Issue 7 SJC News 2021

Last month Hope Bereavement Care (Hope) was lucky to receive a cheque for over $1000 from the students, staff and the community of St Joseph's College. Catriona Barnett, mother of Tom, who died in 2020 invited me to come to St Joseph’s and to be presented the cheque by a good friend of Tom’s and student Joel Edwards, and Principal Tony Paatsch. The money was raised over the last year by selling ‘yellow laces’ in memory of Tom, and to raise awareness about suicide.

Hope provides support to anyone grieving the death of a baby or child, the sudden or unexpected death of an adult and anyone grieving after suicide. The money raised by the St Joseph’s community will be used to support the Kids Grieve Too (KGT) program, a new service funded by the Costa Foundation. Kids Grieve Too was developed to increase capacity to support students grieving, particularly the increase of those affected by suicide grief. KGT is a flexible service model providing direct support and counseling for children, young people and their families, as well as capacity building for those in the community including schools and youth services, that support them.

Fundraising efforts like this one not only allow Hope to continue to support children, young people and families left devastated in the aftermath of grief but are incredibly important suicide prevention programs. Thank you to Joel, Catriona and all the staff, students and community members that helped out or brought yellow laces, we are so grateful.

If you need any support contact Hope via email [email protected]

www.bereavement.org.au