Supporting children through change, loss and uncertainty

4 October 2022

A new suite of programs, Seasons for Growth and Stormbirds by Good Grief-MacKillop Family Services aims to support children and young people, parents/carers and other adults in sharing their experiences of change and loss in safe and creative ways.

Recent events such as floods, fires and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has brought many changes and losses for our community. Higher levels of uncertainty have subsequently affected areas of daily life which raises many questions about the impacts and how we can best support children, young people, and our families.

Hawkesbury City Council has continued assisting our residents through recovery and as part of this, Council is facilitating three presentations in the Hawkesbury. The presentations will aim to assist parents and carers to understand and attend to their own and their children’s feelings, and to learn skills for adapting and recovering.

The presentations will also help parents and carers to discuss helpful ways to support children and young people adversely affected by natural disasters.

Presentation dates and times:

Wednesday, 12 October – online session for the Hawkesbury

ONLINE ONLY - 7pm to 8:30pm – link will be provided after registration

Wednesday, 19 October – St John’s Anglican Church

FACE-TO-FACE - 7pm to 8:30pm

43 Macquarie Rd, Wilberforce (car park entry via Old Sackville Road)

Wednesday, 26 October – Wisemans Ferry Community Centre

FACE-TO-FACE - 7pm to 8:30pm

3 Singleton Road, Wisemans Ferry

To participate in a presentation, please register with Council’s community Services via email hubs@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au or call Community Development officer Donna Keogh on 0427 521 532.

Attendees will be able to consider the range of impacts that recent events are having on themselves and children, explore ways of managing reactions of young people, and hear about creative ways of providing support.

For more information on the programs, contact Good Grief-MacKillop Family Services, Seasons for Growth and Stormbirds Programs – Benita Tait and Juliane Roebel-Hermann via CROcentral@mackillop.org.au