Course Coordinator: Greg Smith
Phone: +61 8313 6273
Email: gsmith@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Graduate Program in Counselling and Psychotherapy
School of Public Health
University of Adelaide
Level 9, AHMS Building
North Terrace
ADELAIDE SA 5000. 

Student & Program Support Services Hub
Email: askhealthsc@adelaide.edu.au
Phone: +61 8313 0273

1	Review their personal grief history and clarify the personal and professional implications
2	Identify different concepts and current theories of loss and grief
3	Explain the multiple manifestations of grief
4	Describe loss and grief issues from a life-span perspective (children, adolescents, young adults, middle-aged adults, and old age)
5	Recognise the effects of grief and unresolved grief in families
6	Recognise cultural differences in the expression of grief
7	Differentiate between multiple contexts of grief and loss
8	Assess and recommend different grief counselling approaches and techniques
9	Identify situations when referrals to other professionals are necessary in the context of grief

Worden, J.W. (2009). Grief counselling and grief therapy (4th ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing.

A range of relevant readings will be made available.

3.3.1 MyUni
All students enrolled in a postgraduate coursework program have access to a Postgraduate Coursework Student Centre on MyUni. This course is available on MyUni at www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/. Please check the website regularly as it may contain announcements that are relevant to your study in the course. If you would like the opportunity to network with other students, you can use the Communication features in the site:

Discussion Board – Users can post discussion items and reply to other posts. Note: If you would like to have a specific Discussion Board Forum created, please send your request to gsmith@adelaide.edu.au

Send Email – This feature enables users to send email to fellow students. Group Pages – Groups enable Users to collaborate with each other. Groups usually consist of a smaller group of Users in a course or organisation, such as study groups or project groups. From a Group Page, users may send email, exchange files, enter discussion forums or enter collaboration sessions.

Note: Only members of a particular Group can access the Group communication features (discussion forums, email, etc.). If you would like to have a specific Group Page created, please send your request to gsmith@adelaide.edu.au. For example, Group Pages can be created to include students living in the same geographical area or students working for the same organisation.

Please note that you also have access to individual MyUni sites for EACH course you are enrolled in. Please check the sites regularly as they may contain important announcements that are relevant to your study in the course.

3.3.2 Access Adelaide
Access Adelaide is the name of the online service that allows you to access and, in some cases, amend your records. It can be found at: https://access.adelaide.edu.au/sa/login.asp. You can log into Access Adelaide to view: your enrolment details for any term, your academic results, your unofficial academic transcript, your personal details, the fees, charges and payments on your University account, your exam schedule, your graduation eligibility details.

As a student you can: change your address and telephone details (please inform the Discipline as well), change your password,  set a password clue to help you remember your password.

3.3.3 Student email
It is important that you set up your student email and check it regularly. Information from your course coordinator and student administration will be sent to you at your University of Adelaide email address. It is your responsibility to check your email. You will need your student number located on your student card to log in. http://webmail.adelaide.edu.au/

3.3.4 Computers
Where can I use a computer in the University? Computing facilities are provided to students by the University, and there are
several suites of computers available, including at the Barr Smith Library andin Hub Central. The University web site has a list of computer labs at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/technology/yourservices/learning-teaching/student-suites/

3.3.5 Internet access
The University provides a free dial-up service to students without the need for a commercial ISP account. This service is available at the cost of a local call to students residing within Adelaide (please refer to your telecommunications provider for confirmation of call costs). Students residing outside these numbers can dial into the University at STD call rates (www.adelaide.edu.au/its/desktop/dialup/ ). Postgraduate Coursework students will receive a University Funded Quota of 500Mb.

The teaching methods in this course will employ a range of techniques to allow the integration and understanding of the content
presented. Group-work and workshop activities will be employed in addition to the traditional methods of communicating information. It is expected that by creating an environment that promotes the practice of individual responsibility as essential for students in managing their own and others learning, it will also complement the expectations that current professional-based workplaces adopt.

Students are encouraged to share their own knowledge and experiences, in a respectful manner, to enhance each others learning processes.

Due to the experiential nature of the course, and the topic itself, students may experience emotions that they may find upsetting. Should these emotions surface and if the student feels in need of support, students are reminded that the University provides counselling services and/or that they can choose to talk about it with the course coordinator.

Finally, it is assumed that all students are of a mature age, professionally educated and motivated to adopt the responsibilities associated with post-graduate study. Therefore, a level of intellectual effort (including a minimum of 10 hours of private study time outside of formal class time per week), and a level of commitment and participation in class activities, is expected.

Course structure
This course will provide an overview to grief and loss over ten seminar/workshops. Fundamental aspects of grief and loss will be introduced in the first sessions.

Seminars/workshops will continue with a series of guest presentations on areas of loss and grief that will be relevant in the students' future professional practice as counsellors. It is expected that students will actively participate in the seminar/workshops
by having read the recommended readings, and preparing for each of the sessions.

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Introduction to grief and loss

Grief across the lifespan

Understanding grief and loss with particular populations and presenting issues.

Grief and loss: A cross-cultural approach Migrants / Refugees

Indigenous Australians: Grief, loss, trauma and resilience

Grief, loss, and trauma: Veterans

Grief and loss and Offender

Grief in the aftermath of sexual abuse and or domestic violence

Other contexts of loss and grief

Perinatal / still-birth

Suicide

Disabilities

Grief from anticipated losses

Counselling approaches and self-care

Some of the approaches to be discussed are:
o    Fundamentals of assessment
o    General techniques and interventions
o    Individual vs. group interventions
o    Death education
o    Narrative approaches
o    Family-focused approaches
o    Cognitive-behavioural techniques
o    Use of rituals

An emphasis on self-care will be present throughout most of the lectures. However, a section of the last session will be dedicated to explore fundamental aspects of self-care, self-awareness, countertransference, and potential positive and negative impact of working in this area.

