The Peer Mentor Trianing Program was held on Saturday, August 28th with the first round of formal Peer Mentor training. Our trained Peer Mentors will then be connected with newly bereaved parents for a period of 12 - 18 mths to walk alongside them in their grief journey. 

The program will aim to connect bereaved parents at different stages of their journey:

• Peer Mentors - parents who are more than two years bereaved will receive extensive training by the Peer Mentor Program Lead, Amy Larsen, to provide peer support and information for newly bereaved parents (Peer Mentees).
• Peer Mentees - newly bereaved parents whose child was cared for by Children’s Health Queensland will have an opportunity to connect with a specially trained bereaved parent in a mentoring relationship.

• adjust to life following the death of their child
• find services and resources that may be helpful in their bereavement
• care for other children in the family who are mourning the loss of their brother or sister
• face especially difficult times, such as anniversary and birthday dates
• ensure their child’s memory is kept alive
• return to employment, and
• navigate relationships with other family members, friends, and neighbours as a bereaved family.

The service will start as a pilot program to ensure it meets the needs of the people it is designed to serve. Participants will be invited to share their thoughts about their experience through a service evaluation during the trial. This feedback will be used to shape the final program that will reach more bereaved family members in the future.

We are seeking expressions of interest for both Peer Mentors and Peer Mentees. If you would like to hear more about the opportunity to be involved in this program, please get in touch with Amy Larsen via email or phone 0457 185 677. 

(Excerpt taken from "Living Forward Newsletter", Bereavement Care Services, QLD Children's Hospital)