Support “The Compassionate Friends” every time you shop and save more as a Customer with a Ritchie’s Card ….

To date The Compassionate Friends has received $3,866.13 from Ritchie’s Community Benefit Program.

We are asking you to get behind this program by clicking here to nominate The Compassionate Friends as your favourite recipient.

https://www.ritchies.com.au/loyalty

You will need to create an account either through the website or via the App.

To download the App search for the Ritchie’s App at the Apple App store or for Android users at the Google Play Store. Instructions are located on the Loyalty page of Ritchie’s Website.

If you are more comfortable with a plastic card please ask for one next time you visit your local Ritchies. You will still need to create an account through the website to nominate The Compassionate Friends.

Thank you in advance for getting behind this wonderful opportunity to raise money for The Compassionate Friends.

The Board and staff of TCFV are thrilled to announce that the Siblings Online Chat Service is currently operational, here.

We understand that opening your heart to grief is a lot easier to do when surrounded by a supportive, community of friends – people, who through their own lived experience understand what you are going through and are equipped to help.

This Online Chat Service facilitates the delivery of valuable peer based emotional support, specifically for bereaved siblings aged 18 years and over. It represents the piloting of new type of support offering by TCFV, who traditionally have only offered face to face group support meetings and telephone support services.

Whilst our team of Chat Responders have undergone comprehensive training to offer peer support, this pilot will not deliver a professional mental health counselling service.

The key principle behind this new service is that bereaved siblings access the support they need when it suits them via the ease of their mobile phone, to help them understand and manage their grief.

We are extremely grateful to the Bank of Melbourne Foundation for funding to pilot the development and delivery of a meaningful peer based social and emotional support program via an Online Chat Service. The initial pilot will run from its launch date of August 31, 2020, through to February 2021.

Help us share the news…if you know of a bereaved sibling that might benefit from the support of another bereaved sibling, please let them know of the Online Chat Service.

E-flyer is here.

More information for those interested in volunteering or a paid position here.

Are you a bereaved sibling aged 18-30?

Or know of a bereaved sibling in this age range?

TCFV is delighted to be announcing that it will shortly launch a groundbreaking support service for bereaved siblings.

We have long known that the life changing loss of a sister or brother can continue to have a profound impact on bereaved individuals for many years after the event. This can often trigger feelings of isolation in social contexts with a desire to meet others who ‘get it’.

With the generous support of the 5point Foundation and the Bank of Melbourne Foundation, TCFV has developed an Online Chat Service for bereaved siblings to access peer support from other bereaved siblings. This service represents an early intervention program with a mental wellbeing focus – helping individuals with experiences that can surround the death of a sibling. It is designed for those who prefer not to (or are unable) to attend our Siblings Support Group and those who find engaging via a telephone call less helpful.

This pilot program is due to commence from mid-August. We are in the process of doing some final testing of the service – stay tuned for the launch! If you have any queries or are interested in getting involved, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to contact us on: (03) 9888 4944.

Updated 11 June 2020

We are hopeful that in coming months the Centre can make a partial-to-complete return to Centre-based operations, but that time is not quite yet. Ensuring safety for our communities and ourselves is paramount.

TCFV has been guided by the following June 2020 guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services, (a) If you’ve been working from home, you must continue to do so, and (b) If it’s not possible for your work to be done from home, you can still go to work* 

24/7 TELEPHONE SUPPORT-LINE (9888 4944 / 1300 064 068)

This service has been provided continuously through the COVID-19 situation, but is coordinated externally from TCFV Centre. 

DROP-IN CENTRE

This service is presently unavailable.

SUPPORT GROUPS

As stated by the Department of Health and Human Services, “From 11:59pm on 31 May, small gatherings of 20 people, plus the minimum number of people required to operate the service or support group, are permitted. You should follow physical distancing rules and practice good hygiene including regular hand washing and hand sanitizing.”

This has meant that TCFV Centre has gradually returned to hosting support group meetings such as Menspace and the Canterbury Daytime Group on its premises. For information on groups that are returning to “embodied” meetings, please contact TCFV on 9888 4944.

Guidelines on attending support groups during COVID-19 are located here (please ensure you have read these before attending a group meeting): https://www.compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au/support-group-covid-19/

OTHER SERVICES DURING COVID-19

Please visit this page.

* …ensure appropriate physical distancing by keeping at least 1.5 metres between you and others wherever possible and practising good hygiene.