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About the event
This year, rain, hail or shine, Very Special Kids invites our community of bereaved families to ‘Walk to Remember’. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together to remember your child and share in a delicious afternoon tea.
Families can bring a photo, memento, wear a special colour or item of clothing in honour of their child/ren. During afternoon tea, you will have the chance to participate in nature-oriented craft as well as the creation of a collective nature circle as a shared ritual of remembering.
Location:
- Walk – Malvern Gardens – 1275-1277 High Street, Malvern
- Afternoon tea – Very Special Kids, 321 Glenferrie Road, Malvern
Please RSVP here by Friday 4 October.
If you have any enquiries about the event, please contact Justine at jrice@vsk.org.au or 0417 151 096.
Please note, as part of this event, we will be creating a ‘Remembering your children’ video that will play throughout the afternoon tea. Those unable to attend are also welcome to be involved. Click here for more information.
NOTE – this is a private event for children and families supported by Very Special Kids.
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Are you ready for a weekend escape in the beautiful Mornington Peninsula?
Thanks to Lord Somers and Power House, Very Special Kids can offer families a unique all-inclusive camp experience by the seaside. You will have the opportunity to meet other families and participate in a range of fun activities.
Lord Somers Camp is fully accessible for children and young people, including access to hospital/hi-lo beds, hoists and shower chairs.
You can expect to enjoy some time away with your family that is fully catered to your needs.
Please express your interest* before Friday 16 August here.
If you have any queries, please contact Chanelle Burns on cburns@vsk.org.au/0408 910 878, or Michelle Lantz on mlantz@vsk.org.au/0476 816 678.
*Please note, due to high-demand we cannot guarantee your place at Lord Somers Camp. Families who express interest will receive a confirmation email in late August. If unsuccessful, your family will be notified and placed on our waitlist for the event instead.
NOTE – this is a private event for children and families supported by Very Special Kids.
Date & time
04 October 202406:00pm - 06 October 202402:00pm
Location
Lord Somers family camp
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About the event
Join us for a very special day of lawn bowls, drumming fun, face painting and a free BBQ lunch!
This is a great opportunity for children of all abilities to try new activities and have some fun. It can also be a great chance to connect with other Very Special Kids’ parents and carers who understand.
Please note, we have limited spots at this event and will prioritise families based in the Casey, Cardinia, Peninsula and Gippsland regions. We are happy to keep a waiting list for those outside these regions in case spots become available.
Please RSVP here by Monday 2 September.
For more information, please contact Jodie on jvigenser@vsk.org.au/0419 773 294 or Janelle on jphillips@vsk.org.au/0428 240 031.
NOTE – this is a private event for families supported by Very Special Kids.
Date & time
15 September 202410:30am - 03:30pm
Location
Pakenham Bowls Day
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About the event
In collaboration with Ladybird Care Foundation, we are holding an information session for parents and carers more than two years bereaved, who would like to join with Ladybird Care Foundation to explore an opportunity to become a mentor for other bereaved parents/carers.
For more details regarding the peer mentor information session, click here.
Please click here to RSVP by Monday 19 August. The Zoom link will be sent to registered participants prior to the session. If you have any questions, please contact Damienne on dmor@vsk.org.au or 0487 523 155.
NOTE – this is a private event for families supported by Very Special Kids.
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About the event
Facilitated over four consecutive weeks, this is a connected series of workshops for bereaved parents and carers to meet and share stories of their bereavement journey.
During the workshop we will use narrative techniques and refer to Dr Joanne Cacciatore’s book ‘Bearing the Unbearable’. This structured workshop is designed to support healing, meaning making, and connection in your bereavement.
Four week program outline
- Week 1 – Introduction to other parents and carers, you will be invited to share stories about your child and their journey, as well as hear about the experiences of others. Participants are gifted a copy of ‘Bearing the Unbearable’ by Dr Joanne Cacciatore, a psychotherapist and bereaved mother. This book will be referred to in the following weeks. Learn more here.
