AUTUMN EDITION - APRIL 2024

FROM THE CEO

2023 saw the first full year of our new Red Tree Foundation brand, government funding and our expanded charter.

Red Tree Foundation is responsible for all grief and loss services including providing free grief counselling to any South Australian family impacted by the sudden and unexpected death of their baby, child or teen (from conception up to 17 years of age) as well as all grief and loss education, support groups and community events.

SIDS and Kids SA is now solely focused on providing safe sleep information, education and training.

SIDS and Kids SA

In 2023, forty one training/education sessions were conducted reaching 680 people. 83% of these sessions were presented to childcare educators.

We have had a steady start to 2024 with seventeen childcare training sessions completed in the first 4 months of the year.

Red Tree Foundation Services

2023 saw another increase in the total number of new deaths referred to us and an increase in the total number of occasions of service provided to the South Australian community.

Our referrals come from a number of sources including SA Government hospitals and SAPOL (80%), Self-referrals (13%), Red Nose (5.5%), and other (1.5%).

2023 saw the introduction of a number of new support groups and services. A monthly casual coffee club catch up and a pregnancy after loss group for bereaved mums ran regularly throughout 2023 and continue to run in 2024 with the addition of 2 new groups – a rainbow baby group for mums who have a new baby after a loss and a support group for bereaved parents who are impacted by the death of an older child.

2023 also saw the launch of a rural initiative made possible by grant funding. This initiative saw bereaved families living in Port Pirie, Whyalla and Port Augusta able to access some face-to-face grief counselling sessions in addition to phone and telehealth. The rural initiative also saw 3 grief and loss education sessions provided to midwives in and around Port Pirie.

 ****** NEW - Paid Services ******

2023 also saw an expansion of our services to now provide grief and loss counselling services to the wider community for all types of grief and loss in it’s many and varied forms. These are paid services and are available for grief and loss associated with but not limited to:

• Bereavement (the death of a loved one)
• Divorce or changes in a relationship
• Changes in personal health due to illness or injury
• Changes in health of a loved one due to illness or injury
• Loss of a job/career or changes in financial security
• Changes in status or way of life
• Estrangement from children
• Loss of a pet

To enquire or make a booking contact our Office on 8332 1066.  Visit our website for more information on all services provided by Red Tree Foundation.

THE COUNSELLORS

In February 2024 we said farewell to our lovely counsellor Jaylene Fuge-Cuk and welcomed Abi Catchlove to the team. Abi has had a number of years of experience working in the grief space with Griefline prior to coming to us.

Deb has now been with Red Tree Foundation for just over 12 months and is an important member of our team.  Many of you would have had the pleasure of meeting Deb at one of our Community Events, Support Groups or fundraisers. 

My grief says that I dared to love, that I allowed another to enter the very core of my being and find a home in my heart.

Francis Weller

Abi has shared some thoughts about grief;

"I am drawn to working in the grief space because loss can touch us in a myriad of ways  and while it is a universal experience, it is also deeply personal and private. This holding of both worlds can actually open us up as grief acts as medicine to move towards healing and understanding.

Grief counselling isn’t for everyone, and that’s ok; it’s one of many options to move through grief. To make some kind of sense of loss, therapy can provide a dedicated space to sit and hold, express, question, explore and ponder what this grief means for us now. Hopefully in a counselling context, it means we don’t have to do it alone. We can voice our deepest fears and hurts and injustices in a container of trust, safety and connection.

While we’re encouraged to ‘lean into’ the emotions that surface, this often means ‘sitting with’ our grief which can be very meaningful; I’m also recently curious about movement in grief, and how we can physically release some of that emotion. This reflects my belief that grief is innately dynamic and fluid; always moving, rarely stagnant. I encourage you and I both, to turn towards our griefs with compassion and openness, and see what grief would like to show us about what we hold and value in our hearts."

If you require the support of one of our lovely Grief Counsellors, contact us on 8332 1066.

