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*New Items
1. NALAG (Vic) Annual General Meeting 2008You are invited to attend the NALAG (Vic) 2008 Annual General Meeting at the NALAG Office, Suite 4 level 1, 182 Victoria Pde, East Melbourne on Tuesday 25th November 2008 at 6.30 pm.
Appointment of Proxy form 2008
Nomination for Committee of Management form 2008
Minutes of the last AGM (held November 27 2007)
2. Strenthening Australia's Loss and Grief Support CapacityDevelopment of Loss and Grief Resources for Consumers, Carers and Practitioners/Clinicians
I am pleased to invite you to be part of a national consultation to assist with the development of loss and grief resources for consumers, volunteers, carers and clinicians, in the health, aged care, mental health, disability, drug and alcohol, child protection and justice service sectors. Your input can assist in shaping these resources.
Loss and Grief
As well as bereavement, loss comes in many forms including relationship breakdown, unemployment, chronic illness, homelessness, incarceration, ageing or a loss that results from a traumatic event.
Following a loss it is normal to experience a period of grieving and transition where the loss is integrated into the person's life. When healthy grieving occurs people are able to achieve personal wellbeing and resume their normal life. In contrast, a failure to effectively grieve can result in diminished wellbeing and ongoing disruption to life. Grieving is a complex process and someone's capacity to grieve is influenced by the nature of the loss, their personal resilience and the context of the loss.
Grieving is a deeply personal and painful experience, but the support and understanding provided by families, friends and workmates can be helpful. However, specialist support may be required when grieving persists and becomes complicated. The experience of loss and grieving can be especially difficult for someone who is socially isolated or who is experiencing other significant difficulties in their life.
In the health and community service sectors clients present with many challenging issues that require specialist support and interventions. Experience has shown that when client's are dealing with issues of loss, identifying and responding to a client's grieving can assist in attending to their other needs. Experience has also shown that loss and grief work is demanding on those who are providing support and it is important for them to exercise self care.
New Resources
With the support of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, NALAG is developing a package of loss and grief resources for consumers, volunteers, carers, clinicians and other stakeholders in the health and community service sectors. The material will cover:
• Recognising loss and grief. • The health implications of loss and grief (physical and psychological). • Tips for managing loss and grief in everyday life. • How to support people who have experienced a loss and are grieving. • Recognising when grief becomes a problem (complex). • Looking after yourself when providing loss and grief support. • Where to seek help for ‘normal' and ‘complex grief'How You Can Help
As part of this initiative you are invited to participate in the project by:
- Providing us with your views, ideas, or material that you believe would be helpful in relation to your work. The project is particularly interested in obtaining any information and guidelines used by your organisation to manage grief.
- Responding to and commenting on the draft loss and grief resources when it is ready. It is expected that this material will be circulated early in 2009.
To assist with your response, please find attached a brief questionnaire. But don't feel constrained by the questionnaire. Your views will be welcomed in any format you choose. Your response can be returned by mail or email.
NALAG is interested in achieving as wide a consultation as possible. If you believe that there are others who are in a position to make a useful contribution, please let me know and I will get in touch with them. Thank you.
Any assistance you can provide with this project is greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you.
To particate in the consultation survey regarding this project follow the link below
Email to NALAG (Vic) or post to Suite 4,/Level 1, 182 Victoria Pde, East Melbourne Vic 3002
3. TRAINING PROGRAM 2008
LOSS is UNAVOIDABLE: Developing support strategies for the workplace
10.00am-4.00pm (Registration from 9.30am ),Wednesday 3rd December 2008. Venue: La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street Melbourne - Melways 2F B1 Parking: at nearby Queen Victoria Market for $2.00 per hour (max $10 per day)
Overview:
Personal loss and grief affects all aspects of life, including the workplace. Providing and experiencing useful responses can be an occupational health and safety issue for staff and management. This training will provide participants with knowledge and skills to work with others in providing useful responses to those affected by loss. No prior knowledge of loss and grief issues is required to benefit from this training and it is suitable for all levels of staff in the workplace from management to ancillary staff and all levels in between.
