Dear colleague,
Welcome to the November edition of the Grief Brief, the monthly e-newsletter of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB).
This month you will find information on the 2009 Grief Lecture which will be presented by the Chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority,
Christine Nixon. The lecture will take place on Monday 7
December 2009 from 7:00pm at the State Library of Victoria.
Also included is information on an exciting new membership option - reciprocal membership of the Association for Death Education and Counseling - the largest international bereavement organisation. Information on bushfire bereavement support services, a range of courses to be offered by ACGB in 2010 and details of our final Bereavement Information evening are also included in this edition.
If you are interested in advancing your knowledge and clinical skills in the field of bereavement you may be interested to read about our Bereavement Counselling Internship and Practitioner Associate programs.
If you have skills and interest in grief and bereavement education you may be interested in completing an online expression of interest. We are frequently in need of experienced clinicians who can contribute to our teaching programs. You can access this survey here.
We hope that you enjoy receiving this monthly update. Remember if you would rather not receive the Grief Brief you can instantly unsubscribe by clicking on the SafeUnsubscribe link at the end of this email. Alternatively if you have a colleague who might also enjoy receiving a copy you can forward them a copy by clicking here.
Best wishes.Christopher HallDirectorAustralian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
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Christine Nixon to deliver the 2009 Grief Lecture
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The 2009 Grief Lecture will be delivered by Christine Nixon on Monday 7 December 2009 from 7:00pm at the State Library of Victoria Theatrette.
Through her thirty-seven year career in policing, and her current role as Chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, Christine Nixon has come to learn much about the impact of loss, and the many different guises that grief can take. Christine's personal experiences have shaped her own understanding of grief. Her early career includes her experience as a young police constable confronted with her first homicide, to the significance of the establishment of the NSW Homicide Victims Support Group. In her more recent career, as the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police during a time of cultural change around the importance of peer support and the recognition of trauma and grief, to her current role supporting thousands of families in Victoria who have been devastated by the fires of February 2009, Christine is in a strong position to talk about the different faces of loss, and her own personal experience of how people deal with grief.
As Chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, Christine Nixon oversees the largest disaster recovery and rebuilding operation Victoria has ever undertaken. Under Christine's leadership, the Authority works with communities, businesses, charities, local councils and other government departments to help people rebuild.
Christine's priority is to help communities recover and rebuild in a way that is safe, timely, efficient, cost effective and respectful of each community's different needs.
Prior to joining the Authority, Christine was the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police leading 14,000 staff, who operate across more than 500 locations. She oversaw a budget of $1.7 billion. She joined Victoria Police in April 2001, after serving with the New South Wales Police from 1972.
Christine is a Fellow of The Australian Institute of Police Management, The Australian Institute of Management and The Institute of Public Administration Australia. She is also an Advisory Board member for the Alannah & Madeline Foundation and a patron of the Blue Ribbon Foundation, Onside Soccer - Victorian Soccer Federation Incorporation, Operation Newstart Victoria and Phoenix Club Inc.
Christine's lecture will focus on a number of key stories and experiences of loss and grief throughout her career, and her reflections and lessons learned around these.
This event is free to members of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement, the cost to non-members is $25.
Please complete a registration form which can be downloaded here.
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New ACGB Membership Benefits - Reciprocal Membership with the Association for Death Education and Counseling
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We are delighted to announce that an
exciting new membership option will be introduced to members of ACGB in 2010. Alongside our current membership
program, the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement will now offer an
enhanced level of membership, which will include reciprocal membership with the
Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC).  ADEC is the largest
interdisciplinary organisation in the field of dying, death and bereavement
with over 2,000 members and a substantial list of membership benefits. These
member benefits include complimentary electronic subscriptions to Omega: The Journal of Death and Dying and Death Studies, two leading international journals in the fields of grief and bereavement. Members will have access to available back
issues of both journals in .PDF and HTML formats. In addition members will have access to conference discounts and to The Forum, a members-only publication that brings news of upcoming events,
articles by leaders in the field and information on current
developments and trends in the field. Members also receive discounted subscription rates for the Journal of Trauma and Loss, Mortality Journal and Living With Loss and copies of the bi-monthly electronic digest ADEC Connects, which includes ADEC news, events and Thanatology-related information.
ADEC also provides a professional certification program. Certified in Thanatology (CT) and Fellow in Thanatology (FT) are professional
certifications that recognize practitioners and educators in the field
who meet specified requirements measured by a standardized testing process.
ADEC members receive significant discounts on certification fees.
Members Only Section & Member Directory
Members of ADEC have access to the Member section of the ADEC Web site. This resource includes the online
searchable membership directory, an invaluable tool that allows members
to keep in touch with their peers and to make referrals globally.
Professional Development
In conjunction with the ADEC Annual Conference, the Education Institute
Program offers courses and workshops on perspectives in death and
dying, death education and grief counseling.
Networking Groups
ADEC members share information and ideas about specific areas of interest.
Information on membership rates will for 2010 are available at http://www.grief.org.au/get_involved/membershipFurther information on these
and other ADEC reciprocal membership entitlements can be found at http://www.adec.org/membership/index.cfm.
If you have any questions regarding membership, or any
of our services, please do not hesitate to contact our main office on (03) 9265
2100, or by email at info@grief.org.au.
