Seasons for Growth is an annual program for a small group of similar aged students who need help and support dealing with grief, loss or changes that may have occurred in their life.

This program offers an opportunity to talk about their experiences and develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to understand and respond in a healthy way.  

There are many factors that can cause grief, loss or changes such as major friendship changes; family separation; loss or death of someone they care about; loss of a pet; relocation and forced migration- refugees; living away in out of home care; etc In the Season’s for Growth program, there will be 8 weekly sessions of 40 minutes and provided a safe space to share their views, thoughts and feelings with their peers. The sessions are be guided and led by our Student Wellbeing Leader.

Evaluation and effectiveness:

The Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University conducted an empowerment and participatory evaluation of the program in 2011 (Newell & Moss, 2011). Pre and post-program qualitative survey data was collected from across 57 Seasons for Growth groups in Australia, New Zealand and Scotland. The study included 239 children, 30 parents and 44 facilitators.

• Responses from all groups (children, parents, companions) were positive with parent responses corroborating children’s views. Children reported very high levels of satisfaction and felt they could trust the group companion, felt supported, and felt they were able to safely express themselves. The majority of children and parents nominated a variety of ways that the program had helped them including:

• building understanding and skills

• improving emotional wellbeing

• enabling participants to express themselves

• strengthening participants social and support networks.

Pre- and post-testing results showed statistically significant improvements in children's:

• emotional literacy

• understandings of grief/change (e.g. recognising that ‘its ok to cry when you’re sad’)

• emotional wellbeing

• ability to express their views/feelings