Grief and Loss

Coping with major life changes such as illness or the death of a family member or friend can be extremely difficult. People with disabilities are more susceptible to the frailties of life. And those with intellectual or developmental disabilities will struggle even more to understand why major changes to their lives have occurred.

Disability organisations and their staff would benefit from having a greater understanding of how to deal with grief and loss, for the people with disabilities they support and their families as well as for themselves.

Contents

• The Centre for Grief Education
• The Bereavement Counselling Service
• National Association for Loss and Grief (Vic) Inc.
• LM Espie Counselling and Consultancy
  

The Centre for Grief Education
http://www.grief.org.au/

The Centre for Grief Education is an independent, not for profit organisation which is the largest provider of grief and bereavement education in Australia. Its mission is to promote, through education, consultancy, counselling and research, optimum support for grieving people. They offer many workshops, of particular benefit to the disability sector would be "Exploring Dimensions of Grief Within Disability" and "Understanding Disenfranchised Grief - The Experience of Silent Loss". Click here for a copy of their training calendar http://www.grief.org.au/docs/EdBroch2003.pdf

They can also tailor training to meet your needs. For further information about their services and rates, contact Fiona Hughes, Education Programs Coordinator on (03) 9545 6377, or (within Australia) Freecall 1800 642 066, or by email to f.hughes@grief.org.au.

The Bereavement Counselling Service
http://www.grief.org.au/couns.html

The Bereavement Counselling Service is located at 39 Sackville St. Kew, Vic. 3101. For further information phone (03) 9817 7266, fax (03) 9817 7277 or email counselling@grief.org.auYou can view and download a brochure on the Bereavement Counselling Service by clicking here http://www.grief.org.au/docs/BCS_Bro.pdf

National Association for Loss and Grief (Vic) Inc.
http://www.nalagvic.org.au/

The National Association for Loss and Grief (Vic) Inc. provides a Statewide Telephone and Referral Service which operates during the hours of 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday. If you need assistance you can ring the Association, (tel: 03 9351 0358 - freecall country Vic 1800 100 023). Or email info@nalagvic.org.au. They also arrange counsellors, self-help groups and provide a list of accredited practitioners.

Jan Tully their Education and Resource Officer can be contacted to arrange training. She especially has experience presenting workshops on "Loss, Grief and Intellectual Disability", these sessions often focus on the needs of the person with an intellectual disability when they are experiencing change and transition in their lives, their responses and strategies as to how to assist them. Call 03 9351 0358.

LM Espie Counselling and Consultancy

Linda Espie is a loss and grief counsellor, educator, supervisor and consultant in Melbourne, Australia. She has worked in the field of loss and grief for 20 years and has provided education and training to thousands of professionals and individuals in the community. Her lecture areas of expertise include - death, dying and illness, sudden and traumatic death, suicide bereavement, miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death, children and grief, adolescents and grief, disability and grief, parental separation and divorce and the impact of loss and grief work and stress on professionals. Telephone (mobile): 0418 568 166.