Grief Retreat Seminar
An opportunity for our community to connect and discuss themes of loss, grief and bereavement within a safe and supportive space.
This inaugural grief retreat seminar provides a welcoming space for those who have experienced the death of someone close to them.
Grief can be isolating, but it can also be held in companionship. This day retreat offers a gentle and supportive space to connect:
- With one another
- With meaningful voices and stories
- With our memories
- With new ways of responding to our grief
Keynote addresses:
Hear from two of our community members who have turned lived experiences of loss into opportunities for connection. Their experiences involve the death of a child, and caring for a loved one with dementia.
Small group sessions:
Choose from a variety of reflective offerings including music and imagery, gentle movement, book club style discussions of grief media, and using photography as a mindful pathway for connecting with the present moment.
You are welcome to share and participate as much or as little as you choose.
Who this is for:
Anyone in our community who has experienced loss and is seeking connection, understanding, or a space to reflect. There is no 'right' way to grieve and all experiences are welcome.
A gentle reminder:
The purpose of this day is to connect over our shared knowledge of what it means to grieve. We encourage all attendees to be mindful that it is a group space and to try and limit sharing personal or sensitive details that may be difficult for others to hear.
Some conversations may still feel emotional or challenging. If your loss is very recent or you are feeling particularly vulnerable, we recommend seeking individual support before engaging in a group space. Our service also provides free, confidential one-on-one specialist bereavement counselling.
An opportunity for our community to connect and discuss themes of loss, grief and bereavement within a safe and supportive space.
This inaugural grief retreat seminar provides a welcoming space for those who have experienced the death of someone close to them.
Grief can be isolating, but it can also be held in companionship. This day retreat offers a gentle and supportive space to connect:
- With one another
- With meaningful voices and stories
- With our memories
- With new ways of responding to our grief
Keynote addresses:
Hear from two of our community members who have turned lived experiences of loss into opportunities for connection. Their experiences involve the death of a child, and caring for a loved one with dementia.
Small group sessions:
Choose from a variety of reflective offerings including music and imagery, gentle movement, book club style discussions of grief media, and using photography as a mindful pathway for connecting with the present moment.
You are welcome to share and participate as much or as little as you choose.
Who this is for:
Anyone in our community who has experienced loss and is seeking connection, understanding, or a space to reflect. There is no 'right' way to grieve and all experiences are welcome.
A gentle reminder:
The purpose of this day is to connect over our shared knowledge of what it means to grieve. We encourage all attendees to be mindful that it is a group space and to try and limit sharing personal or sensitive details that may be difficult for others to hear.
Some conversations may still feel emotional or challenging. If your loss is very recent or you are feeling particularly vulnerable, we recommend seeking individual support before engaging in a group space. Our service also provides free, confidential one-on-one specialist bereavement counselling.
Good to know
Highlights
- 6 hours 30 minutes
- ages 18+
- In person
Location
Joyce Wheatley Community Centre
107 Terralong Street
Kiama, NSW 2533
How do you want to get there?
Agenda
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Grief Retreat Seminar - Arrival and Registration
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Welcome Address
Welcome, introductions and housekeeping by the ISLHD Palliative Care Co-Director, Dr Pippa Blackburn.
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Keynote Address: Dr Dom Frawley
As a GP in Nowra Dom has extensive professional experience helping manage grief. The sudden death of his teenage son headlines his personal experience of grief. Dom’s memoir 'MALACHY' explores family life with a son affected by childhood heart disease culminating in an early unexpected death. He reflects on the nature of grief, and the universal elements of bereavement, while sharing a close description of how it feels to live through loss.