MacKillop Seasons

MacKillop Seasons MacKillop Seasons help build the wellbeing and resilience of communities following adversity.

MacKillop Seasons' programs aim to strengthen the social and emotional well being of people who are experiencing major life changes and losses such as death, separation and divorce by supporting them to explore the impact of change and loss on everyday life and to learn new ways to respond. Written by Professor Anne Graham and built upon J William Worden’s theory of grief, our flagship program Seasons for Growth is an innovative grief and loss education program that uses the imagery of the seasons to illustrate the experience of grief. Our education programs are evidence based, and many external evaluations over the years have continued to affirm Seasons for Growth and its contribution to the lives of people touched by loss and grief. Throughout its 20 year lifespan the Seasons for Growth Children and Young People’s Program has gone through three iterations to incorporate new evidence and ensure that it continues to provide a relevant and highly valued experience for participants. Over its lifetime, over 200,000 children and young people have participated in the Seasons for Growth Program, along with thousands of adults.

14/01/2026

Stronger Together.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by the bushfires, support is available through our fully funded Stormbirds Disaster Readiness Initiative.

This initiative is available to schools and communities in VIC, QLD & NSW impacted by, and preparing for, disasters. Our aim is to help children, young people, and staff strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity during these challenging times.

We build community capacity by training local professionals in schools and community organisations to deliver MacKillop Seasons programs for children, young people, and adults.

Connect with a Seasons Resilience Officer by email:
resilience@mackillop.org.au

Learn more:
Media Release
https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/knowledgebase/article/KA-01195/en-us

Learn more
https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/Disaster-Ready-Offerings.pdf

11/01/2026

🧡 “Comfortable.” “Flexible.” “Highly interactive.” “Accessible.” 🧡

These are just some of the words our trained Companions use to describe our online training experience.

Our Seasons for Growth programs provide educators with the tools to support children and young people through change, loss, and grief, building resilience and wellbeing in your school community.

Join us online or in person for Seasons for Growth Children & Young People Companion Training

📅 January | February | March 2026

Learn, connect, and grow.

👉 Register now:
https://ow.ly/ILXG50XTRff

🌱 Reflecting on 2025: Stories of Growth and Resilience 🌱We’re proud to share inspiring stories, videos, and podcasts tha...
08/01/2026

🌱 Reflecting on 2025: Stories of Growth and Resilience 🌱

We’re proud to share inspiring stories, videos, and podcasts that showcase the breadth and depth of our work. A heartfelt thank you to all the young people and teachers who shared their insights to help us reflect on the impact of Seasons for Growth in 2025.

🦋 Explore these stories and outcomes to see how Seasons for Growth is making a difference:
https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/stories-and-outcomes/

30/12/2025

As we approach our 30-year anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on 2025, a year of growth, resilience and connection. Every season brought new opportunities to connect, evolve, and grow together.

💛Celebrating Program Development
Improved programs in 2025 helped us reach more children and families facing change and loss.

💛Connecting at Conferences Worldwide
From Canada to New Zealand and across Australia, Seasons for Growth connected at conferences to share knowledge, foster change, and make a global impact.

💛Recognising Our Partners
Grateful to our partners who help Seasons for Growth reach schools and communities worldwide, training Companions to deliver the program across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, Singapore, Barbados, and Sweden.

💛Reflecting on Our Impact
Together, we’ve reached over half a million children and young people in schools and communities.
Here’s to continuing this vital work in 2026!

💛2026: Welcoming 30 Years of Seasons for Growth
“We remain committed to empowering communities and fostering hope.”
Fiona McCallum,
Director, MacKillop Seasons

Here’s to continuing our work and extending our reach in 2026!


🌟 Navigating Grief in the New Year 🌟The New Year often symbolizes fresh starts and new beginnings, but if you’re grievin...
28/12/2025

🌟 Navigating Grief in the New Year 🌟

The New Year often symbolizes fresh starts and new beginnings, but if you’re grieving, it can feel overwhelming.

When we lose someone, we love, the passing of time can feel like we are moving further away from them. As the world celebrates, you might just want to press pause.

How do you say “Happy New Year” to someone who is grieving?
Instead of the usual greeting, try:

"I'm thinking of you and your family right now, knowing this time of year can be especially hard."

"I'd love to hear stories about (loved one's name)."

"We miss (loved one's name) too, and we're thinking of all the wonderful memories we shared."

The most important thing is simply to reach out and let them know you are thinking of them.

🌻 A Season of Rest The holiday season looks different for everyone. For some, it’s full of social gatherings and celebra...
27/12/2025

🌻 A Season of Rest

The holiday season looks different for everyone. For some, it’s full of social gatherings and celebrations. For others, it’s a time to slow down and recharge.

💛 Whatever this season looks like for you, make space for rest.
🌿 Take time for yourself.
🤝 Be present with loved ones.

