News & Resources

A new year is in full swing

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:15:00 GMT

Since my last visit to Samoa in November 09 there have been many developments, culminating in a 6 visit contract with the NGO Women In Business development Initiatives in Apia Samoa.

Sue marsden and myself will be working closely together with the team of WIBDI, working on self care as well as training togethere in how to support the team and provide basic counseling skills for the field workers of WIBDI. They work a lot with many families being severely affected by the September tsunami.

I am very much looking forward to continuing the work, and many thanks to Adimaimalaga Tafunia, Executive Director of WIBDI and all the staff for trusting me with this collaborative work.

Back from Samoa, a report for my generous sponsors AMDA

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:17:00 GMT

A request to come to Samoa after the terrible devastation of the Tsunami

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:25:00 GMT

Last Friday I received an email from RoseCharities Canada, with a query whether I would be able to respond to a request from the Samoan government for assistance with grief couseling stated as part of their 5th Government Release of the Tsunami Event.

I am leaving for Samoa on Thursday, initially for a week to do much listening and hopefully get some insight into the need for ongoing Trauma and Grief counseling and counseling training and maybe support workshops for relief workers.

AMDA japan is generously funding my airfare, with many thanks to you all!

Will Grut from Rose Charities Canada and New Zealand has been very supportive and I hope I can be of service in some little way

I am intially going for one week and intend to report back as soon as I return home

"Together" palliative care conference, Perth Sept. 24-27th 2009

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:05:00 GMT

This conference combined the bi-annual meetings of Palliative Care Australia and the Asia Pacific Hospice Network, called "Together, cultural connections for quality care at the end of life"

I have come back to New Zealand from this conference with many new insights and knowledge, the quality of the keynote speakers was tremendous and much development is happening in the important area of research as well as the constant strive for excellence in care. One of the highlights for me was the presentation of Dr. Bee Wee on the Sunday morning

For me it has been a real privilege to have been part of this combined meeting as an invited speaker. I realise that over the years I have met many people from places like India, Malaysia, the Philippines as well as Australia and NZ and that a true network has been established.

The topics of the presentations I gave at the conference were:

Grandparents Grief as part of the pre-conference pedeatric stream, with many thanks to Sara Fleming for the invitation to participate in this day.

Emotional and spiritual Self-care and self-awareness for health care professionals, with many thanks to Trish Wilson and Geoff Mitchell for kindly offereing me a space in their Masterclass

Spirituality in Palliative Care

Recent developments in grief and bereavement

Embracing difference as a bridge for connections.

I want to thank the conference organisers for extending the invitation to speak and for all the care and attention that went into this conference.

And many thanks to all the people I spoke with and who gave such generous feedback.

work in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:58:00 GMT

June 27&28, 2009 a 2 day seminar in Hong Kong

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:15:00 GMT

Last year, June 2008, I attended and presented at the Inaugural Asia Pacific Counseling Conference in Hong Kong

There I met Professor Dr. Catherine Sun, Head of the department of counselling and Psychology of the Hong Kong Shue Yan University. Catherine also is the president of the newly set up Asia Pacific Rim confederation of Counsellors as well as president of the Asian Professional Counseling Association. She has been working tiredlessly for many years in this field and published over 30 books related to culture, counseling and community.

Catherine invited Dr. Sue Marsden and myself to conduct a 2 day workshop called "Hope and Care for the Soul in the Helping Professions".

The participants were trained in many different disciplines, some coming from the medical field, some fresh out of Counselling training and Psychology training and others who had been working in the field of social work and counselling for a long time. I have so appreciated the input and expertise shared by this group, I feel I have learned much more about Chinese culture and approach to the field of counselling and I thank every one who attended for their enthousiasm and input. A special thanks also for the stories and insigths of those who worked voluntary in the aftermath of the disastrous earthquake in Sichuan. The stories of resilience and courage are heartwarming!

With many thanks to the supporters and sponsors of this workshop: the Asian Professional Counselling Association, The Methodist Centre, The Praying Hearts Counselling Centre and the Shue Yan University.

And of course to Catherine, who so generously gave this opportunity. I do hope we will meet again!

May 25&26 Care for the Soul Workshop in Mercy Hospice Auckland

Sun, 31 May 2009 21:46:00 GMT

Mercy Hospice invited Sue Marsden and myself to conduct a 2 day workshop on Care for the Soul. We were delighted with the interest in the workshop, it was full very quickly and we ended up working with a big group of people from different disciplines in the field. Their knowledge, wisdom and attentiveness made for a very rewarding 2 days, where I learned a lot!

A big thank you to Jean and Angie and volunteers, who made sure everything ran smoothly.

Sue and I both hope we can repeat this, so that the people who missed out this time, can attend a next one.

May 7&8, Grampians Palliative Care Conference in Cheswick, Australia

Sun, 31 May 2009 21:17:00 GMT

The welcome I received from every one in Ballarat has been wonderful. The conference was held in Novotel Resort in Cheswick, I hoped to see some kangeroos there, apparently I got up too late every morning! Loved the bird life though!

Reflecting back on the presentations of the conference, I came away with much new knowledge. I was very moved by the opening song of one of the aborigine elders of the region, Uncle Murray. The song was a lament about the beauty and change of the land.

The presentations that stayed with me were: a very informative talk by Kevin Larkins, CEO of pall. care Victoria. Palliative Care is fortunate there to have a passionate CEO like Kevin.

A great presentation on The Management of Nausea by Dr. Dave Brumley. Thank you Dave, even I understood what it was about and you brought it with wonderful humor, it kept my attention very well!

Thank you also to the other speakers, all of whom where bringing new information with very interesting topics.

And a big thank you to Jade and her team, the conference ran seamlessly and effortlessly it seemed! (Probably a bit like the swan on the water, full of grace and seemingly effortlessly and in the meantime under the water the feet peddle furiously!

And again many thanks to Dr. Dave Brumley, who invited me and who has been a marvellous host.

I hope to see many of the people I met in Cheswick, again in Perth in September for the Together Conference.

A big thank you to the SES group in Wollongong, Australia April 16-18th 2009

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:47:00 GMT

Last week I returned from the wonderful conference/training programme for the State Emergency Services, Chaplains and Peer Support Volunteers. It has been a privilege to work with this group, who give their time and skills freely and respond with enormous generosity, when called up to assist in disasters such as the flooding in Queensland and the terrible bush-fires in Victoria.

The stories of their service to the people in need have been heart-warming and very self-less. During these few days I have learned much about trauma incident and disaster response. The training of this group is very thorough and conducted by highly trained and skilled people, to name a few: Monica Kleinman, clinical Director, Craig Willmot Disaster and Trauma Specialist, Bob Smith, Chaplaincy-training and of course Gina Mammone, who is the co-ordinator of the training and the glue who keeps all this together and running smoothly.

And then all of the participants, who each had their own stories and experiences.

A heartfelt thanks to all of you for welcoming me with open arms and letting me be part of your community for a little while.

being part of the State Emergency Services training in Wollongong, Australia

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:07:00 GMT

Tomorrow I am leaving to go to Wollongong, Australia to work there this week. Last year I received an invitation from Gina Mammone, co-ordinator for volunteer and staff support, New South Wales Emergency Services.

She invited me to come and conduct two training workshops for the Chaplaincy and Peer Support Team Training. The topics are "Death and Loss without Warning" and "The Power of Hope in Times of Crisis".

I feel very privileged to be invited and look forward to working with this new group of people who do such courageous work in times of disaster. Gina wrote that they have been very much involved with the devastating bushfires in Victoria. I am sure I will come back home with much new knowledge about trauma and loss in times of disasters.