An Australian First is being initiated in Geelong – National Grief Week. Although there are grief and bereavement days/weeks in other parts of the world, there was no Australian equivalent. We have ‘’Dying to Know Day’’ and ‘’Palliative Care Week’’, Hope Bereavement, Geelong, didn’t feel that these shone a light on general grief and loss. The aim of this project was to change that. And so National Grief Week was born!
We know that grief is something that inevitably affects us all at some point in our lives, yet as a society we are still not very good at talking about the experience of grief.
The MISSION of ‘National Grief Week’ is to change this!
Our AIM is to normalise the universal, human experience of grieving, by creating conversation, increasing awareness and bringing hope.
Our HOPE is that by facilitating, opportunities for open, honest, discussions about a topic that is all too often ignored or sidestepped, these will serve as a catalyst to bring people together to learn more about grief, and how we can better support one another.
As part of GRIEF WEEK 2024,May 19th – 26th , Hope Bereavement will be running a number of events and activities. Most of these are FREE or low cost, but registrations are essential (Tickets are limited).
You can see a full list of our events here: http://cal.ae/hamumuw
We will be running a launch event; art exhibition; professional development workshops; a walk and talk session; a film screening of ‘Speaking Grief and Panel discussion’; a drumming workshop; and creative workshops.
We have been lucky enough to get support for National Grief Week 2024, May 19th – 26th from Geelong Community Foundation, The City of Greater Geelong and Geelong Regional Libraries.
Hope Bereavement Care (Hope) is a not-for-profit organisation based in Geelong offering free information, support and counselling to residents of the general Geelong region grieving the death of a baby or child, grieving the death of an adult and grieving after suicide. https://www.bereavement.org.au/
Artwork Marianne Findlay, Cracks appearing.