Building Hope Together Conference
 
INTERACTIVE PLENARY


DR DIANA SANDS

DIRECTOR, BEREAVED BY SUICIDE CENTRE FOR INTENSE GRIEF

 PRESENTATION SUMMARY
 This interactive plenary will briefly introduce a number of National, community and peer suicide bereavement services. Research notes the vital role of suicide bereavement counseling, group programs, peer support, digital and other services in reducing these risks, not only in the immediate traumatic aftermath of suicide but in the longer term as those bereaved continue to navigate this difficult loss. It is envisaged that the ensuing discussion will inspire creative developments in postvention services, draw attention to areas of need, and foster collaboration among professionals, volunteers, the bereaved, researchers and postvention services.

BIOGRAPHY
 Diana Sands, PhD, Director Bereaved by Suicide Center Intense Grief, is a postvention, prevention clinician, educator and advocate for suicide bereavement services. Diana is the past Deputy Chair Postvention Australia and Honorary Consultant to Wings of Hope. Diana has published peer-reviewed articles, several book chapters and Red Chocolate Elephants book and DVD for children bereaved by suicide.



SUPPORTED BY:







JILL CHAPMAN

MOSH

BIOGRAPHY
 (COMING SOON)



CHERRIE CRAN

President, SOSBSA

(Survivors of Suicide Bereavement Support Association) 
BIOGRAPHY
 (COMING SOON)



LOUISE FLYNN

PHD
(Jesuit Social Services)

 BIOGRAPHY
 Louise Flynn PhD is a psychologist who has worked in the area of suicide bereavement for 16 years. For fourteen years she has been the Manager of Support After Suicide, a Postvention program of Jesuit Social Services in Melbourne, Victoria. In 2003, she developed an 8-week group program for people bereaved by suicide that is still being facilitated regularly in Melbourne. The focus of her PhD was group support for people bereaved by suicide and bereaved people’s experience of the stigma of suicide.





ROSE HOGAN

STANDBY
(North Coast NSW)
BIOGRAPHY
 (COMING SOON)



DARRIN LARNEY

Dip Bus Man; Dip OHS;Certificate Counselling

(SOSBSA (Survivors of Suicide Bereavement Support Association)) 
BIOGRAPHY
 Darrin Larney is a “Survivor” since 1999 having lost his partner to suicide. Volunteering with SOSBSA since 2000 Darrin has completed a number of courses in Counselling, Telephone Counselling and Crisis Intervention. Over the last 19 years, Darrin has worked as a Facilitator, Administrator, a Crisis Support Worker and as a Telephone Counsellor. He has held the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary and now Treasurer within the association. Darrin has testified at several federal and state hearings into Australia’s response to suicide as a representative of SOSBSA. Darrin has also co-authored a number of educational and informational resources developed in consultation with Industry Professionals and is an Author/Contributor to several “Lived Experience” books.



MANUELA MACRI

MA Drama therapy, Member ANZACATA, (CYPRESS (Children & Young People Responsive Suicide Support), Anglicare Perth) 
BIOGRAPHY
 (COMING SOON)



CEINY MAYBURY

LIFELINE
(Harbour to Hawkesbury & Northern Beaches)
BIOGRAPHY
 Ceiny Maybury delivers training in Suicide Prevention and Mental Health, to student Telephone Crisis Supporters at both Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury and Lifeline Northern Beaches. She also delivers training to other tertiary and corporate organizations. As a face-to-face counselor with many years’ experience in the area of suicide bereavement, Ceiny believes that everyone has the right to be heard and given the opportunity to share their grief. Group members, with the lived experience of suicide bereavement, are the experts in this area and Ceiny believes that those bereaved by suicide, benefit by sharing their grief with those who “really get it”.



JAMES BAUDZUS

THE WINGS OF HOPE

BIOGRAPHY
 Since 2013, James has volunteered for WINGS of Hope by helping to identify and pursue grant funding opportunities to support initiatives aimed at helping those bereaved by suicide. James is a Chartered Accountant and admitted lawyer in the state of New South Wales. He currently works in Macquarie Group’s Treasury division.



VIRGINIA PETHERBRIDGE

CO-FACILITATOR
(SOS Group Lifeline Hunter)
BIOGRAPHY
 (COMING SOON)



OLIVIA SAXON

MASTER COUNSELLING
(Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury)
BIOGRAPHY
 Olivia Saxon has a Masters in Counseling and Psychotherapy and has been working as a face-to-face counselor and Group facilitator at Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury for 6 years.

 
Olivia is lead facilitator for the Black Dog Institute REACH program for depression and bipolar disorder, the follow-up monthly open Wellbeing Support Group and more recently has joined the Suicide Bereavement Group team. Olivia strongly believes that groups provide a nurturing and safe environment for learning and healing, giving participants an increased sense of hope and connection.



HOLLY SMITH

SOCIAL WORKER
(Support After Suicide Program, Forensic Medicine Sydney)
BIOGRAPHY
 Holly Smith is a social worker that has worked at Forensic Medicine Sydney in the role of Coordinator of the Support After Suicide Program since 2012. She is responsible for the running of the Support After Suicide Group, Newsletter and providing counseling for families who have been bereaved through suicide. Holly has been a social worker since 2002 and has extensive experience in trauma and grief work.



PATRICIA THERESE BENEDICT THOMAS

PASTORAL THEOLOGIAN
('Mention My Name' Suicide Bereaved Program, Catholic Cemetaries & Crematoria Archdiocese Sydney)
BIOGRAPHY
 (COMING SOON)



MONICA TOMKINS

REGISTERED NURSE, MIDWIFE 
(CatholicCare Western Sydney and Blue Mountains)
BIOGRAPHY
 (COMING SOON)



HELEN TOMLINSON

MBSC (Hons) Psychology, Postgraduate Certificate Grief, Loss & Trauma, Masters Counselling (ARBOR (Active Response Bereavement Outreach)) 
BIOGRAPHY
 (COMING SOON)



JACOB TINDALL

STANDBY COORDINATOR

(StandBy West Kimberley)

BIOGRAPHY
 (COMING SOON)