Healthy Grieving Program
The Healthy Grieving Program is a virtual program designed to bring grieving children together following the death of a parent, guardian, or sibling. Designed by a clinical psychologists and educators, this early intervention program aims to address the mental health challenges often associated with grief, such as anxiety and depression.
Over the course of three sessions, families will learn a shared grief language, discover healthy grieving tools and strategies to build deeper connections through a common understanding of grief. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with other families experiencing similar loss, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and offering hope for the future.
As a virtual program, the Healthy Grieving Program provides vital support to grieving families across Australia, including those in regional and remote areas, bridging the distance and ensuring no family has to grieve alone.
At Healthy Grieving Program your child will
Learn a shared language for talking about grief with you.
Learn practical skills for regulating their emotions in triggering situations.
Learn from trained professionals about healthy ways to cope with grief.
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How long is Camp Magic?Camp Magic is a 2.5 day overnight camp (Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday) held in Sydney, Regional NSW, ACT and VIC.
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How much does Camp Magic Cost?Camp Magic is free of charge to all grieving families. Camp Magic won’t cost your family anything thanks to our generous supporters.
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What is required of me for my child to attend Camp Magic?Your child must be aged 7-17 years old, been dealing with grief for more than six months and have already attended at least one of our virtual programs (Healthy Grieving Program or Let’s Talk Suicide virtual camp) or a Family Day Camp. You and your child will need to take part in the evaluation of the program - consenting to and completing all surveys and an interview in a timely manner, prior to and after participating in the program Once signed up to a program, you and your child will need to commit to attending all the sessions.
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Who runs Camp Magic?Camp Magic is facilitated by an on-site registered Psychologist, mental health professionals and experienced facilitators. All professionals, facilitators and volunteers have completed and current checks and qualifications. Dependent on the roles, Feel the Magic ensures ID checks, Working with Children Checks, National Crime History Check and proof of qualifications are completed.
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What do I need for Camp Magic?Camp Magic is a two-night, three-day program. One of the most commonly asked questions is what do I need to pack for my child attending Camp! Please click here for the Camp Magic packing list. Once you receive confirmation your child is attending, you’ll receive the packing list as well.
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Do parents or guardians attend Camp Magic with their child/ren?Camp Magic is exclusively for children ages 7-17. We recognise how important it is for parent/guardians and children to bond during grief; however, our Camp Magic program is just for children. We encourage parent/guardians to participate in the Parent & Guardian Workshops held just after drop-off on the Friday to learn about what the campers will be partaking in over the weekend, and again prior to the closing ceremony on the Sunday to hear about the weekend.
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If I become a volunteer for Feel the Magic, then can I stay the night with my child/ren?Parents and guardians who volunteer are not permitted to participate in programs where their own children are enrolled. This allows space for the child to address their grief in a safe space and empower them to self-soothe and learn new ways to deal with their grief. For children with separation anxiety, this environment promotes personal growth. Children are not forced to do anything they do not want to and are welcome to engage as much or as little as they feel comfortable. We will work with you to select the programs which best fit your child's needs, and other’s where you can volunteer.
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My child/ren does not want to stay the night, can I pick them up each night and drop them back each morning?Unfortunately, this is not possible as this disrupts the flow of the camp. Camp also has late nights and early mornings, and so much fun and connection happens during these times! We will always keep your child/ren safe and can organise a time for them to call you if needed. If your child is not yet ready to stay overnight, we recommend attending Family Day Camps until they feel more comfortable with overnight stays.
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Can my child/ren take their mobile phone to Camp Magic?Mobile phones, tablets, laptops, or any other electronic devices are not permitted at Camp Magic as we are teaching the children to be present with their grief and their peers. Volunteers are also asked not to carry their phones on them at camp so they can always be present and in the moment with their camper.
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Does my child/ren need to attend another program before they can go to Camp Magic?We ask that all children become familiar with Feel the Magic before registering for an overnight program. They can do this by attending a Family Day Camp or registering for a live virtual program. It is important for children to build up trust and familiarity with our team with the safety of the parent/guardian to support them. This helps with the transition to Camp Magic.