The Good Grief program is specially designed to support young people whose parent or sibling has died from cancer.
Good Grief is open to all young people aged 12-25 who have experienced death in their family. Canteen runs separate under 18 and over 18 Good Grief programs all over Australia.
This three-day program brings together a group of 20-30 bereaved young people to talk about their experiences with other young people who understand, learn about grief and how to cope with it, and have some fun at the same time.
See Places Good Grief in action in this video of a recent retreat in the Adelaide Hills.
Good Grief is open to all young people aged 12-25 whose parent or sibling has died from cancer.
Canteen runs separate under 18 and over 18 Good Grief programs all over Australia. Get in touch to find out when the next one is running, by calling 1800 226 833, email [email protected] or fill in this quick referral form.
All Canteen programs are completely free to attend. Travel, meals, dorm-style accommodation and activities are all included.
If you’re new to Canteen, the first step is to call us on 1800 226 833, email [email protected] or leave us your details. If you’re already using other Canteen services, you can contact your key worker or register your interest on Canteen Connect.
This three-day program brings together a group of 20-30 bereaved young people to talk about their experiences with other young people who understand, learn about grief and how to cope with it, and have some fun at the same time.
Spots will fill up quickly and if you’re new to Canteen, we need to book some time with you and/or your family first - so get in touch!
Outcomes of Good Grief
Canteen is committed to undertaking high quality research and evaluation that enhances our knowledge, understanding and insight into the needs of young people living with cancer and the most effective ways of supporting them.
The latest evaluation of the Good Grief program found that young people who participated reported:
- A deeper understanding of their grief and how to manage it
- Greater confidence in recognising and expressing their feelings around grief and loss
- Improved awareness of practical strategies to cope with their grief
- A stronger sense of connection, feeling less alone in their experience of losing a loved one to cancer
- They were able to take a break, connect with others, and enjoy moments of fun.
What our young people say
“I wanted to feel closer to Mum and also, sort of understand how I was feeling…I think that’s the biggest thing that I took from the camp, is that I can still have a connection with Mum.”
“I think it was one of the best experiences that I've had...the structure was really well thought out...it was an incredible experience.”
Looking for something else?
We’ve got everything from bowling to cooking classes and casual ‘drop-ins’ at your local Canteen office.
If it’s tricky to get to a face-to-face event, Canteen Connect can get you socialising from the comfort of your couch with things like book clubs, gaming nights and crafting sessions. Queer, questioning or curious? CanQueer also offers a vibrant online community for LGBTQI+ young people.