The Compassionate Friends Victoria Inc.

The Compassionate Friends Victoria Inc. TCFV supports bereaved families after the death of children, siblings or grandchildren. https://siblingsupport.tcfv.org.au/

End of Financial Year Appeal 2026, Help us be there first.When the unthinkable happens, families shouldn’t have to find ...
15/06/2026

End of Financial Year Appeal 2026, Help us be there first.
When the unthinkable happens, families shouldn’t have to find us alone.

💙 When a child dies, everything changes in an instant. In those first hours and days, families are in shock. They don’t know what to do next. They don’t know where to turn.

And too often, they don’t know we exist.

💙 The Compassionate Friends Victoria support over 500 families each month. But many of them are finding us too late. Weeks. Months. Sometimes years after their loss.

When what they needed most … was someone in those first days.
We are Strengthening our First Response to Grief.
So we can:

💙 Reach families earlier.
💙 Work alongside hospitals and coronial services.
💙 Offer connection when it matters most.

Not later. Earlier.

This end of year, we are raising $20,000.
Your donation doesn’t sit in a system, it reaches people.

$25 helps us connect with a newly bereaved family
$50 helps provide one-on-one peer support
$100 helps us follow up in those early weeks
$250 helps strengthen early referral pathways
$500 helps us reach multiple families sooner

Every donation helps us be there earlier.

💙 The Compassionate Friends Victoria support over 500 families each month. But many of them are finding us too late. Weeks. Months. Sometimes years after their loss.

When what they needed most … was someone in those first days.

One of the hardest things about grief is not knowing what to say to the people around you about what you need. But if th...
15/06/2026

One of the hardest things about grief is not knowing what to say to the people around you about what you need. But if there is one thing many grieving people would tell you, it's this: the worst thing you can say is nothing at all.
Silence can feel heavier than awkward words. We are already living with an absence that follows us everywhere. The person we love is missing from every part of our lives, and when others avoid mentioning them, avoid acknowledging the loss, or pretend it never happened, it can deepen that loneliness.
Please understand, we haven't forgotten them. We carry them with us constantly. We think about them every day. We want to say their name. We want to tell stories about them. We want the world to remember that they were here, that they mattered, that they were loved deeply and are still missed beyond words.
You don't have to have the perfect thing to say. In fact, there is no perfect thing. But saying their name, sharing a memory, asking how we're really doing, or simply sitting with us in our sadness means more than you may ever realise.
None of it takes away the grief. Nothing can do that. But acknowledgement reminds us that our loved one's life mattered not only to us, and that we don't have to carry the weight of their absence entirely alone.
In grief, being seen matters. Being heard matters. Remembering matters. Silence, even when it's born from discomfort or fear of saying the wrong thing, can feel like yet another loss.
- TCFV
Artist Credit: Blair Wheeler

A Week of Connection, Compassion and Community.This week I had the privilege of representing The Compassionate Friends V...
13/06/2026

A Week of Connection, Compassion and Community.

This week I had the privilege of representing The Compassionate Friends Victoria at two very special events.

On Thursday, I presented at the Hope, Healing & Heart Paediatric Palliative Care Conference, an event created by bereaved mother Jess Holmes in memory of her son, Henry.

Jess brought together families, clinicians, palliative care teams, bereavement services and community organisations to share knowledge, build connections and strengthen support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

It was an honour to share the work of TCFV alongside so many dedicated professionals and advocates who care deeply about supporting families through grief and loss.

Today, I was fortunate to spend time and present at the SMCT Grief Retreat, surrounded by an incredible community of people who understand the importance of creating safe spaces for grief.

What stood out most across both events was the kindness, generosity and compassion of the people involved. Whether they were healthcare professionals, support workers, volunteers, facilitators or bereaved family members, each person was united by a desire to ensure no one has to walk their grief journey alone.

At The Compassionate Friends Victoria, we know how powerful connection can be. We see every day how healing it is for bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents to meet others who truly understand.

This week was a reminder that there are so many remarkable people working tirelessly to support grieving families across our community, and we are grateful to stand alongside them.

Thank you to everyone who welcomed us, shared their stories, and continues to advocate for compassionate bereavement care.

We warmly invite you to join us at our Winter Solstice Gathering, an evening of light, connection, and quiet hope in a s...
12/06/2026

We warmly invite you to join us at our Winter Solstice Gathering, an evening of light, connection, and quiet hope in a safe and welcoming space.
In olden times, the Winter Solstice was a time of reflection and of welcoming the return of light. Let us come together to honour the darkness and gently make space for the returning light over a fire ceremony, readings and music as well as coming together over supper, mulled wine, soft drinks, tea and coffee.
Note that this is a MEMBER ONLY event and places are limited.
WHEN: Friday 19 June
TIME: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
VENUE: TCFV Centre, 229 Canterbury Road, Canterbury
COST: $10:00 to secure your place, this will be refunded on the night
RSVP: Tuesday 16 June

Even though we can laugh, smile, have fun, and even when it might look like we're our "old selves" again, we are always ...
11/06/2026

Even though we can laugh, smile, have fun, and even when it might look like we're our "old selves" again, we are always grieving.

There is a version of us people recognise; the one who can hold a conversation, find something funny, show up when it matters. From the outside, it can look like things have settled, like life has found its way back to something familiar. But underneath that surface, nothing is untouched.

Grief isn't only present in the moments of breaking. It lives alongside the ordinary ones too. It sits quietly while we laugh, not taking that moment away, but never leaving it either. It's there in the split second after joy, in the awareness that the heartache eventually outweighs the moment.