- Week 2 – Further time to share and learn about the experiences of bereaved parents and carers. You can explore how people navigate or cope with bereavement and how this has or might change over time.
- Week 3 – Discussion about creating a space for making meaning and continuing connection with your child and an introduction to a practical and therapeutic way to do this privately.
- Week 4 – Reflection on learning and sharing experiences of bereavement, and how to promote meaning and connection in day-to-day life.
Sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings from 16 July to 6 August.
Please RSVP by Friday 21 June here. If you can’t attend these dates but are interested in attending the workshop at some other time, please register your interest in the link.
For more information please contact Andrew Martell at amartell@vsk.org.au or 0417 543 514 or Damienne Mor at dmor@vsk.org.au or 0487 523 155.
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About the event
A chance to reflect on your own grief with other parents and support one another.
Geeta, who has attended a number of the Bereaved Parent Support Group evenings, shared her experience:
“Being able to share (or not) brought a sense of safety in these small groups and has been a welcome space and time to look forward to sharing or contemplating our children and the effect of living without them.”
Future online bereaved parent support groups will be held on:
- Thursday 22 August
- Thursday 10 October
- Thursday 14 November
Please RSVP here or contact Tracey (tpaech@vsk.org.au) or Chanelle (cburns@vsk.org.au) with any questions.
The Zoom link will be emailed to parents who have expressed their interest prior to the evening.
NOTE – this is a private event for families supported by Very Special Kids.
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About the event
Creating Memories is run jointly by Very Special Kids and Red Nose, and is a safe an informal space for parents to spend time with others in a similar situation. Scrapbooking is a unique way to preserve and enhance your valuable keepsakes, whether they are photos or memorabilia. Please bring your special photos and we will provide the tools and materials to create your pages.
A light lunch is provided, and we can provide childminding by one of our volunteers, providing you let us know in advance.
Creating Memories will be held on the following dates:
- 5 December
Please RSVP to Justine on jrice@vsk.org.au or 0417 151 096.
NOTE – this is a private event for families supported by Very Special Kids.
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About the event
Creating Memories is run jointly by Very Special Kids and Red Nose, and is a safe an informal space for parents to spend time with others in a similar situation. Scrapbooking is a unique way to preserve and enhance your valuable keepsakes, whether they are photos or memorabilia. Please bring your special photos and we will provide the tools and materials to create your pages.
A light lunch is provided, and we can provide childminding by one of our volunteers, providing you let us know in advance.
Creating Memories will be held on the following dates:
- 17 October
- 5 December
Please RSVP to Justine on jrice@vsk.org.au or 0417 151 096.
NOTE – this is a private event for families supported by Very Special Kids.
GO BACK
About the event
A chance to reflect on your own grief with other parents and support one another.
Geeta, who has attended a number of the Bereaved Parent Support Group evenings, shared her experience:
“Being able to share (or not) brought a sense of safety in these small groups and has been a welcome space and time to look forward to sharing or contemplating our children and the effect of living without them.”
The final bereaved parent support group for 2024 will be held on Thursday 14 November.
Please RSVP here or contact Tracey (tpaech@vsk.org.au) or Chanelle (cburns@vsk.org.au) with any questions.
The Zoom link will be emailed to parents who have expressed their interest prior to the evening.
NOTE – this is a private event for families supported by Very Special Kids.
GO BACK
About the event
A chance to reflect on your own grief with other parents and support one another.
Geeta, who has attended a number of the Bereaved Parent Support Group evenings, shared her experience:
“Being able to share (or not) brought a sense of safety in these small groups and has been a welcome space and time to look forward to sharing or contemplating our children and the effect of living without them.”
Future online bereaved parent support groups will be held on:
- Thursday 10 October
- Thursday 14 November
Please RSVP here or contact Tracey (tpaech@vsk.org.au) or Chanelle (cburns@vsk.org.au) with any questions.
The Zoom link will be emailed to parents who have expressed their interest prior to the evening.
NOTE – this is a private event for families supported by Very Special Kids.
