This month has seen the launch of our new-look website. Completely re-written, this site has been in development over the past 12 months and provides improved usability and accessibility.

The site is now easier to navigate with new and reorganised content.

The entire site can now be searched in order to more easily locate information of interest.




The website provides information on the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement, grief and bereavement support information and resources, information on a range of education programs, resources available and details on how to become involved with ACGB.

A significant amount of new information has been developed covering child, adolescent and adult grief and bereavement support.

The site is dynamically updated and has a listing of forthcoming activities.

Early in November 2009 a searchable directory of bereavement services throughout Victoria will be added. Using postcode information this will provide information on a range of bereavement services, based upon their proximity to the user.

The new site can be viewed at www.grief.org.au.

The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement continues to be actively involved in providing assistance to people who have been bereaved through the Victorian bushfires.
 
We have been funded for 12-months to provide Bushfire Specialist Bereavement Counsellors in four of the fire-affected regions where there has been a particular request for additional assistance. The team of five counsellors, under the leadership of Annie Norrish, operate from the Cobaw Community Health Centre (CHC) at Kyneton, the Seymour Shire offices, the Nillumbik CHC in Eltham and the Latrobe CHC in Gippsland.

Funding has been approved for 18-months to provide 12 support groups for adults bereaved through the bushfires. These groups will be located in fire-affected locations and metropolitan areas, in accordance with the requests of people wishing to attend. These groups have already met in Kinglake, North Melbourne, Eltham, Healesville and Strathewen. A brochure detailing these Bushfire Discussion and Support Groups can be downloaded here.

Funding has also been received from the Department of Health to undertake a needs analysis focusing upon the requirements of children bereaved as a result of the bushfires.

The Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental
Health, Beyondblue, the Australian Red Cross and the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement have recently publish a booklet titled Looking after yourself after a disaster.

This publication covers - Common reactions to an extraordinary event; Dealing with the emotional impact of a natural disaster; When the reaction or distress does not settle; Am I more at risk?; Worksheets and Things to remember. This booklet is designed to help individuals understand the reactions they - or someone they know - may be experiencing. It contains practical advice, numbers to call and websites to visit if they need extra information or support.

It emphasises the message that following a disaster, it's important to remember that you are not alone and that help is available. It can be downloaded here, or alternatively hard copies are available from Beyondblue by contacting their info line on 1300 22 4636.

Remember that details on a range of bushfire specific services can be found on our dedicated web page located here.

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The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement responds to a range of enquiries for public and professional education as well as engaging educators to present as part of our courses program and annual calendar of training activities.

If you are passionate about educating in the fields of grief and bereavement then please complete an online expression of interest. The survey can be accessed here.

You are invited to attend the final meeting for 2009 of the Grief and Bereavement Journal Club. This group meets three times per year and provides an opportunity for the informal and relaxed discussion of recent research findings in the grief and bereavement field.

The paper which will be discussed at the November meeting is:

Sanger, M.(2009). When clients sense the presence of loved ones who have died. Omega, 59(1),69 - 89.

The continued bonds between bereaved individuals and the deceased are central to the process of mourning. One challenging form of continuing bond is that in which the mourner senses the actual presence of the deceased - i.e., seeing one's deceased husband at the kitchen counter. Some see this experience as a sign of pathology while others see it as a normal, healthy aspect of grief and mourning. Twenty-one social workers shared their experiences in addressing this issue with clients. Despite conceptualizing this experience in a variety of ways, they all grounded their interactions with clients around this issue on the fundamental social work value of respecting the client's dignity and experience. Their experiences and insights may be useful to other practitioners.

Tuesday 10th November 2009

6:00pm -7:30pm
CLAYTON
Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
McCulloch House
Monash Medical Centre
246 Clayton Road
CLAYTON
Melways 79 C1

Wednesday 11th November 2009

6:00pm -7:30pm
SUNSHINE
Mercy Western Grief Services
3 Devonshire Road
SUNSHINE VIC
Melways 26 H12


Thursday 12th November 2009

4:00pm -5:30pm
FITZROY
Centre for Palliative Care
St Vincent's Hospital
6 Gertrude Street
FITZROY
Melways 2B K11

If you would like to participate in this meeting please send an email to journalclub@grief.org.au. Please indicate which of the three venues you will be attending. We will provide you with a copy of the article by email. Alternatively telephone the office on (03) 9265 2100.

Please note that the Fitzroy meeting commences at 4:00pm with all others at 6:00pm.

Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be provided. There is no charge to participate in this activity.

Prof. George Bonanno, one of the keynote speakers at the 2008 International Conference on Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society, held in Melbourne last year, has published a new book titled The Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Tells Us About Life After Loss.

In this book, George Bonanno shows that our conventional models of grief discounts our capacity for resilience. In fact, he reveals that we are already hardwired to deal with our losses efficiently-not by graduating through static phases.

Weaving in explorations of mourning rituals and the universal experiences of the death of a parent or child, Bonanno examines how our inborn emotions-anger and denial, but also relief and joy-help us deal effectively with loss. And grieving goes beyond mere sadness: it can deepen interpersonal connections and often involves positive experiences. In the end, mourning is not predictable, but incredibly sophisticated. Combining personal anecdotes and original research, The Other Side of Sadness is a must-read for those going through the death of a loved one, mental health professionals, and readers interested in neuroscience and positive psychology.

This 240 page hardcover book can be purchased through Amazon.com or your local bookseller.

The ACGB is funded by the 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, and currently we provide support services for over 1,000 new people each year.

As part of these services 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 telephone services operate Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm.

In addition, the service provides over 30 bereavement support programs throughout Victoria and bereavement counselling services in a number of locations. For further information telephone the service on (03) 9265-2111.

This publication is a project of HOPE Bereavement Care, a community based, regional provider of counselling and educational services for families and others who have experienced the sudden or unexpected death on an infant, young child or adolescent under 18 years of age.

Written by seven bereaved fathers this book tells their stories and of their lives following the death of their child.

First published in 2002 this book has been updated and includes more stories which expand on the range of experiences grieving men encounter in their lives. This book says you are not on your own and is emmintently readable.

This book is available within Australia for $12.00 (plus $5 postage and handling). Outside of Australia it is available for $AU16.00 (plus $AU15 postage and handling).

Purchase online within Australia

Purchase online outside Australia

Download an order form