Poet, counsellor, and creative space holder Dave Clark lives with chronic fatigue syndrome on Arrernte Country. Through his words, he brings visibility to quieter forms of grief — the kind bound up in illness, vulnerability, and life changes that can’t be reversed. His poetry gives shape to the unspoken, helping others feel seen, heard, and less alone.
At 51, Suzana found herself grieving not only the end of a relationship, but the life she had envisioned — one filled with partnership, children, and shared milestones. What unfolded was a deep reckoning with identity, purpose, and the grief that doesn’t come from death, but from dreams that no longer had a place to land.
“Grief isn’t just pain — it’s the shape love takes when the person we shared it with is no longer physically here.” After losing her brother, caring for her fiancé through terminal illness, and becoming a widow at fifty-three, Stephanie reflects on the sacredness of love, the raw truth of loss, and the strength found in showing up — for others and for herself.
Grief taught me early on how fragile and vital sleep is — and how essential it is to our ability to cope, regulate emotions, and begin healing.
After the unexpected death of his son, grief hit Chris like a tidal wave — overwhelming and all-consuming. It led to a breaking point, but also a turning point. Through connection, community, and supporting other bereaved parents, Chris found a way to live with the pain and honour his son’s memory.
After surviving a life-altering car crash and then experiencing the sudden death of a close friend, Catherine Ashton found herself at a crossroads — grieving not only the people she loved, but also parts of her identity. In response, she founded Critical Info, a social enterprise helping Australians prepare for the inevitable, navigate loss, and reduce the burden of confusion for those left behind.
When Daniel’s niece was lost at sea just weeks after the death of his best friend, the grief hit like a tidal wave. “Living with bipolar disorder has meant a lifetime of suicidal ideation,” he says. “I couldn’t see why my niece should die so young while I still live.” What followed was a journey into the depths of emotional pain — and a new, honest relationship with grief.
When Natalie’s husband died by suicide, she was left navigating unimaginable pain while supporting her children and managing daily life. Through art, she found moments of relief — and a path to helping others heal.
For many in culturally diverse communities, grief is more than emotional, it’s ancestral, collective, and ritualised. For Georgia, traditional practices like lighting a kandili and preparing koliva remain vital connections to family, culture, and identity.
When Cassandra was 30 weeks pregnant, her world shattered. In the space of a few months, she lost her husband, her uncle, and — later — the career she’d built over 15 years. This is how she learned to live with grief and transform it into purpose.
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