Aims / Objectives:
• To provide participants with an overview of current loss and grief theory and practice • To provide participants with strategies for use in the workplace • To explore loss and grief from the workers perspective • To reduce the impact of emotions in the workplace • To assist participants with an interest in developing workplace strategies on loss and griefPresenter: Ros Winkler B.Ed, Grad Dip Urban Policy and Research, Grad Dip Loss and Grief Counselling, Cert IV Drug and Alcohol Work, Accredited Counsellor, National Association for Loss and Grief.
Ros has a varied background including teaching, training, policy development, management and counseling. She has worked in both government and non-government sectors on homelessness, education, community support, terminal illness and addictions. Ros has experience working with people of all ages. She runs a small private counseling and consultancy practice and is also employed as Drugs and Safety Planner with the City of Boroondara , and as a counselor with Windana Drug Services. Loss and grief has been a focus of Ros's work for over 13 years.
Registration includes;
• A comprehensive workbook • A Certificate of Attainment • Lunch, morning and afternoon refreshmentsTo register/pay;
Please use the attached registration form and return by email info@nalagvic.org.au , fax 03 9650 5777, or by mail to the address below. Please register by the 30 th of November 2008You may register and request that we invoice your organisation.
4. Accreditation/Membership Renewals September 2008
NALAG (Vic) is currently sending out (by email) membership and accreditation renewals for the 2008/2009 year. You can also download the membership renewal form here.
5. Professional Indemnity Insurance 2008/2009 $160.00 per annum
NALAG VIC has entered into an arrangement to provide its members who are counsellors with access to professional indemnity/public liability insurance through CGU via Marshall Insurance Brokers at a cost of $160.00 per annum. This price has been reduced from the 2007-2008 price of $170.00. To be eligible for this insurance offer a person must be a Clinical Member of NALAG (a NALAG Accredited Loss and Grief Counsellor) or a Professional Member of NALAG (a counsellor who is registered with NALAG) with an income from counselling of less than $100,000 per annum. The main benefits of this Professional Indemnity Insurance are that it provides protection in the event that the policy holder is sued for giving ‘harmful advice' or in the event of a member causing some property damage or injury to a third party.
In brief the policy covers the member for.
- Combined Policy for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability
- Professional Indemnity Limit of $2,000,000 per member limited to $6,000,000 in the aggregate
- Public Liability Limit of $10,000,000 per member limited to $30,000,000 in the aggregate
- Coverage includes Breach of Professional Duty, Good Samaritan Acts, Trade Practices Act, Fraud and Dishonesty.
The policy covers participants in the scheme for the NALAG membership year from 31 October 2008 to 30 October 2009 . There are no pro rata payments available under the scheme. This arrangement has assisted in keeping the insurance premium low.
To participate in the Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme complete and sign the application form (below) and return it to NALAG with your 2008 - 2009 membership payment (if you are already a member) or your 2008 – 2009 membership payment and application form (if you are applying for membership or upgrading from Membership to Professional Membership). When your insurance application is approved you will be invoiced and provided with insurance details by Marshall Insurance Brokers.
Application form for NALAG Professional Indemnity Insurance
NALAG and Department of Health and Ageing projects
NALAG has undertaken some project work funded by the Department of Health and Ageing to develop some loss and grief material to support the work of carers, volunteers and practitioners (clinicians). NALAG is also undertaking some preliminary work that is looking at issues related to suicide postvention. These are exciting developments that will involve a wide range of stakeholders throughout Australia (from NALAG e newsletter, August 2008).
6. To view the full newsletter E Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 2 August 2008
NALAG (Vic) E Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 1 August 2008
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 2007
To request a copy of the Annual Report 2006/2007
Bereaved Fathers in Rural Victoria - Opportunities for Naturally Occurring Support
