The Seasons for Life Initiative

How does Seasons for Life work?

The Seasons for Life initiative supports secondary school communities across Australia with evidence-based loss and grief education following a suicide or other loss event. Seasons for Life strengthens the capacity of young people, and the adults supporting them, to understand and respond well to change, loss and grief.

Funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care (2022-25), Seasons for Life is overseen by a national Advisory Group and will be evaluated by the Professor Myfanwy Maple and Associate Sarah Wayland at the University of New England. Schools that engage in the Seasons for Life initiative will be invited to participate in this evaluation.

What are the Seasons for Life offerings?

• Nominated school staff are trained to deliver the Seasons for Growth program for young people. Training includes supplementary learning that highlights considerations specific to implementing the program following a suicide loss
• Nominated school staff are trained to deliver the accompanying parent session
• Support to implement the Seasons for Growth program, including coaching support from a Seasons for Life Coordinator, access to a Community of Practice and a step-by-step school guide
• An all-staff professional learning session about change, loss and grief and responding to the needs of young people, including following a suicide related loss
• Access to the Seasons for Life: Keeping Spirit Strong Resources which assist schools to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families following loss, particularly a loss by suicide. These materials offer staff opportunities to develop cultural knowledge and understandings, build confidence, skills and attitudes, to offer culturally safe and appropriate support through relationships, hard-copy/digital resources and through links to external existing supports and resources

How is Seasons for Life delivered?

This initiative is a strategically targeted intervention that builds on the established 25-year evidence base of the Seasons for Growth loss and grief education program. We work closely with school communities, education and health partners, community organisations and Headspace Schools and Communities to identify and support schools who may benefit from the Seasons for Life initiative.

Training for nominated school staff is delivered online or in person when possible. The all-staff professional learning session is delivered by a Seasons for Life Coordinator in person in consultation with the school principal or leadership team.

The coaching and implementation support for school staff is delivered online or in person by Seasons for Life Coordinators as well as via an online Community of Practice forum.

How does my school become involved in the Seasons for Life initiative?

Secondary school communities interested in participating in the Seasons for Life initiative must first engage with a Seasons for Life Coordinator. Your Coordinator will provide further details on the initiative and will guide you in implementing and embedding the initiative in your school.

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