1997

19th May 1997
"Seasons for Growth" Commences in Maitland-Newcastle Diocese
The inaugural group of adult supervisors for a school-based grief and loss support program will be commissioned during a special ceremony tomorrow afternoon.

Within the past two months 99 adult supervisors from throughout the Newcastle, Hunter and Manning regions have successfully completed the "Seasons for Growth" training program.

"Seasons for Growth" is an Australian program which has been adopted for use in Infants, Primary and Secondary Schools throughout the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

"Seasons" is based on the belief that grief is a normal and valuable part of life and that young people need to be provided with the opportunity to examine how grief as a result of death, separation or divorce impacts on their lives.

The educative process underpinning "Seasons" provides the opportunity for each participant to integrate, at their developmental level, the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to understand and to cope with loss and grief.

"Seasons" works in a peer-support format, with small groups of young people working through their problems together with an adult supervisor, usually a teacher or parent, known as a "Companion".

Among those attending the commissioning will be Pat Sutherland, National Director for "Seasons", Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle Most Rev Michael Malone, Mr Michael Bowman Director of Catholic Schools, Diocesan School Principals and the Diocesan "Seasons for Growth" Team.

The ceremony will take place Tuesday 20 May at 4pm in the Toohey Room, Maitland-Newcastle Diocesan Centre, 841 Hunter Street Newcastle West.

Back to Media Releases