Loss & Grief Library
Not all grief begins with a death.
The Loss & Grief Library supports families and professionals navigating experiences of ongoing, anticipatory, and non-finite grief, the kind of grief that comes with uncertainty, change, and loss over time.
This includes situations such as:
- Serious illness or diagnosis
- Living with uncertainty and waiting
- Disability and life-changing conditions
- Changes in family life or relationships
- Grief connected to identity, recognition, or belonging
These guides help adults make sense of feelings that can be confusing or hard to name and offer reassurance that grief can exist even when there has not been a clear ending. They also support adults to stay present and responsive to children while living with their own uncertainty.
Illness, Uncertainty and Waiting
When Illness Changes Everything
Talking to a child about the serious illness of a loved one
When the Questions Get Bigger
Talking to a young person about the serious illness of a loved one
Living With Waiting
Helping children and young people cope with uncertainty and repeated bad news
When One Child Is Unwell
Supporting siblings when a child is ill
When Dementia Changes Someone You Love
Supporting children and young people when a loved one has dementia
When a Parent Has a Mental Illness
Supporting children and young people when a parent is unwell
Hidden Grief and Life Changes After Disability
When Life Looks Different
Supporting families when disability brings hidden grief
Grieving the Life You Expected
When parenthood or family life changes unexpectedly
Loss, Identity & Recognition
When Grief Isn’t Recognised
Supporting children and young people whose grief is overlooked, minimised, or misunderstood
When Bereavement Intersects With Gender Identity
Supporting children and young people through trans-affected bereavement in schools and communities
When a Parent Is Trans and Dies
Supporting trans and gender-diverse children and young people after a death
When a Child Is Trans and Bereaved
Supporting trans and gender-diverse children and young people after a death
When Identity Is Questioned After a Death
Supporting children and young people when identity, relationships, or belonging are challenged
When a Trans Sibling or Friend Dies
Supporting children and young people after the death of a trans sibling or friend
Supporting Peer Groups Through Identity-Related Bereavement
Helping peers respond when a trans or gender-diverse young person is grieving
