National Association for Loss & Grief Annual Conference 2011

Melbourne, Thursday September 1, 2011

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Grieving: A Natural Response to Loss

The theme of National Loss & Grief Awareness Week in 2011 is Grieving: A Natural Response to Loss.

The conference will explore the ways in which issues that arise following losses other than bereavement can be addressed within a loss and grief framework. Papers should address grief issues that are not strictly bereavement related, e.g. chronic illness, disability, ageing, homelessness, substance abuse, community grieving (disasters, critical incidents etc), refugee or indigenous issues where land, culture or language is lost, adoption/relinquishment, child abuse, domestic violence etc. Preference will be given to those abstracts that address the issue in a loss across the lifespan context (i.e. as it related to child, adolescent, adult or ageing populations or to communities).

Papers will be considered on the basis of relevance to the theme and potential interest to the sector.

Living With Life's Losses

In 2009 NALAG (Vic) developed the 'Living with Life's Losses' resource to support people who have experienced a loss and are grieving and those who support them.

Current Work of the Association

Who Is NALAG?

NALAG is a not-for-profit association of individuals and organisations that works to facilitate and improve the community's awareness of loss and grief issues and its capacity to effectively respond to loss and grief including bereavement.

NALAG's Work

NALAG undertakes its work through the following programs

Community Education Program  

The community education program is a statewide activity established to provide information and raise awareness which reflects service requirements and enhances the response of the community to loss, grief and bereavement issues.

The program is targeted at communities, community groups, Community Health Services, government departments, local government, the health sector, the education and training sectors, and individual members of the public.

Key activities of the community education program include

• community education and professional development (including delivery of the Block and TackleTM Groupwork Leaders Training and other professional development as requested)

• development of information resources (including the 'Living with Life's Losses' resource)

• awareness raising activities (including Grief Awareness Week)

• website

Community and Service Sector Development Program

The community and service system development program undertakes activities to strengthen the community's capacity to respond to loss and grief issues and needs. The program has a particular focus on improving the availability and access to loss and grief services.

A central element of this program is the development and support of local and regional loss and grief service networks. This is achieved by providing practical support including the provision of resources, information and connection to the wider loss and grief sector. NALAG also provides advice and consultation in relation to service development and support for local projects. The program also undertakes projects to identify service needs and effective pathways to accessing the available services. In addition NALAG's regional Chapters meet regularly and undertake a variety of local activities.

Importantly the Community and Sector (Service System) Development Program provides regular seminars and workshops across Victoria that bring community and government service providers together to focus on loss and grief issues and improve local and regional service provision networks. NALAG places a high priority on improving the pathways to loss and grief service provision at the local and regional levels.

As part of the Community and Sector (Service System) Development Program, NALAG actively participates in a wide variety of government and community sector policy and service planning activities. NALAG also undertakes specific projects to further the development of the loss and grief service sector.

Membership Services

The Membership Program is a core activity of NALAG that informs and supports the loss and grief work and aspirations of its individual and organisation members. The general membership program engages a wide variety of individuals and organisations with a special interest in loss, grief and bereavement.

NALAG supports its members with information and opportunities to participate in the loss and grief sector including forums and seminars. NALAG draws on the knowledge, skills and experience of its membership through consultations, regional groups (Chapters) and committees. The membership plays an important role in determining NALAG's activities and establishing NALAG's priorities.

Clinical Membership

The clinical membership with NALAG plays an important role in establishing and maintaining appropriate professional education, training and practice standards for loss and grief counsellors and educators. Clinical members are also full members of NALAG.

Importantly members support the work of NALAG and contribute to the development of improved loss and grief information and services in Victoria .

May 2010