Support Groups
The program offers support meetings across Australia for bereaved families. The meetings offer the opportunity to share, connect & relate with others who have experienced the loss of a baby. The meetings are set in a relaxed friendly atmosphere that enables you find extra support. We hope you come away feeling supported and understood from sharing amongst others who have had similar experiences.
Please click on the links below for support meetings in your state
South Australia
Bereaved families are welcome to attend the South Australian support meetings which are held central to Adelaide. The meetings are for parents who have experienced the loss of their baby at any gestation and any type of loss. The support group is set up for parents to share and connect with others who experienced the loss of their baby in a safe understanding environment. The meetings are facilitated by a qualified grief and loss counsellor and trained parent support workers.
- Meetings are held at St Cuthbert's Anglican Church
- Time: 7pm - 9pm.
- Place: 49 Prospect Road, PROSPECT SA (Please note new Venue)
Our Grief and Loss Library will be also be available on the night. If you have any outstanding books that you would like to return please bring them along.
Danielle Moffat
I have a Bachelor of Psychology from UniSA and a Graduate Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy from The University of Adelaide. After two long years of fertility issues resulting in an assisted pregnancy in 1998, I was lucky to have my son and then quickly later my daughter. However, after been told by three separate doctors I would not be able to conceive again I became pregnant in 2007. Unfortunately my beautiful daughter was born still at 20 weeks gestation possibly due to Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome.
Please contact Danielle if you will be attending on sameetings@pregnancylossaustralia.org.au
MEETING DATES for 2013:
First Monday of every month.
- March 4th
- No meeting in April
- May 6th
- June 3rd
- July 8th
- August 5th
- September 2nd
- No meeting in October
- November 4th
- December 2nd
*PLEASE NOTE Babies and children are not able to attend these meetings.
Tasmania Launceston & Hobart
Launceston
Venue: ‘Dayspring’ 8 Hobart Road, Kings Meadows
Time: 7:30pm – 9pm
Contact: Robyn McKinnon on 0419 544 110 or tas@pregnancylossaustralia.org.au
MEETING DATES 2012:
Currently on break until 2013. If you would like to be emailed when support meetings begin again please contact Robyn on tas@pregnancylossaustralia.org.au
*PLEASE NOTE Babies and children are not able to attend these meetings.
About Robyn (Tasmanian Support meeting facilitator)
Robyn is an experienced Counsellor with a Graduate Diploma in Counselling through the University of Tasmania. She also has qualifications in youth work and assessment & training. Robyn has been working in the welfare sector across Northern Tasmania for 10 years in a variety of roles and specialisations including working with young people, individuals, families and couples.
Robyn has particular skills in working with people who have experienced trauma, sexual assault, grief & loss, mental health issues, relationship breakdown, workplace problems, spirituality, and pregnancy and fertility issues in particular miscarriage and stillbirth. Robyn has been recognised for her work and commitment to helping people in Tasmania by receiving a number of awards over the years including the Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year in 2008.
In late 2009 after many years of fertility issues, Robyn gave birth to her son at 17 ½ weeks gestation as a result of an incompetent cervix. Her son ~Adam~ was stillborn. She later went on to have an early miscarriage before conceiving her son Will who she almost lost at 22 weeks but due to amazing medical support and bed rest eventually made it to term and brought her baby home with her in March 2011.
Hobart
Venue: Bellerive please contact for location details
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Contact: Annette on 0407 787 865 or hobartmeetings@pregnancylossaustralia.org.au
Support meetings are a place you can share your thoughts and feelings with others who have experienced the death of a baby or babies through miscarriage, stillbirth, termination due to foetal abnormality or neonatal death. You may like to share your story, ask questions, share your own experiences or just sit and listen. These support meetings are for you whether you have recently, or some time ago experienced the death of a baby.
We hope you will find the support you are looking for by joining the support meetings. We also provide a free Grief and Loss Library that is available to borrow from at the support meetings. Meetings are facilitated by a professional counsellor.
Meeting dates for 2013
Tues 12th February
Tues 12th March
Tues 9th April
Tues 14th May
Tues 11th June
Tues 9th July
Tues 13th August
Tues 10th September
Tues 15th October (Candle lighting ceremony)
Tues 12th November
Tues 10th December
*PLEASE NOTE Babies and children are not able to attend these meetings.
About Annette
Annette has been a lifeline counsellor for four years, including telephone /crisis counselling, student supporter, and shift supervisor of telephone counsellors. I also work for the StandBy response team for people who have been impacted by suicide loss. This is predominantly grief and bereavement counselling, but also includes practical advocacy and support for families, individuals and communities. I have my Graduate Diploma in Counselling and am halfway through completing my Master of Counselling - thesis research topic is 'resilience and post traumatic growth. I am now a grandmother, but prior to the birth of my oldest daughter (now twenty-nine!), I experienced seven miscarriages, between seven and twenty weeks gestation. I also had another at sixteen weeks prior to the birth of my third child. Back then there was very little support and understanding and it is a great privilege to be able to provide hope and share the journey with people who have experience the loss of their baby/pregnancy through PLA in this way.
Queensland - Gold Coast North PLA Support Group
We wish to warmly invite the grieving parents of the Gold Coast North area and beyond, to consider the opportunity to share and connect with other grieving parents in a safe, non judgemental and welcoming environment.
We hope to provide this support group service beginning in May with our first get together and monthly support session/meetings after that.
"COFFEE and TREATS"
Date: Monday 13th May 2013
TIME: 7.30pm - 9:30pm
Venue: Lakeside Community Hub, Rose Valley Drive, Highland Reserve, Upper Coomera 4209
RSVP and enquiries Karen Jefferson Karen@pregnancylossaustralia.org.au
To read more about karen, please click here http://www.pregnancylossaustralia.org.au/index02.php?id=272&pl=270
