Grief Counselling Peer Supervision

Peer supervision for rare community leaders

A confidential, specialist-facilitated space to reflect, learn and sustain yourself while supporting others.

Rare community leaders often support people through diagnosis, uncertainty, changes in health, trauma, grief and bereavement. Many also bring their own lived experience to this work.

Many groups are small or volunteer-led and work with limited time and resources. Although the communities they represent may be different, leaders often face similar questions about responding to community needs, sustaining an organisation, supporting volunteers, sharing reliable information, engaging with research and contributing to advocacy.

Rare Net creates a practical space for leaders to connect across condition communities, learn from one another and identify opportunities to work together.

It also provides a two-way connection between community organisations and the GUaRD Collaborative. Leaders can raise emerging needs, experiences and priorities, while GAA and GSNV can share relevant research, consultation, policy and advocacy developments with the network.

Program at a glance

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT | FOUR KEY DETAILS

90-minute online sessions
a closed group of up to 10 participants
facilitated by Nathan MacArthur, Specialist Grief Counsellor and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker at Sydney Grief Counselling Services
offered through a small annual program

Who the sessions are for

The sessions are for peer support group leaders, family liaison contacts and advocates who regularly provide support, information or connection within rare, genetic or undiagnosed communities.

You might lead an organisation, coordinate a peer group, respond to community enquiries, support families following diagnosis or loss, or hold an informal leadership role in your community.

What to expect

Each session combines:

a short presentation from a specialist grief counsellor
practical frameworks relevant to rare community support
structured reflection on the challenges participants are holding
confidential, facilitated discussion
shared learning with other rare community leaders

Topics we explore

Sessions are shaped around the realities of supporting rare communities. Topics may include:

grief, chronic sorrow and the cumulative impact of living with chronic illness
trauma-informed support and responding to the effects of trauma
supporting whole families through grief, including children, siblings and intergenerational grief
responding safely when someone may be at risk, including suicidal thoughts or self-harm, domestic and family violence, and child protection concerns
loneliness and social isolation
the ways culture, religion, spirituality, gender identity and sexuality can shape experiences of grief
boundaries, resilience and sustaining yourself while supporting people experiencing loss and trauma

What peer supervision means

Peer supervision is a structured reflective practice. It creates space to consider the emotional and relational parts of community support, think through difficult situations, strengthen boundaries and learn from the experience of others.

These sessions are not individual counselling, crisis support or clinical supervision. They do not replace personal therapeutic support or advice from an appropriately qualified professional.

A safer, confidential space

The value of the group depends on trust. Participants are asked to protect one another’s privacy, leave out identifying details about community members and not repeat personal stories outside the session.

You can contribute at your own pace. You do not need to share anything you would prefer to keep private.

Interested in the program?

If you support a rare, genetic or undiagnosed community and this program sounds useful, please get in touch. We can let you know about upcoming sessions and welcome ideas for future topics.