Topic	Lecture
Introduction 1	Grief and Loss
Introduction 2	Grief and Loss
Specific Grief Issues	TBA
Specific Grief Issues	TBA
Specific Grief Issues	TBA
Specific Grief Issues	TBA
Specific Grief Issues	TBA
Grief Counselling	TBA
Specific Grief Issues	TBA
Specific Grief Contexts	TBA
Grief Counselling Practice	TBA
Grief Counselling Practice	TBA

None

N/A

Assessment task	Assessment type	Weighting	Learning outcome to be addressed
Participation	Summative	10%	1-9
On-line exam	Summative	30%	2-5, 7
Critical Review of Literature	Summative	30%	2-8
Reflective Paper	Summative	30%	1-8

To pass this course, students are expected to attend and actively participate in all sessions.

N/A

Assessment is based upon in-class participation, plus assignments are to be handed up during and before the end of the semester. There will be a multiple-choice online examination.

Lecturers will aim to mark and return assignments to students within 4 weeks of the due date, or before the due date for the next  assignment (whichever comes earlier).

Assignment summaries
Details of assignments are provided below. Where appropriate, Marking Guides will be made available on MyUni at least a month  before the assignment is due.

Participation
Active participation and attendance are fundamental to the learning process. Lectures will provide an environment where students  can participate comfortably. Criteria for assessing class participation are: a) the originality of the student‟s contribution, b) reference to relevant academic readings and/or personal experience, c) evidence of preparation for the lecture, d) use of critical  thinking, and e) consistency of participation over the different sessions.

Students are expected to participate in a respectful manner with lecturers andpeers.

On-line exam
With the purpose of consolidating and strengthening the knowledge acquired over the first four  seminar/workshops, students will  be asked to answer an online multiple-choice exam.

Critical review of literature
For this assignment, students are expected to prepare a 2000 word critique on a journal article of their choice, from a selection of  articles provided.

Reflective paper
Students will prepare a reflective paper of no more than 2000 words. The paper should reflect the student’s experience throughout  the course, interconnecting contents of the course with a personal reflection of their own experiences of grief.

Word limits
You are advised to comply with word limits for written assignments. You are, of course, not expected to achieve exactly the  required length and a 10% leeway on either side is acceptable. However, a penalty of 5% of available marks will apply for word  quota in excess of the 10% leeway. Each assignment must include the word-count at the end of the document and in the cover sheet.

Assignment cover sheet
Assignments are to be submitted with an attached Assignment Cover Sheet” (available on MyUni), which is to be signed and dated by the student before submission. The lecturer can refuse assignments that do not have a signed acknowledgement of the  University’s policy on plagiarism.

Referencing of assignments
It is essential that you reference all written work accurately and consistently. We ask that use the American Psychological Society 
Referencing Format (APA 6) and information regarding this system can be found at: http://libguides.library.curtin.edu.au/data/files6/173202/APA_referencing_guide.pdf or more detailed information can be found at: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/. EndNote bibliographic software is a very useful tool for managing your references and it is provided free of charge through the  university. Information about EndNote can be found at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/library/guide/gen/bibsoft/ 

Be aware that marks will be deducted for incorrect referencing in all assignments.

Extensions
All extensions for assignments must be requested, at the latest, by the last working day before the due date of submission.   Extensions will generally be granted only on medical or genuine compassionate grounds.  Supporting documentation must be  provided at the time a student requests an extension.  Without documentation, extensions will not be granted. Late requests for extension will neither be accepted nor acknowledged.

Only the Course Co-ordinator(s) may grant extensions.

Supporting documentation will be required when requesting an extension. Examples of documents that are acceptable include: a  medical certificate that specifies dates of incapacity, a police report (in the case of lost computers, car & household theft etc.), a  letter from a Student Counsellor, Education and Welfare Officer (EWO) or Disability Liaison Officer that provides an assessment of  compassionate circumstances, or a letter from an independent external counsellor or appropriate professional able to
verify the  student’s situation.  The length of any extension granted will take into account the period and severity of any incapacity or impact  on the student.  Extensions of more than 10 days will not be granted except in exceptional circumstances.

Late submission
Marks will be deducted when assignments for which no extension has been granted are handed in late.

All assignments, including those handed in late, will be assessed on their merits. In the case of late assignments where no  extension has been granted, 5 percentage points of the total marks possible per day will be deducted.  If an assignment that is 2  days late is awarded 65% on its merits, the mark will then be reduced by 10% (5% per day for 2 days) to 55%.  If that same  assignment is 4 days late, the mark will be reduced by 20% (5% per day for 4 days) to 45%, and so on.  

The School of Public Health reserves the right to refuse to accept an assignment that is more than 7 days late.

Assignments submitted after the due date may not be graded in time to be returned on the listed return dates.

Students submitting examinable written work who request (and receive) an extension that takes them beyond the examination  period are advised that there is no guarantee that their grades will be processed in time to meet usual University deadlines.

Resubmission
If a student is dissatisfied with an assessment grade they should follow the Student Grievance Resolution Process  <https://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/grievance/process/>. Students who are not satisfied with a particular assessment result should raise their concerns with Course Co-ordinator(s) in the first instance. This must be done within 10 business days of the  date of notification of the result. Resubmission of any assignment is subject to the agreement of the Course Co-ordinator(s) and  will only be permitted for the most compelling of reasons.