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STATE PROJECTThe State Project is selected each year by State Council and supported by Branches and its members. Money is raised by voluntary contributions from members and specific fundraising activities. The 2010 State Project is The Compassionate Friends Victoria Inc.THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS VICTORIA INC. The Compassionate Friends Victoria Inc. (TCF) provides support to bereaved parents and siblings following the death of their son, daughter, brother or sister at any age and from any cause. TCF is delighted to be the recipient of the 2010 State Project of the Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc. and is looking forward to working with as many Branches and Groups as feasible throughout the year. TCF is a mutual support self help organisation committed to providing support based or shared, lived experience of parents and siblings who have themselves experienced the devastating anguish of grief. In any one year TCF:
Ongoing Grief and Bereavement Community Education programs are presented to a range of service clubs, hospitals, GPs, schools and community organisations. Through the Annual Compassionate Employer Recognition Awards caring employers are recognised. Since its inception in 2004, 118 Victorian organisations have been recognised. A recent sponsored research project on the social and economic impact on families following the death of a child found that 90% of respondents’ work performance was adversely affected. Those who resigned or were forced to resign, were out of work, on average, for 2.5 years. TCF is committed to raising awareness in the general community about the very profound impact of grief on an individual and the ways in which everyone can provide compassionate care and support to others. It is seen as critical to the fulfillment of this vision that the message is communicated to as wide an audience as possible and therefore fee free presentations are available to any organisation that may benefit. The community education presentation of TCF utilises personal narratives to communicate the various grieving styles and the experiences of the bereaved. Bereaved parents will outline their own stories with a general discussion around the kinds of support they received, what helped, what didn't help, how TCF was of assistance to them. Throughout the presentation, useful things one can say and do in supporting a bereaved person emerge. Question and answer time facilitates deeper understanding for the participants and can also assist at a deeper level where participants may be dealing with their own grief related issues. For a representative to visit your Branch or Group please contact Fiona Heylan at TCF: 03 9888 4034 or fionah@compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au If you would like to make a donation to the State Project please contact Head Office on 03 9827 8971.
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