Tragedy, Trauma and Grief: how can I help?

Presenter: Vicki Culling and Jane Weekes

In these half-day workshops, Jane and Vicki will explore the topics of trauma and grief, focusing on how you, as a health or caring professional, can support the parents, families and whānau you are working with. We will talk about the effects of trauma, struggling to grieve in our ‘happiness-obsessed’ culture, how you might offer hope in your role, and suggest strategies and tools that you can apply in the work you do.

Dr Vicki Culling is a Director and the principal trainer for Vicki Culling Associates. Vicki has a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Otago University, a Master of Arts (Applied) in Social Work (with distinction) from Victoria University of Wellington and a PhD in Women’s Studies from Victoria University of Wellington. Vicki is a bereaved parent and has been actively involved in Sands for over ten years. Her first daughter was stillborn at 10 days overdue – an experience which led her to utilise her skills in supporting bereaved parents and families and educating health professionals. Vicki has worked actively at both the national and local levels of Sands. She was the first full-time worker for Sands NZ when she won a Vodafone World of Difference scholarship in 2006.

Jane Weekes: In 2012, Jane’s two-year-old triplets, Lillie, Jackson and Willsher were killed in a fire whilst living in the Middle East. Since surviving this unthinkable tragedy she has completed a Bachelors Degree of Counselling, working alongside people experiencing great difficulties in their lives such as trauma, grief and loss, postnatal depression, relationship difficulties and addiction. Having a background in corporate learning and development also gives Jane a unique ability to provide coaching to professionals who work with families experiencing trauma from both a personal, and research based perspective.