It’s the simple yet powerful mantra of Corowa-based Amaranth Foundation that compels founder and chief executive Julianne Whyte OAM to extend the integrated health service in the Riverina.

Established almost a decade ago to offer mental health and social support to people at the end of their lives, Amaranth has grown to now offer mental health care for children and youth.

​It will be registered with the National Disability and Insurance School soon and My Aged Care to work with people over 65 from 2018.

Mrs Whyte said both physical and mental health were critical for people nearing the end of their lives.

She said the effectiveness of empathy and mental health therapies for terminally-ill people was being drowned out by talk of hastened deaths.

“People who are dying can still eat well and live well; not just be sitting around in God’s waiting room,” she said.

New premises Amaranth House was officially opened at Corowa on Tuesday, coinciding with the extension of the foundation’s work.

Mrs Whyte said staff had been working out of the former Karinya building since February.

“It has enabled us to bring our philosophy of wrap-around care to life as we can offer a space not only for our counselling services, but comfort in the form of a shower or even a massage, as well as food vouchers through our partnership with Albury Wodonga Foodshare,” she said.

While Amaranth employed 16 mental health workers and allied health professionals, volunteers were also needed.

Amaranth has outreach clinics at Albury-Wodonga, Wagga, Chiltern, Wangaratta, Leeton, Narrandera, Griffith, Mulwala, Howlong and other Riverina sites.

Amaranth Foundation support worker Jo Bathols says it’s a privilege to work with families of people nearing the end of their lives.

“The work we’re doing creates such a difference in the bereavement,” she says.

“We talk about end of life wishes; it’s improving conversations families need to have. It’s bringing peace to families at the end of the day.”