Understanding prolonged grief
Online, self-paced course
Grief is a natural response to loss, but for some, it can become prolonged and deeply disruptive.
This course is designed for professionals, students, carers and volunteers in healthcare, mental health, social services, and community care who want to deepen their understanding of prolonged grief and provide informed support to those at heightened risk.
Participants will gain insights into the latest research on Prolonged Grief and Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), and how these conditions can disrupt daily life and well-being. The course covers key risk factors, evidence-based models, and practical strategies to provide effective, compassionate support.
Upon completion, participants will be better equipped to help prevent the escalation of grief into long-term mental health challenges, fostering healing and resilience in those they support.
Learning objectives
- Define prolonged grief and understand its impact on daily life and well-being.
- Differentiate between typical grief responses and prolonged grief to identify when intervention is needed.
- Recognise key risk factors that contribute to severe and long-term grief responses.
- Explore evidence-based models of grief and how they inform effective support.
- Identify when an individual may be “stuck” in their grief and in need of help.
- Understand the role of reflection in grief processing and support.
- Engage cultural sensitivity when responding to grief responses.
Course duration
This course will take approximately three to five hours to complete (including your reflection assessment).
Cost
$295
5 OPD/CPD points*
A certificate of completion is issued to students who successfully complete all assessment criteria.
Endorsed by Australian Counselling Association (ACA) for 5 ongoing professional development points.
*Please check with your member organisation to determine their CPD/OPD requirements.
Developed through real-world expertise and backed by trusted partnerships
Since 2022, Griefline has partnered with the NSW Ministry of Health to deliver enhanced bereavement care for individuals at risk of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD). This ongoing collaboration underpins the credibility of our training and reflects our commitment to providing evidence-informed support to those navigating complex grief.
Our Understanding Prolonged Grief training was designed by Dr Louise Cooper-Shaw, an academic with a background in Applied and Educational Psychology. Drawing on her extensive experience supervising Griefline’s volunteer counsellors and supporting help-seekers through grief, Louise crafted this program to bridge theory and practice in a meaningful, accessible way.
Since its launch, the course has been continually refined with insights from digital education specialists, clinicians, and researchers to ensure it remains current, practical, and grounded in lived experience and contemporary grief theory.
Clinical oversight
Marianne Bowdler
Clinical services manager and grief education facilitator
BA USYD (Philosophy), Bereavement and Psychotherapeutic (person-centred) counsellor, Clinical Supervisor (Robin Shohet, London), ASIST Suicide Prevention trainer, Mental Health First Aid trained.
Marianne, oversees Griefline’s Integrating Grief Bereavement Counselling Program – supported by the NSW Ministry of Health, and by SEMPHN in Victoria which provides free bereavement support for adults navigating complex grief. Her core training is as a person-centred counsellor and she has a clinical focus on bereavement, attachment and loss. Marianne returned home to Australia and joined Griefline in 2021 after managing the East London Bereavement Service Covid19 response in the UK.
About Griefline
At Griefline, we’re working to transform the way Australians understand and respond to grief. Through compassionate support, practical resources, and courageous conversations, we help individuals and communities navigate the complexities of loss and build emotional resilience.
Why choose us for your professional development?
We believe effective grief education goes beyond theory — it’s about fostering real change in how people are supported through loss. Our training programs are grounded in lived experience, backed by clinical expertise, and designed to empower professionals with practical, evidence-informed tools they can use with confidence.
When you choose Griefline, you’re not only investing in quality professional development — you’re supporting a purpose-led organisation. Every dollar spent on our training directly funds free grief support services for individuals and communities across Australia.
By partnering with us, you’re joining a national movement to reduce the stigma around grief and ensure no one feels alone in their pain.
Griefline online learning terms of use
Effective date: April 2025
1. Ownership of content
All materials, resources, videos, presentations, documents, and any other content made available through the Griefline Online Learning Platform are the intellectual property of Griefline.
This includes:
- Course content and modules
- Downloadable materials
- Images, graphics, and audio
- Facilitator presentations and recordings
- Written guides, activities, and assessments
All content is protected under copyright and intellectual property laws.
2. Restrictions on use
You are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the course content for personal, non-commercial educational purposes only.
You must not:
- Reproduce, copy, or share course content with others
- Distribute, publish, or publicly display any material
- Record, stream, or download content for external use without written permission
- Modify or create derivative works based on course materials
Any unauthorised use, duplication, or distribution of content is a breach of these Terms and may result in immediate removal from the platform and potential legal action.
3. User conduct
All learners are expected to engage respectfully and responsibly within the learning environment. Griefline reserves the right to revoke access to the platform for any behaviour that breaches these Terms or the integrity of our services.
4. Changes to terms
Griefline may update these Terms of Use at any time. Continued use of the platform after changes are made will constitute acceptance of the revised terms.
5. Questions or concerns
If you have questions about how content may be used or would like permission to share specific materials, please contact:
Email: [email protected]
