Seasons for Growth provides the training required for Companions to deliver our small group programmes. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide details of where and when these groups are held, and we encourage you to enquire at your child’s school.

We offer two-day online training workshops to upskill professionals who seek to companion Seasons for Growth. Please view our training page or contact us if you would like to arrange onsite group training for your school or organisation. 

Yes. When completing the training workshop, Companions will either be  provided with or can purchase an instructional manual and a set of journals that will support the delivery of Seasons for Growth for children and young people aged 6-18 years.  Prior to commencing a group, Companions will need to ensure they have the journals for the small group participants. Only trained Companions can order materials.

As a trained Companion, you are supported with a comprehensive set of materials including manuals and participant journals and access to an online portal, implementation planning, communities of practice and professional development.  All Companions are encouraged to seek formal programme accreditation which requires them to not only train but also to implement the programme, attend a supplementary learning session and submit participant and self-evaluations.

Working in close partnership with Professor Anne Graham AO, from the Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University, additional resources have been developed to support communities.  

Seasons for Growth programmes have supported more than 400,000 children, young people and adults in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales.  An extensive evidence base for the efficacy of the programmes has been established through high-quality research, evaluations, practitioner generated evidence and participant feedback throughout the history of the programmes. 

The Children and Young Peoples programme is recognised in evidence-based programme directories with the Australian Government’s Australian Institute of Family Studies – Communities for Children Facilitating Partners Evidence-based programme profiles.

In 2019, the programme was recognised with a ‘high impact’ rating in the in Australian Research Council’s Engagement and Impact Assessment 2018–19 National Report and in Research Impact NSW report by the NSW Education Department.

Integral to the programme is the emphasis on working from the standpoint of the child/young person. This is informed by evidence that draws upon children’s voices and children’s experiences. This allows recognition that each child’s experience is different and offers insight into how multiple factors shape how children view, experience and adapt to loss. We now have a better understanding of how best to support children to help them transition and grow through their experience of loss and grief (whether following the separation and divorce of their parents or following death of someone they love).

Some children may ask to attend shortly after a loss, for others it may be months or years.

Where parents are requesting that their child attends it is still important for children to be consulted and to volunteer.