Grief Connect

15/11/2025

Such great permission slips for those who are grieving. It's ok to give yourself the ok 💜💜

Consider these your 'permission' for the weekend to take what you need
cruse.org.uk

14/11/2025

Grief Connect® is here to walk beside you—wherever you are on your grief journey.
Learn more about our services at www.griefconnect.com.au/services/

Australian Association of Social Workers Australian Rural Leadership Foundation NBN Australia The Regional Australia Institute Dying to Know

14/11/2025

What an honour it was to attend the 2025 Innovate with nbn® Awards in Sydney and catch up with Georgie Somerset, Che Cockatoo-Collins (Australian Rural Leadership Program ARLP Cohort 16), and Wendy Hick—who I’m proud to journey alongside in my current ARLP Cohort 32.

Always a pleasure reconnecting with the incredible team at nbn—your energy, vision, and commitment to regional innovation are truly inspiring. I am very grateful for you support with Grief Connect® over this last year. I didn’t manage to get photos with everyone, but it was so good to see you all and share in such a special night.

It’s always powerful to witness how programs like Innovate with nbn do more than fund ideas—they connect people. They bring together regional leaders, changemakers, and community advocates who might never have crossed paths otherwise.

That kind of connection sparks collaboration, amplifies impact, and reminds us that innovation thrives when we’re in conversation with one another.
Programs like this don’t just support progress—they build the relationships that sustain it.

This year’s celebration recognised incredible trailblazers who are leveraging the nbn network to empower rural communities, in proud partnership with the Regional Australia Institute.

The night was filled with inspiration, learning about the finalists and winners projects.

Congratulations to our 2025 Innovate with nbn Grants Program winners:
🏆 Overall Champion & Education: RAIS Education
👨‍⚕️ Health: Well Balanced Care
👩‍🌾 Agriculture: WITHCOTT GROUP PTY LTD
🎨 Arts & Tourism: Australian Centre for Regional Events
🌏 Indigenous Business: First Nation Certified
🏒 Sports & Recreation: Alpha Learn to Swim
👩‍💼 Women in Regional Business: iDecide.co

Each of these changemakers is driving digital adoption, advocating for their communities, and shaping a more connected, inclusive future.

Thanks again to the team behind this program. I’m excited to be expanding Grief Connect services in 2026—grounded by the strength of this grant and driven by the needs of our communities.

There’s so much more to come!

Australian Association of Social Workers NBN Australia The Regional Australia Institute Australian Rural Leadership Foundation

13/11/2025

Hope doesn’t arrive all at once.

In deep grief, it often begins as a flicker — a moment of breath, a sunrise you notice, a laugh that surprises you. In tiny waves.

At first, they feel out of place. Then, slowly, they return.

Not to erase the grief, but to remind you: you are still here.

You are still capable of feeling something other than grief pain.

Grief changes you. But so does hope.

You are allowed to feel hope again, even when there may be pangs of guilt for feeling ok again.

Keep going, and keep reminding yourself you are allowed to let the hope creep back in.

Grief Connect® is here to walk with you — gently, patiently, without rushing life.

AASW WA Branch Australian Association of Social Workers

11/11/2025

Roundtable at innovate with nbn!

10/11/2025

It's wonderful to be in Sydney for the Innovate with nbn Award 2026 announcement tomorrow night! I'm looking forward to meeting the finalists and joining the roundtable event tomorrow, before the big announcement tomorrow night!

10/11/2025

One year ago, I was honoured to be named the Innovate with nbn® Women in Regional Business Award and Champion Award Winner.

That moment—and the grant that followed—marked the beginning of a transformative chapter for Grief Connect®.

Since then, I’ve been steadily building the Grief Language Project® Online Education Program, shaping it with intention and scale. Launching in 2026, the program is designed to equip grieving Australians with the tools, language, and confidence to navigate grief and reconnect with those around them.
But the impact hasn’t stopped there.

Thanks to the grant, Grief Connect services have expanded. Seminars and webinars are now available across communities and workplaces—bringing grief literacy into everyday spaces. The Grief Language Project Connect Cards have become a practical tool for those supporting someone grieving—offering gentle, confident guidance on what to say, what to do, and how to show up with care.

Online counselling continues for NDIS participants, EAPs, and private clients—ensuring rural Australians can access support without barriers.

Our Young and Over 55s widowed support groups have grown to nearly 2,000 members—offering peer support proudly grounded in Social Work values and practice.

The “After the Funeral – The Unspoken Next Steps” eGuide has officially launched. It’s a resource I wish I had after my late partner Nathan died—gently bridging the gap between the funeral and what comes next.

This year has flown by—head down, heart in. Always returning to my ‘why’: ensuring no one grieves alone, and honouring the enduring legacies of my late partner Nathan and my Dad, Neville. It’s a constant balance—holding space for grief while embracing life’s forward motion.

To this year’s finalists: congratulations! I can’t wait to meet you at the roundtable event tomorrow.

This award changed my life. May it do the same for you.

07/11/2025

A heartfelt thank you to William Barrett & Sons for graciously hosting the launch of the Grief Connect® eGuide - After the Funeral – The Unspoken Next Steps.

The evening held a special, meaningful space—where vulnerability was met with open conversation about grief, and the value of practical support was deeply felt.

The After the Funeral eGuide was created to ease confusion, reduce stress, and save time spent searching for answers in the wake of loss.

Whether you're grieving yourself or supporting someone who is, this guide offers gentle clarity on what comes next.

Thank you also to the Innovate with NBN grant for seeing grief as part of the national conversation on connectivity. Their support honours the need for accessible, emotionally attuned resources—especially in rural and regional communities.

If this guide could support you or someone you care about, it’s available here: https://griefconnect.com.au/product/after-the-funeral-guide/

William Barrett and Sons NBN Australia The Regional Australia Institute

07/11/2025

Myth: Social Workers have instant access to resources

Truth: Social workers often spend significant time researching, networking, and advocating to find the right resources for each unique client situation.

💬 Know someone who still believes these myths?

💬 What are some of the myths you keep hearing about social work? Leave them in the comments and we’ll debunk a few more.

📢 Share this to spread awareness and celebrate the real impact of social work!



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05/11/2025

You’re warmly welcome to join us—tickets are free and available at:
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1480796