I shared ideas last Thursday around dying well with social work interns, who are learning by developing a public health approach to palliative care. During our session we discussed some troubling stories and how the intern’s positive input could help change some sad, yet avoidable hospital scenarios. This was part … Read more
Join us on February 9, as I and other guest speakers share our stories, knowledge, and experience about legal considerations, managing grief and bereavement, the benefits of memorialisation, as well as the importance of having ‘those’ conversations. Following the presentation, morning tea will be available along with the opportunity to … Read more
We’re back for 2023 and asking ‘What do you want to know about the non-medical as well as medical aspects of end-of-life?’ But first, a reflection. On replenishment. A week beachside with my daughters, their partners and their children was the best anyone could ask for. We were all in … Read more
Here, as we wish you a Merry Christmas, we list resources for those who find Christmas hard, maybe because they are grieving over the loss of someone they love. It’s edited from the Good Grief! newsletter published on December 14. But before we go to that, today is the first … Read more
This article was updated on 1 December, 2022. It discusses miscarriage with Tahyna McManus. by Sandra Moon Did you or someone you know wait until after twelve-weeks to share news of a pregnancy? I did and the reason was in case I lost my baby. I wanted to avoid those … Read more
This article was updated on 16 November, 2022. It discusses death from button batteries. At my place recently I bought fake tea-light candles so the grandchildren wouldn’t burn themselves. Their mothers looked at me in horror. The danger from the tiny batteries that powered them was much greater than the … Read more
We hit an exciting milestone today. We have had 50,000 visits to the Good Grief! website. We hope you’ve found it useful. Thank you to all the readers who have followed us and shared the Good Grief! mission to help people understand death and grieving a little more. To see … Read more
This article was updated 20 October, 2022. It features Dr Katrin Berger’s thoughts on pain management at the end of life. When Dr Katrin Gerber shared her thoughts about the important topic of pain management at the end of life, it brought back many memories. My mother died in a … Read more
This article was update on 12 October, 2022. It features Feel the Magic an organisation by John and Kristy Thomas. Every now and then we meet or hear of someone working in the grief space, with an idea that is truly magical. Feel the Magic by John and Kristy Thomas, … Read more
Grief is socially isolating but it doesn’t need to be – we can provide the community we need when someone dies, Joanna McIlveen explained. We were at a Professional Development Day for the Workskills teachers of the St George and Sutherland Community College. Jo’s presentation was profound. Here are some … Read more
This article was updated on 16 September, 2022. It features roadside memorials. We have a roadside memorial in the form of a floral tribute in my community. It is firmly attached by rounds and rounds of sticky tape to the pedestrian button at the traffic lights. It started with a … Read more
I’ve written about grief and bereavement for years, yet I learnt something new at the seminar by Calvary Bereavement Service yesterday. It was a simple distinction, revealed at the Living With Grief seminar I facilitated. In our interview counsellor Adele Elliott explained the variety of approaches counsellors can take, with … Read more
Don’t forget the Living with Grief seminar on Saturday, September 10, 2022. This is open to everybody – although we do ask you to register. (See details below.) I’m the facilitator and it’s been organised by the Calvary Bereavement Counselling Service, Kogarah. Good Grief! has been digging away, learning more … Read more
This article was updated on August 3, 2022. In Debbie Pepin’s case (pictured) the adults got her into trouble for wanting to talk about death. Debbie who lives in Austin, Texas, USA is a speaker, writer, entrepreneur, educator, and advocate for talking openly about and making plans for the one certainty … Read more
Death doulas are becoming increasingly popular in Australia – so what exactly do death doulas do? Because theirs is only an emerging field, roles and what we can expect from people who define themselves as ‘death doulas’ can vary. But what is becoming increasingly clear is that more and more … Read more