The Story Project is a free service that provides people the chance to record their story. Trained biographer volunteers are matched with families and over eight sessions at hospital or at home, they interview them and then transform those stories into a book.

As a volunteer biographer, while working alongside young people in palliative care and their families, I communicate in whatever way is best suited. With words (spoken or typed), gestures, images including photographs, and when appropriate scent.

Find out more about The Story Project here: ABC NEWS VIDEO and ABC online article

Identifying meaningful smell preferences and memories

Identifying scents that mean “Home”

Patients are more than their medical story, with the biography, they get to have a story about their whole life. Patients can find it therapeutic while describing their lives and the people that support them through their journey.

Fragrant saffron rice scent created by artist Cat Jones.

I have found that sometimes bringing in and sharing scents can lead to interesting discussions around experiences, memories and emotions. Including important people or places, even concepts such as what ‘Home’ may be for a young person.

A scent or set of scents may be presented with the finished biography.