In October 2021, a collaboration involving colleagues from across the Children’s Health Queensland (CHQ) Hospital-wide Bereavement Service, Paediatric Palliative Care Service (PPCS), Quality of Care Collaborative Australia (QuoCCA), Children’s Hospital Foundation (CHF), along with Standby: Support after Suicide as well as drawing upon the creative and practical energies of two families prepared to share their stories of loving and losing their child; together hosted the third annual Good grief this hurts! (GGTH) seminar. 

 

The intended aim for this free event is to build community capacity and practical awareness of what to do when a child or young person experiences the death of a significant person in their life. Focus was sharpened upon the grief experience for a young person following the unexpected death of a loved one. Conversation within GGTH forums invites all to participate, thereby encouraging a broad “community” response now and into the future.  By featuring contemporary theories of grief and loss related specifically to young people, coupled with highlighting supports offered by community service partners, all whilst delivered alongside those with lived experience, a robust and comprehensive conversation about young people’s grief emerges. 

 

With learnings derived from hosting educational events via a virtual platform, and by accessing QuoCCA funding assistance, the session was delivered with support from an external webinar provider. GGTH’s focus declares that an alliance of “head, heart and hand” is required and invites participates to engage this trilogy of feeling, knowledge and action when responding to the needs of bereaved young people.  

 

Over 521 registrations were received, and 297 participants accessed the webinar live or viewed the recording shortly afterwards. All registrants were urged to complete pre and post feedback via SurveyMonkey with reported positive impacts reported with an enhanced ability to support young people who have experienced the unexpected death of a loved one.