As a forensic counsellor and then a grief counsellor, Wendy Liu has spent many years right up close to death. Her work with people who are processing all kinds of losses has brought her a much keener appreciation for life. (R)

Wendy Liu was a young woman on a social work placement when she realised she had a special affinity for hard conversations about life and death.

She put her aptitude to work in palliative care, and then some years later she began working as a forensic counsellor.

For seven years Wendy worked supporting families following unexplained deaths, fatal accidents, child deaths, suicides and homicides reported to the Coroner. 

Today Wendy is a grief counsellor and a passionate advocate for us all to have more open and honest conversations about death and dying.

She also says being so close to loss and grief each day has given her a stronger appreciation of life.

This episode of Conversations explores terminal illness, murder, crime, survivors, how to grieve, healthy grieving, counselling, funerals, wakes, tough conversations, family dynamics, organising funerals, forensics, police.