MacKillop Seasons

MacKillop Seasons MacKillop Seasons help build the wellbeing and resilience of communities following adversity.

MacKillop Seasons' programs aim to strengthen the social and emotional well being of people who are experiencing major life changes and losses such as death, separation and divorce by supporting them to explore the impact of change and loss on everyday life and to learn new ways to respond. Written by Professor Anne Graham and built upon J William Worden’s theory of grief, our flagship program Seasons for Growth is an innovative grief and loss education program that uses the imagery of the seasons to illustrate the experience of grief. Our education programs are evidence based, and many external evaluations over the years have continued to affirm Seasons for Growth and its contribution to the lives of people touched by loss and grief. Throughout its 20 year lifespan the Seasons for Growth Children and Young People’s Program has gone through three iterations to incorporate new evidence and ensure that it continues to provide a relevant and highly valued experience for participants. Over its lifetime, over 200,000 children and young people have participated in the Seasons for Growth Program, along with thousands of adults.

30/12/2025

As we approach our 30-year anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on 2025, a year of growth, resilience and connection. Every season brought new opportunities to connect, evolve, and grow together.

💛Celebrating Program Development
Improved programs in 2025 helped us reach more children and families facing change and loss.

💛Connecting at Conferences Worldwide
From Canada to New Zealand and across Australia, Seasons for Growth connected at conferences to share knowledge, foster change, and make a global impact.

💛Recognising Our Partners
Grateful to our partners who help Seasons for Growth reach schools and communities worldwide, training Companions to deliver the program across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, Singapore, Barbados, and Sweden.

💛Reflecting on Our Impact
Together, we’ve reached over half a million children and young people in schools and communities.
Here’s to continuing this vital work in 2026!

💛2026: Welcoming 30 Years of Seasons for Growth
“We remain committed to empowering communities and fostering hope.”
Fiona McCallum,
Director, MacKillop Seasons

Here’s to continuing our work and extending our reach in 2026!


🌟 Navigating Grief in the New Year 🌟The New Year often symbolizes fresh starts and new beginnings, but if you’re grievin...
28/12/2025

🌟 Navigating Grief in the New Year 🌟

The New Year often symbolizes fresh starts and new beginnings, but if you’re grieving, it can feel overwhelming.

When we lose someone, we love, the passing of time can feel like we are moving further away from them. As the world celebrates, you might just want to press pause.

How do you say “Happy New Year” to someone who is grieving?
Instead of the usual greeting, try:

"I'm thinking of you and your family right now, knowing this time of year can be especially hard."

"I'd love to hear stories about (loved one's name)."

"We miss (loved one's name) too, and we're thinking of all the wonderful memories we shared."

The most important thing is simply to reach out and let them know you are thinking of them.

🌻 A Season of Rest The holiday season looks different for everyone. For some, it’s full of social gatherings and celebra...
27/12/2025

🌻 A Season of Rest

The holiday season looks different for everyone. For some, it’s full of social gatherings and celebrations. For others, it’s a time to slow down and recharge.

💛 Whatever this season looks like for you, make space for rest.
🌿 Take time for yourself.
🤝 Be present with loved ones.

Your wellbeing matters, pause, breathe, and enjoy the moments that matter most.

https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/

24/12/2025

✨ Wishing You Joy and Wellness this Holiday Season ✨

As we wrap up the year, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your collaboration and continued support. You are an invaluable part of our journey, and we couldn’t do this without you!
As we look ahead to the New Year, we wish you peace, resilience, and hope.

Remember to take care of yourself during this busy season, your wellbeing matters.
Here are some practical steps to support yourself this holiday season:

👉 Read our Mindful Guide
https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/knowledgebase/article/KA-01189/en-us

23/12/2025

🕯️Remembering Loved Ones This Holiday Season 🕯️

The holidays can be a beautiful time of connection, but they can also be challenging, stirring up feelings of longing when you’re missing someone special. It’s completely normal for grief to feel more present this time of year.

Whether you create a quiet moment of reflection, celebrate their traditions, write a letter, or share stories with family, these small acts can help you feel connected in a way that feels right for you.

Gentle ways to honour loved ones:

❄️ Display or share photos or home videos
❄️ Light a candle or make a memorial ornament
❄️ Cook their favourite recipe
❄️ Share memories
❄️ Take care of yourself and remember, it's okay to set boundaries, rest, and seek support.

There’s no right or wrong way to grieve. Do what feels right for you. Here are some gentle, practical ways to care for yourself this holiday season:

💙 A Mindful Guide to Looking After Yourself
https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/knowledgebase/article/KA-01189/en-us

🎄 Navigating Christmas While Grieving 💛Christmas often means joy and togetherness, but for those grieving, it can feel v...
22/12/2025

🎄 Navigating Christmas While Grieving 💛

Christmas often means joy and togetherness, but for those grieving, it can feel very different.

Here are some gentle ideas:

✨ Redefine expectations — Christmas doesn’t have to look the same as before
✨ Create new rituals — share stories, play their favourite music, light a candle
✨ Honour your grief — celebrating doesn’t mean forgetting
✨ Practice self-care — take breaks, set boundaries, rest when needed
✨ Choose what feels right, even if that means skipping celebrations.