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Grief
and Bereavement Training Courses in 2010
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The
following courses offer contemporary bereavement training for community and
health professionals. Current theoretical perspectives in grief and
bereavement underpin course content.
INTRODUCTORY LEVEL
Foundations
in Bereavement Support
During this six-week introductory course
participants will explore proven strategies in providing effective
bereavement support.
Day and time: Tuesdays from 5.00 pm - 9.00 pm
Enrol now
for Semester One 2009
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
Vocational
Graduate Certificate in Bereavement Counselling and Intervention
Participants will find themselves fully engaged
with the practice of bereavement counselling and intervention through
tutorials, case studies, counselling practice sessions and other forms of
experiential learning.
Duration: 10-months / part time
Day and time: Wednesday from 5.00 - 9.00 pm
Applications
close: Friday 11th December 2009
EXPERT LEVEL
Intensive
Certificate in Bereavement Counselling and Intervention
Specifically developed for highly experienced
generalist counsellors, this comprehensive three-month course encompasses
themes such as; current issues in bereavement counselling, appropriate
interventions for traumatic bereavement, worker self-awareness and the
importance of ethical supervised practice.
Day and time: Mondays from 5.00 pm - 9.00 pm
Applications
close: Friday 11th December 2009
For further information and application forms,
contact Julie-Anne Sheppard on 9265 2172 or email ja.sheppard@grief.org.au |
New website launched
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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.
In December 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. |
Bushfire Bereavement Support Services
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 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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Bereavement Counselling Internships
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The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement has a limited number of
practicum opportunities for interns seeking to advance their knowledge and
skills in loss and grief counselling. Practicums are either 40 or 80
hours of direct counselling contact. Supervision is provided at a ratio
of 1:4 contact hours. Professional development and group supervision is
also provided as part of these placements. Interns need to have an
undergraduate degree in a relevant field and two years experience in general
counselling and training in specific loss and grief theory. The 80 hour practicum,
together with loss and grief theoretical training, meets NALAG accreditation
requirements.
There are ongoing opportunities for more
experienced loss and grief counsellors to become Practitioner Associates (PA)
with BCSS and to offer their time on a voluntary basis as bereavement counsellors. PA's are able to attend professional development and case discussions
free of charge. They also receive supervision free of charge from Senior
Bereavement Counsellors at the Centre. Feedback from counsellors who have
completed this practicum are very positive. The experience gained, skills honed, networking and improved
job opportunities arising out of the placement are extremely beneficial for counsellors
working in the loss and grief field.
Anyone interested can contact Maria Smart or
Wendy Thurling (Senior Bereavement Counsellors - Supervision) on 9265 2111 or
email them at m.smart@grief.org.au or w.thurling@grief.org.au.
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Are you interested in educating with the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement?
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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._________________________________ |
Bereavement Telephone Services
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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 ServiceThis 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 ServiceThis 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. |
Bereavement Information Evening
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The final Information Evening will be held on Thursday 17th Dec in the Lecture room at McCulloch House, 256 Clayton Road, Clayton.
Information evenings are held at McCulloch House every second month throughout the year. They are designed to provide general information about grief and bereavement to bereaved people and to their family and friends. A short presentation is made and then a volunteer speaks about their own experience of being bereaved, about what helped them, and also point to some ways they helped themselves. Bereavement counsellors are present and able to answer specific questions. Written material is also available together with information about counselling and support group options.
The final Information Evening will be on Thursday 17th December at 6.30 to 7.30 pm. Please call the Centre on 9265 2111 to register to attend.
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Art Exhibition - Art in the Shadows - Trauma, Loss, Grief
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This exhibition is a reflection of loss. It emerges out of the shadowy world of trauma and particularly sexual abuse. Children's clothes made fragile by their encasement in clay, is one way artist Anne Riggs, expresses the vulnerability and tragedy of abuse. Painted bones speak of the distortions and 'little deaths' that are part of the trauma experience. The work is a contemplation of the long term impact of trauma, the losses, the distortions and the seemingly miraculous beauty that remains within people who have been carelessly and brutally treated by others. The work partly emerges out of a close artistic relationship Melbourne artist Anne Riggs had with women attending the South East Centre Against Sexual Assault for counselling. Accompanying the exhibition will be a showcase of some of the mosaic and sculptural works made with SECASA participants. Art in the Shadows will be exhibited from November 25 - January 29, 2010 at the Southern Health Art Space, level 2, Monash Medical Centre , 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Victoria. The gallery is open 24/7 ______________________________________________________________
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This newsletter is sent to over 6,000 subscribers every month to keep you informed of what is happening in the fields of grief and bereavement, as well as what's new at ACGB.
http://www.grief.org.au
Phone: +61 3 9265 2100
Facsimile: +61 3 9265 2150
Freecall: (Australia wide) 1800 642 066
This newsletter is published by the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
©2009 Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement Inc.
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International
Conference Keynote Presentation Released
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The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement has a podcast stream and makes available at no charge recordings of significant presentations.
A podcast is a series of files which are distributed through an internet feed, to portable media players and personal computers. A podcast is subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added.
These enhanced podcasts contain both audio and images and are accessed through the free iTunes program which can be downloaded here
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Click here to subscribe to the ACGB podcast stream |
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