointing to research showing people who receive good end-of-life care and companionship are much less likely to choose Voluntary Assisted Dying. “Much of the research indicates that even people who have applied for Voluntary Assisted Dying are far less likely to go through with it if they are well supported,” he explains.

Nine CatholicCare staff members are currently training through Preparing the Way, earning nationally recognised skills from the Certificate IV in End-of-Life Doula Services. Selected from a strong pool of applicants, these participants represent diverse areas of the organisation – from aged care and youth work to counselling, chaplaincy, and corporate roles. While some bring clinical or pastoral backgrounds, others are motivated by a personal calling to support those nearing the end of life as an expression of faith.

“They all share something vital,” Greg says. “A strong sense of compassion for people going through the end-of-life experience.”

So, what does an End-of-Life Companion actually do? Greg explains they provide a steady presence – someone to listen, talk through fears and uncertainties, and help navigate the many practical and emotional challenges of this stage. They offer information about what to expect physically and emotionally, connect clients with spiritual support through chaplains and parish clergy, and serve as a consistent point of contact amid shifting care teams. When needed, companions liaise with clinical staff to ensure symptoms like pain are managed promptly.

Greg describes companions as “an anchor” – offering reassurance and companionship to both the person facing the end of life and their families, who may feel overwhelmed and isolated. Companions also assist with creating life stories or funeral planning, helping clients regain a sense of control in uncertain times.

Crossroad Companions will begin supporting clients in March 2026, with referrals available through parish offices. If the pilot confirms community need – as early indicators suggest – CatholicCare hopes to make it a permanent service by mid-2026.

The program offers something often missing in end-of-life care – a consistent, human presence. At a time when people can feel reduced to a diagnosis and passed between services, Crossroad Companions seeks to restore continuity and calm – walking with individuals and families through life’s final stage with compassion and care.

For more information please call Vanessa Fadda at CatholicCare on 0404 076 635.