That's the part people don't always see. Grief isn't the opposite of living. It becomes part of it.

And that's where the contradiction sits. There is something almost remarkable in the way people can still feel warmth, connection, even happiness, while carrying something so heavy. But it's also where the pain lives, because every good moment exists beside the reality that they are not here to share it.

We are not who we were before. Even on the days we look like it.

That's the wonder of grief, that the heart can keep going, can still open, can still find light.

And it's also the tragedy too.
- TCFV

Like our grief support line, support groups, and online chat support, this new service provides the opportunity to sit i...
11/06/2026

Like our grief support line, support groups, and online chat support, this new service provides the opportunity to sit in a safe space and speak with a peer supporter who has travelled a similar road and has a shared experience of loss.

This Service is free and available to bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents who are current members of TCFV

An appointment runs for 45 minutes.
An individual, couple or family can attend the appointment with the peer supporter.
The meeting can also be conducted via Zoom
Please call us on 03 9888 4034 to arrange a day and time.
Important note: the following service is not a counselling service, rather it is a space to sit and converse with another individual (often further along in their grief). Expressing feelings and thoughts in an open and safe environment is a central part of the ‘learning to live with grief’ process.
For more information or to book and appointment please visit our webiste at
https://www.compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au/.../one.../

One of the cruelest things grief does is make people miss who they were before the loss happened. Before life split into...
10/06/2026

One of the cruelest things grief does is make people miss who they were before the loss happened. Before life split into "before" and "after".
Many grieving people are not only longing for the person they lost. They are also grieving the version of themselves that felt safer in the world. Lighter. More certain. More able to imagine a future without fear. Because profound loss changes the way people move through life.

Grief often alters a person’s internal sense of safety far more than people realise.
After significant loss, many bereaved people describe feeling emotionally different, even years later.
More vigilant.
More fragile.
More aware of how quickly life can change.
This is not pessimism.
It is often the nervous system adapting after experiencing something deeply painful or shocking.
Psychologically, loss can disrupt what is called our “assumptive world,” the unconscious belief that life is relatively predictable, controllable, and safe.
And once that illusion breaks, people often feel changed by it.
This is why grieving people sometimes miss the person they used to be.
Not because growth has not happened. But because innocence has been replaced with awareness.
And that can feel profoundly difficult to carry.
- Zoe Clark-Coates
Artist Credit: Shawna Erback via Pinterest

One of the things many of us discover through grief is that loss affects far more than our emotions. It changes the way ...
09/06/2026

One of the things many of us discover through grief is that loss affects far more than our emotions. It changes the way we experience the world. Grief can impact memory, concentration, sleep, energy levels and even the way our bodies carry stress and tension. It is not unusual to feel exhausted, overwhelmed or disconnected from life long after the initial shock has passed.
For many bereaved people, the greatest challenge is not the moment their loved one died, but the permanence of their absence. The reality that they are not coming back. The birthdays, milestones, ordinary days and changing seasons that continue without them.
From a lived-experience perspective, we know grief is not something you simply get over. It is a natural response to loving someone who mattered deeply. Their absence does not disappear because time has passed.
Over time, many people find they become more familiar with carrying their grief, but that does not mean it becomes easy. Some days you may feel steady. Other days may bring you to your knees. Both are normal.
If you are struggling, please remember there is nothing wrong with you. Grief is not a sign of weakness. It is a reflection of love, loss and the ongoing bond you share with your person who died.
- TCFV
Artist Credit: Unknown via Pinterest

Return to Work SupportReturning to work after losing a loved one is an emotional and often overwhelming journey. At The ...
09/06/2026

Return to Work Support

Returning to work after losing a loved one is an emotional and often overwhelming journey. At The Compassionate Friends Victoria (TCFV), we understand how difficult this transition can be, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Your Return to Work

The workplace can feel like a daunting place after loss—navigating expectations, conversations, and emotions while grieving can be exhausting. This transition often happens weeks or even months after a loss, reopening deep feelings of sorrow. While some people may struggle with openly expressing emotions at work, for the bereaved, the need for understanding and space to grieve is essential.

Everyone’s journey back to work looks different. You may need to ease in gradually, work flexible hours, or take additional time off for counselling. Grief can impact focus, decision-making, and energy levels, making even routine tasks feel overwhelming. While managers and colleagues may have good intentions, they might not always know how to offer the support you truly need. Some may unintentionally say the wrong thing, while others may avoid the topic altogether, leaving you feeling isolated.

How We Can Help

At TCFV, we offer guidance and support to help make your return to work as smooth as possible. Our experienced team can:

Speak to your employer and colleagues about grief and how to offer meaningful support.
Provide presentations or informal discussions at your workplace to foster understanding.
Accompany you to work and help facilitate conversations with your manager and colleagues.
We want to help create a compassionate and supportive work environment—one where you feel seen, understood, and valued.

If you’d like our support, please reach out to us at
(03) 9888 4034 or email [email protected].

You don’t have to navigate this journey alone—we are here to walk beside you.

Grief is the only thing we're all forced to learn without warning.No preparation.No instructions.One day life is normal...
09/06/2026

Grief is the only thing we're all forced to
learn without warning.
No preparation.
No instructions.
One day life is normal.
And the next ... everything you thought you
understood about the world has changed.
You don't really understand grief
until it's your heart carrying it.
Until it moves in and quietly
rewrites the story of your life.
- 3213keepsakelane

Photo Credit: White Ghost, Snowy Owl, Saskatoon, Canada.
photography by

Address

229 Canterbury Road
Canterbury, VIC
3126

Telephone

+61398884944

Website

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