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Are you grieving?

Location

Third Drive
Springvale Botanical Cemetery
600 Princes Highway, Springvale
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Supporting you in grief

CCW works closely with the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB), an independent, not for profit organisation which opened in January 1996.

As the largest provider of grief and bereavement education in Australia, ACGB has been providing support for bereaved and grieving Australians for over 22 years.

Much of the information we have provided to you on this website has been informed by ACGB. For more detail, please visit the ACGB website here.

ACGB explains that grief is our natural response to loss.

Guests at the Centre for Care & Wellbeing

"[Grief] is the normal, natural and inevitable response to loss, and it can affect every part of our life, including our thoughts, behaviours, beliefs, feelings, physical health and our relationships with others."

Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement

If you have experienced loss, you may be experiencing one or more of the following feelings:

  • Sadness
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Disbelief
  • Panic
  • Relief
  • Irritability

Grief can also affect your thinking and may cause physical symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, headaches, nausea, aches and pains.

This is a basic overview of how grief may be affecting you. For a better understanding, we encourage you to read the ‘About Grief’ fact sheet on the ACGB website here.

Your grief is unique to you

Everyone grieves in their own way and there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ ways to grieve.

Other factors, such as culture, gender and belief systems can also influence the ways you grieve. It is a highly personal experience, and at CCW we understand the importance of respecting that each and every individual will have their own way of grieving.

Helping yourself during difficult times


If you are grieving, you may not be putting your needs first. However, taking the time to look after yourself can make a big difference to your wellbeing. The following suggestions may help you to get through some difficult times:

  • Try to delay major decisions that cannot be reversed for 6–12 months, e.g. disposing of belongings
  • Keep a diary or journal
  • Create a memorial
  • Develop your own rituals, e.g. light a candle, listen to special music, make a special place to think
  • Allow yourself to express your thoughts and feelings privately, e.g. write a letter or a poem, draw or collect photos
  • Exercise to use pent-up energy, e.g. walking, swimming, cycling, gardening
  • Draw on your religious or spiritual beliefs and practices
  • Explore other people’s experiences through books, movies and articles
  • Do things you find relaxing and soothing, such as drawing, writing or listening to music
  • Try self-care, including meditation, relaxation and massage
  • To help with sleeplessness, exercise, limit alcohol and caffeine and try to maintain a routine, especially around bedtime

Books to support you in grief

There are many good books available to support you during grief. We also encourage reading as a way to cope and manage grief. Drifting away into a good book for an hour or two can be a wonderful way to bring back a sense of calm and focus your thoughts for a time.

Here are our top 5 suggested readings for dealing with grief and bereavement:

  • Library of Grief related books - Dr Alan Wolfelt
  • Dying to Know: Bringing Death to Life - by Andrew Anastasios
  • Coping with Grief - by Mal & Dianne McKissock
  • Stuck for Words – What to Say to Someone Who Is Grieving - by Doris Zagdanski
  • After Life, After You - by S.K. Reid

Further support from specialist organisations

Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement

www.grief.org.au

Phone: 1800 642 066 or 9265 2100

Get in touch to find out more

If you have any questions or would like to know more about the Centre, please get in touch.

  1. Contact Us