RED NOSE (Including SANDS) GRIEF and LOSS SUPPORT GROUP GUIDELINES

We are so sad that you have reason to enquire about or register for one of our online support groups. We hope that you will find a welcoming, safe space to experience support and connectedness within our community of bereaved parents who have also experienced the heartbreak of a baby or young child dying, a baby being stillborn, a pregnancy loss or medically advised termination.

Our groups are held on a monthly basis and are up to two hours in duration. Here are a few guidelines about our support groups to help you to know what to expect before your first group.

• Our support groups are co-facilitated by two (wherever possible) specially trained peer supporter volunteers, counsellors, peer support team members or a mixture of any of these. We cannot comment on any medical issues raised by bereaved parents.

• There will be diversity within each group, including diversity of losses. In keeping with the principle of ‘no hierarchy of grief’, we recognise and respect the grief of all who attend the group to receive support in their grief.

• We understand that for some people just coming and sitting amongst other bereaved parents will be all they seek/need and so we do not have any expectation for you to share your grief story if you don’t feel ready or would prefer not to.

• We will try to create an opportunity for all who would like to share their story. At times we may have to gently move people on so that each bereaved parent has the chance to be heard.

• We are committed to the privacy of each person present so ask that all in attendance are respectful of this as well. We will manage all your information in a confidential manner.

• Children are not able to be in attendance at our support groups – in respect to the grief stories and emotion being shared within the group. We know it can be tricky joining us from home, but given that we are wanting to create a safe environment where everyone can talk very freely about their grief, we’d ask that anyone with children joins us where they can talk privately so that they (and all within the group) don’t feel they need to be mindful of littlies being present. If your son or daughter should enter the room, could you please turn your camera and microphone off while you tend to their needs – don’t forget to turn them back on again when you are able. Thank you for your understanding with this!

• Our support groups are for anyone aged 17 and over.

• If we don’t have any registrations by the afternoon of the group, we may need to cancel the group.

• Similarly, if you are the only one in attendance - individually or as a couple – as a result of people registering but not attending, we won’t conduct the support group as we usually would, but would love to offer you the opportunity to have a support conversation with a group facilitator(s) for up to an hour

• REGISTRATION THROUGH peersupportgroups@rednose.org.au is a requirement for all groups

Last reviewed: 5/4/24