Deb and Abi x

THE COMMUNITY LIAISON MANAGER

Community Events and Fundraising

Our Community Liaison Manager Kat was kept busy in 2023 as she was responsible for running our support groups, providing grief and loss education and organizing community events and fundraisers.

Community events included a Mother’s Day Morning Tea and 'Pizza Night' in May. In October we held a candle decorating workshop to coincide with International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day and Wave of Light on 15 October. Then in November we saw over 120 Red Tree Foundation community members attend our annual Memorial Service and were the Marion Hotel’s Charity of Choice for the Melbourne Cup Luncheon.

BE BOLD! Wear Red!

Our major fundraising campaign 'Be Bold. Wear Red' was held in June and July 2023.  Workplaces and Childcare Centres were encouraged to show support by wearing red, decorating in red or holding a 'red' morning tea. This annual campaign will run again in 2024.

All money raised by the community in our 'Be Bold' Campaign supports the ongoing grief counselling for parents who suddenly and unexpectedly experience the death of their child.  This includes the facilitation of Support Groups, home visits for the bereaved parents and memorial events for the families.

People who are interested in getting involved with this campaign can contact Kat on office@redtreefoundation.org.au to have your Fundraising Kit sent directly to you in time to plan this year's 'Be Bold. Wear Red' Campaign.

COASTAL WALK OF SUPPORT 2024

In March 2024 we held our Coastal Walk of Support along Adelaide’s beautiful coastline. Over 90 bereaved parents and their family and friends walked a 6km loop from West Beach to Henley and back.  A time to reflect, honour and remember, the Coastal Walk of Support has become a signature event for Red Tree Foundation, bringing our community of bereaved parents together in a unique space.

We thank our Family Sponsors; Ariana's family, Grace's family and Zara's family.

We also thank the generous and ongoing support of Moo Kate and Disability Rights Advocacy Service for sponsoring the Coastal Walk of Support once again.

Shout out to Coles for donating all drinks for the event and Ray and his team of volunteers from The Lions Club of Adelaide for cooking the BBQ Lunch for all participants.

Kat x

THE FINANCE MANAGER

In 2023 together with the generosity of our beautiful Red Tree Foundation & SIDS and Kids SA community we have fundraised a total of $83,587.00. What an amazing amount of money to go towards providing our vital service.

We would love to offer some other ways for our community to give back or pay it forward.  Here are Red Tree Foundation we value our Regular G.E.M.S. (Giving Every Month Supporter). Regular GEMS are our supporters who value the service provision offered at Red Tree Foundation and select to donate on a regular basis, be it weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Click on the link to find out how to set up regular donations. https://sids-sa-and-red-tree-foundation-general-donationv3.raisely.com/

If any workplaces are interested in having one of our Collection Boxes placed on their counter or a unique donation QR code to display on a counter or noticeboard, or simply include in your monthly newsletter, please email finance@redtreefoundation.org.au. I would love to hear from you.

Thank you for the continued support given to Red Tree Foundation & SIDS and Kids SA.

Lisa x  

THE CORPORATE LIAISON MANAGER

CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES

We are excited to welcome Kirilea to the team as the Corporate Liaison Manager.

"My relationship with Red Tree Foundation started in October 2020 after the loss of our beautiful first-born, Leo. I was fortunate enough to benefit from the counselling support the organisation provides to bereaved parents; in my experience, there is absolutely nothing else like it in South Australia. When I finally became pregnant with my beautiful rainbow daughter, I then received the fabulous safe sleep training that SIDS and Kids South Australia provides to South Australian families.

Over time, I have seen how much the service the foundation provides would benefit South Australian businesses; through leadership team training in grief and loss support, group counselling sessions, and wider grief and loss counselling for staff and clients - along with the vital support the organisation provides for bereaved parents! Everybody, has been affected at some point in their lives, by the loss of a loved one."

If you feel like Red Tree Foundation’s provisions may be beneficial for your business, please contact Kirilea at corporate@redtreefoundation.org.au

Please contact us for any counselling or education requirements, or visit our website at www.redtreefoundation.org.au.

Warm Regards,

The Red Tree Foundation and SIDS and Kids SA Team