The ACGB is funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services to provide a statewide specialist bereavement service for individuals, children and families who need assistance following the death of someone close to them. A range of specialist services and programs are provided across Victoria, including bereavement counselling in a number of metropolitan locations as well as five rural cities, outreach bereavement counselling in homes for people unable to travel, bereavement support groups, a newsletter and a range of other programs and services. Volunteers are integral to the delivery of the wide range of services provided by the ACGB. Further information on counselling and support services are available here.

We have recently published volume 11(3) of Grief Matters: The Australian Journal of Grief and Bereavement. This edition focussed on grief and bereavement in rural communities. Forthcoming editions will explore suicide bereavement; historical perspectives of death, dying and bereavement; childhood bereavement and bereavement support groups. Additional information on Grief Matters is available here.

Three time per year ACGB hosts a journal club meeting which takes place at three locations in Melbourne. The first meetings for 2009 will take place on Tuesday 3rd March 2009 from 6:00pm - 7:30pm (ACGB, Clayton), Wednesday 4th March 2009 from 6:00pm - 7:30pm (Mercy Grief Services, Sunshine) and Thursday 5th March 2009 from 4:00pm - 5:30pm (Centre for Palliative Care Education & Research, Fitzroy).

The paper for the March meeting is Moules, N. J., Simonson, K., Fleiszer, A. R., Prins, M. & Glasgow, B. (2007). The soul of sorrow work: Grief and therapeutic interventions with families. Journal of Family Nursing. 13(1). 117-141. A copy of this article will be made available to participants.

These meetings provide an opportunity for the informal and relaxed discussion of recent research findings in the grief and bereavement field. This is a free event. Further details including registration details are available here.

We are delighted to announce that
Dr. John R. Jordan will be the 2009 International Educator, and will present workshops in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide from 23rd July to 7th August 2009.

Jack Jordan is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Wellesley, MA, and Pawtucket, RI, USA where he specializes in working with loss and bereavement. He is also the founder and until 2007 was the Director of the Family Loss Project, a research and clinical practice providing services for bereaved families. He has specialized in work with survivors of suicide and other losses for more than 30 years. Jack maintains an active practice in grief counselling for individuals and couples. Jack will present two one-day workshops:

Program 1
21st Century Approaches to Grief Counselling and Therapy

Program 2
Traumatic Loss: Bereavement After Sudden, Unexpected and Violent Death

 

The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement provides two toll-free telephone services for bereaved Victorians and those who care for them.

Bereavement Information and Referral Service
This service provides information and referral assistance to members of the general public who need information on bereavement services available within Victoria. The service can also provide information on bereavement related issues. The service is unable to provide telephone bereavement counselling to callers. Download a copy of our brochure or call 1300 664 786.

Practitioner Consultancy Service
This service provides information, consultation and support for practitioners who are working with bereaved clients experiencing complex and prolonged bereavements. Download a copy of our brochure or call 1300 858 113.

Both services operate Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Lessons of Loss: A guide to coping
by Prof. Robert A. Neimeyer

Lessons of Loss covers the impacts of different types of losses, from death to the ending of relationships and job loss and helps the reader mobilize the personal and social resources needed for healing. It develops a fresh theory of grieving as a process of "meaning reconstruction" and argues that traditional theories of grief are too superficial and simplistic.

We have copies of this book for the special low price of $39 (plus postage and handling). Usually retailing at $55, this 214 page text has three sections, the first For Those Who Grieve, the second For Those Who Help and the third focuses on Personal Applications of a range of grief and bereavement strategies.

A theoretically grounded and eminently practical book, Lessons of Loss will make a valuable addition to the library of anyone interested in grief and bereavement - either the bereaved themselves or those who provide support to them.

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