It’s OK to talk about suicide – Community Awareness Walk

Tom's Block, Royal Botanical Gardens, Melbourne Tom's Block, Royal Botanical Gardens, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

World Suicide Day is on Sunday, September 10.

To mark this day you can join us for a Community Walk. Anyone who has been touched by suicide is welcome.

It will be a gentle walk with some brief formalities and other activities which will give people the opportunity to remember their loved ones.

The theme for the walk is “It’s OK to talk about suicide” because we want to create awareness about the appropriate ways to talk about suicide and bereavement.

Free

Sensing a Way through Grief: Creativity and Grief

via Zoom , Australia

What are the various forms of creativity that come from grief?

In this session, we will explore the role of creativity in living with grief, and the places from which creativity can emerge.
We will also explore the “felt sense”, a special kind of internal bodily awareness.

This session will be facilitated by Greg Roberts and Jeanette Roberts. Greg is a social worker, counsellor & educator. Jeanette is a sociologist, writer/editor and teacher. She has written the books “Journey Through The Abyss” and “Art of Healing the Self”.

Free

The Changeable Nature of the Grief Experience: Explained Through Metaphor

via Zoom , Australia

Grief has a random nature. It is not sequential or linear – it is highly individual.

Grief can be likened to many things. Metaphors can be a good way to try to depict what the changing grief experience is like for each of us, and so we will use metaphor in this session to gain further insight into our grief journeys.

This session will be facilitated by Su-Rose McIntyre, counsellor and author of “The Grief Kaleidoscope: Metaphors for Grief” (Morning Star Publishing).

Free

Worldwide Candle Lighting Service

Camberwell Uniting Church Hall 314 Camberwell Rd, Camberwell, Victoria, Australia

Join us for our Candle Lighting Service.

The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting unites family and friends around the globe in lighting candles for one hour to honour the memories of our sons, daughters, brothers and sisters.

Highlights: Guest speaker, poems and readings by bereaved parents and siblings, candle lighting including the reading of names, slideshow of photos, sharing time, hugs, tears and laughter.

Donations accepted

TCFV Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser – We need your help!

Bunnings Box Hill South 259 Middleborough Rd, Box Hill VIC 3128, VIC, Australia

Sunday 17 December from 9:00am to 4:30pm

We need your help at Bunnings Warehouse Box Hill South

It should be a fun day – lots of people to chat to and you’ll be doing a good thing for TCFV!

Express Yourself Through Art

The Compassionate Friends Victoria Centre 229 Canterbury Road, Canterbury, Victoria, Australia

Note: This month only, it's being held on the 4th Monday of the month - 22nd January.

We are thrilled to have Lauren Foster facilitate an exciting new activity - “Express yourself through Art” for all TCFV members.

Lauren is an experienced volunteer, recent Board member and bereaved mother of Rex. In addition, Lauren is an experienced art therapist who works professionally in this area. This activity will be provided free of charge (including all materials) to our members.

Topics Around Grief: Finding Ways to Cope

via Zoom , Australia

‘There is no “one size fits all” in coping with grief.’

In this workshop, we will discuss the many varied strategies we have used in the years since our children’s and siblings’ deaths to cope with the enormity of their loss. What practical activities or insights have given us a renewed sense of purpose or consolation?

Free

As the Leaves Fall – Autumn Social

via Zoom , Australia

Join us at the centre for our next social evening and share in some food, make some new friends or connect with old ones. Take advantage of what’s left of the long, sunny evenings before we prepare for the onslaught of Winter.

Free

Topics Around Grief: Caring for the Bereaved

via Zoom , Australia

Caring for the Bereaved

The bereaved are any individuals who have suffered the death of a loved one. This TOPICS AROUND GRIEF discussion workshop is unusual in that it is not just open to members, it is also open to any family members or friends or anyone you know who might be interested to find out more about being supportive towards bereaved people like us. The workshop will look at current thinking and practical ideas regarding how to support the bereaved.

Free

The Compassionate Friends Walk 2 Remember 2018

To be Confirmed

The Compassionate Friends Walk to Remember is an opportunity to connect with other bereaved families and talk freely about your child, brother or sister or grandchild in a safe, relaxed environment.