There’s no one way to grieve. Be kind to yourself and do what works for you.

If you or someone you know needs support during this season, we’ve created a helpful resource to guide you:

👉 A Mindful Guide to Looking After Yourself
https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/knowledgebase/article/KA-01189/en-us

🎄 This Season, Choose Presence Over Presents 🎁The greatest gift we can offer is our time and presence.✨ Here are a few w...
21/12/2025

🎄 This Season, Choose Presence Over Presents 🎁

The greatest gift we can offer is our time and presence.

✨ Here are a few ways to be truly present:

🌿 Practice mindfulness
💛 Create space for self-care
🕊 Connect meaningfully with loved ones

Discover more tips in A Mindful Guide to looking after yourself this holiday season.
https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/knowledgebase/article/KA-01189/en-us

As we approach the end of the calendar year, many students may be contemplating the momentous transition from primary to...
18/12/2025

As we approach the end of the calendar year, many students may be contemplating the momentous transition from primary to secondary school. Read our case study on how one of our long-term Companions has supported students to navigate this important life stage.
https://ow.ly/HuaU50XLgSn

This term, our Seasons for Life Coordinator visited schools across the Eyre Peninsula in SA and checked in with two incr...
18/12/2025

This term, our Seasons for Life Coordinator visited schools across the Eyre Peninsula in SA and checked in with two incredible Companions in Port Lincoln.

Natalie, trained in Seasons for Growth in Port Augusta in 2024, and Emily, who completed her training online, have since led multiple groups at their schools—helping children and young people navigate grief, loss, and change.

Their collaboration and unwavering dedication to the wellbeing of young people is truly inspirational.

Find out more about the Seasons for Life Initiative https://ow.ly/zBk150XLh7N

🦉 Stormbirds Disaster Readiness Initiative: Building Resilience Through Social-Emotional LearningMacKillop Seasons is pr...
17/12/2025

🦉 Stormbirds Disaster Readiness Initiative: Building Resilience Through Social-Emotional Learning
MacKillop Seasons is proud to announce funding from the Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund and the NSW Government for the Stormbirds Disaster Readiness Initiative.
This initiative will support schools and communities in QLD, NSW, and Victoria impacted by, and preparing for disasters. Our goal? To strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity for children, young people, adults, and staff facing extreme weather and disaster events.
Why it matters:
💡 1.4 million Australian children and young people experience a disaster or extreme weather event each year.
💡 The impact on mental health, education, and homelessness is estimated at $3.1 billion annually.
What we offer:
✔ Training & workshops for professionals to deliver social-emotional learning programs
✔ Tailored consultation and coaching from expert Resilience Officers
✔ Culturally responsive support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
✔ Staff professional learning sessions
✔ Online resources co-created with communities
Together, we’re building resilience for the future.

Find out more https://ow.ly/eAr950XKHba


👉 Media Release https://ow.ly/JqJ450XKHbc

15/12/2025

Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by last night’s tragic events. In moments like these, let’s lean on each other, check in with friends, and show kindness wherever we can. Please reach out for help from a trusted support or local service.

Refer to our networks of support guide:
🦋 Counselling Helplines | MacKillop Seasons.
https://ow.ly/vzxm50XJrOV

For parents and carers, Emerging Minds Australia have helpful resources to assist with age-appropriate conversations with children.
🦋 Talking to Children About Violent Events: Read Here.
https://ow.ly/bFp850XJrOT

Please take care of yourself and those around you.

Be the captain of your ship.You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails and make good choices.Change and l...
14/12/2025

Be the captain of your ship.

You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails and make good choices.

Change and loss can impact a children and young person’s sense of identity and confidence. But with the right support, they can build resilience, make positive choices, and grow stronger.

Seasons for Growth helps children and young people navigate life’s changes with confidence and resilience.

https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/programs/seasons-for-growth-children-and-young-people/

Address

11-14 Rodborough Road, Frenchs Forest
Sydney, NSW
2086

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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Our Story

Good Grief's programs aim to strengthen the social and emotional well being of people who are experiencing major life changes and losses such as death, separation and divorce by supporting them to explore the impact of change and loss on everyday life and to learn new ways to respond. Written by Professor Anne Graham and built upon J William Worden’s theory of grief, our flagship program, Seasons for Growth, is an innovative grief, change and loss education program that uses the imagery of the seasons to illustrate the experience of grief. Our education programs are evidence based, and many external evaluations over the years have continued to affirm Seasons for Growth and its contribution to the lives of people touched by loss and grief. Throughout its 21 year lifespan Seasons for Growth Children and Young People’s Program has gone through three iterations to incorporate new evidence and ensure that it continues to provide a relevant and highly valued experience for participants. Over its lifetime, over 200,000 children and young people have participated in Seasons for Growth, along with thousands of adults.

The unique thing about our programs is that they enable you to become a Companion and make a difference within your own community. That way, children do not need to be removed from their familiar environment or work with unfamiliar faces in order to learn skills to help them become more emotionally adaptable, resilient and learn how to respond positively to change, in other words, life-skills. You are also empowered to respond to a need when it arises and within your own time-frame.