Your wellbeing matters, pause, breathe, and enjoy the moments that matter most.

https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/

24/12/2025

✨ Wishing You Joy and Wellness this Holiday Season ✨

As we wrap up the year, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your collaboration and continued support. You are an invaluable part of our journey, and we couldn’t do this without you!
As we look ahead to the New Year, we wish you peace, resilience, and hope.

Remember to take care of yourself during this busy season, your wellbeing matters.
Here are some practical steps to support yourself this holiday season:

👉 Read our Mindful Guide
https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/knowledgebase/article/KA-01189/en-us

23/12/2025

🕯️Remembering Loved Ones This Holiday Season 🕯️

The holidays can be a beautiful time of connection, but they can also be challenging, stirring up feelings of longing when you’re missing someone special. It’s completely normal for grief to feel more present this time of year.

Whether you create a quiet moment of reflection, celebrate their traditions, write a letter, or share stories with family, these small acts can help you feel connected in a way that feels right for you.

Gentle ways to honour loved ones:

❄️ Display or share photos or home videos
❄️ Light a candle or make a memorial ornament
❄️ Cook their favourite recipe
❄️ Share memories
❄️ Take care of yourself and remember, it's okay to set boundaries, rest, and seek support.

There’s no right or wrong way to grieve. Do what feels right for you. Here are some gentle, practical ways to care for yourself this holiday season:

💙 A Mindful Guide to Looking After Yourself
https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/knowledgebase/article/KA-01189/en-us

🎄 Navigating Christmas While Grieving 💛Christmas often means joy and togetherness, but for those grieving, it can feel v...
22/12/2025

🎄 Navigating Christmas While Grieving 💛

Christmas often means joy and togetherness, but for those grieving, it can feel very different.

Here are some gentle ideas:

✨ Redefine expectations — Christmas doesn’t have to look the same as before
✨ Create new rituals — share stories, play their favourite music, light a candle
✨ Honour your grief — celebrating doesn’t mean forgetting
✨ Practice self-care — take breaks, set boundaries, rest when needed
✨ Choose what feels right, even if that means skipping celebrations.

There’s no one way to grieve. Be kind to yourself and do what works for you.

If you or someone you know needs support during this season, we’ve created a helpful resource to guide you:

👉 A Mindful Guide to Looking After Yourself
https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/knowledgebase/article/KA-01189/en-us

🎄 This Season, Choose Presence Over Presents 🎁The greatest gift we can offer is our time and presence.✨ Here are a few w...
21/12/2025

🎄 This Season, Choose Presence Over Presents 🎁

The greatest gift we can offer is our time and presence.

✨ Here are a few ways to be truly present:

🌿 Practice mindfulness
💛 Create space for self-care
🕊 Connect meaningfully with loved ones

Discover more tips in A Mindful Guide to looking after yourself this holiday season.
https://www.mackillopseasons.org.au/knowledgebase/article/KA-01189/en-us

As we approach the end of the calendar year, many students may be contemplating the momentous transition from primary to...
18/12/2025

As we approach the end of the calendar year, many students may be contemplating the momentous transition from primary to secondary school. Read our case study on how one of our long-term Companions has supported students to navigate this important life stage.
https://ow.ly/HuaU50XLgSn

This term, our Seasons for Life Coordinator visited schools across the Eyre Peninsula in SA and checked in with two incr...
18/12/2025

This term, our Seasons for Life Coordinator visited schools across the Eyre Peninsula in SA and checked in with two incredible Companions in Port Lincoln.

Natalie, trained in Seasons for Growth in Port Augusta in 2024, and Emily, who completed her training online, have since led multiple groups at their schools—helping children and young people navigate grief, loss, and change.

Their collaboration and unwavering dedication to the wellbeing of young people is truly inspirational.

Find out more about the Seasons for Life Initiative https://ow.ly/zBk150XLh7N

Address

11-14 Rodborough Road, Frenchs Forest
Sydney, NSW
2086

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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Our Story

Good Grief's programs aim to strengthen the social and emotional well being of people who are experiencing major life changes and losses such as death, separation and divorce by supporting them to explore the impact of change and loss on everyday life and to learn new ways to respond. Written by Professor Anne Graham and built upon J William Worden’s theory of grief, our flagship program, Seasons for Growth, is an innovative grief, change and loss education program that uses the imagery of the seasons to illustrate the experience of grief. Our education programs are evidence based, and many external evaluations over the years have continued to affirm Seasons for Growth and its contribution to the lives of people touched by loss and grief. Throughout its 21 year lifespan Seasons for Growth Children and Young People’s Program has gone through three iterations to incorporate new evidence and ensure that it continues to provide a relevant and highly valued experience for participants. Over its lifetime, over 200,000 children and young people have participated in Seasons for Growth, along with thousands of adults.

The unique thing about our programs is that they enable you to become a Companion and make a difference within your own community. That way, children do not need to be removed from their familiar environment or work with unfamiliar faces in order to learn skills to help them become more emotionally adaptable, resilient and learn how to respond positively to change, in other words, life-skills. You are also empowered to respond to a need when it arises and within your own time-frame.