About

A support network for people experiencing loss and grief.

The National Association for Loss and Grief (NSW) Inc is a not for profit organisation, formed in 1977 following the Granville Train Disaster, to act as a support network for people experiencing loss and grief.

Enhancing Wellbeing & Promote Resilience

The organisation continues to provide a service to individuals, families and communities through its Grief Support service and now has branches in Dubbo (Head Office), Mudgee, Hunter and Sydney (Telephone).

Each year, NALAG also conducts a variety of quality educational programs, workshops, training and mental health awareness events to enhance wellbeing and promote resilience to NSW communities following loss, grief, trauma and adverse life events.

A setup of handwritten cards and a candle surrounded by flowers and greenery on grass; folded white cards are placed in a circle around the arrangement.

Our Mission

To strengthen the capacity of NSW communities and individuals to enhance wellbeing and promote resilience through support, counselling, education and advocacy following loss, grief, trauma and adverse life events.

Our Values

Excellence
Integrity
Compassion
Respect

Meet The Team

The NALAG team consists of over 70 volunteers and a number of staff based at numerous branches throughout NSW.

NALAG Board

Julie has a long history with NALAG as a consultant, trainer, volunteer, Board President and member of the Executive on the NALAG Board. She has a strong belief in and passion for what NALAG offers those experiencing loss and grief and those who support them. She has extensive experience as a psychologist in the areas of loss, grief and trauma. She has held executive positions in NSW Health and is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Sydney University Medical School. Since 2003 Julie has been the Bali Trauma Recovery Coordinator primarily working with NSW Bali Bombing survivors, bereaved & first responders, being an invited Australian representative for the Supporting Victims of Terrorism at the UN. She has been a consultant to communities and individuals impacted by Disasters, including the bereaved from the bushfires, floods and drought affected areas of NSW and Victoria. Julie has had a special interest in working with bereaved parents, adolescents and children, those who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss, and trauma and complex grief. She has worked extensively with those who have experienced traumatic bereavement after a sudden unexpected death, including suicide, murder terrorism events and accidents. Julie conducts training in the areas of Psychological First Aid, PTSD and Complex Grief treatment, and Vicarious Trauma management for health workers and first responders. She is well recognised for her innovative model of working creatively with those who have experienced trauma and grief.
President
Julie Dunsmore

Julie has a long history with NALAG as a consultant, trainer, volunteer, Board President and member of the Executive on the NALAG Board. She has a strong belief in and passion for what NALAG offers those experiencing loss and grief and those who support them.

She has extensive experience as a psychologist in the areas of loss, grief and trauma. She has held executive positions in NSW Health and is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Sydney University Medical School. Since 2003 Julie has been the Bali Trauma Recovery Coordinator primarily working with NSW Bali Bombing survivors, bereaved & first responders, being an invited Australian representative for the Supporting Victims of Terrorism at the UN. She has been a consultant to communities and individuals impacted by Disasters, including the bereaved from the bushfires, floods and drought affected areas of NSW and Victoria.

Julie has had a special interest in working with bereaved parents, adolescents and children, those who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss, and trauma and complex grief. She has worked extensively with those who have experienced traumatic bereavement after a sudden unexpected death, including suicide, murder terrorism events and accidents. Julie conducts training in the areas of Psychological First Aid, PTSD and Complex Grief treatment, and Vicarious Trauma management for health workers and first responders. She is well recognised for her innovative model of working creatively with those who have experienced trauma and grief.

Biography
Paula Hanson
DEPUTY President/Chair
Paula Hanson

Paula Hanson

Paula, an entrepreneur, successful in her own winery and bustling cellar door, holds a deep and unwavering commitment to assisting those in need, especially individuals experiencing grief.

During her 10-year tenure as the Education and Promotions Officer at NALAG, she played a pivotal role in establishing NALAG's reputation as a frontrunner in professional grief and loss education, as well as in promoting awareness about grief.

Currently, Paula serves as a Committee Member on the NALAG Board and continues to generously contribute her time and efforts to support the admirable work undertaken by NALAG.

Biography
Robert McGorman
Treasurer
Robert McGorman

Rob McGorman

I have lived and worked in Dubbo for the past 15 years. Most of this time I worked for a government funded NFP as a financial counsellor, working with farmers in financial difficulty across more than half of western NSW. I served as a financial counsellor, the senior counsellor and also team leader with, at times, responsibility for up to 20 counsellors. I gained experience in how a NFP functions, the importance of policies, financial control, compliance and board CEO relationships.

I also worked for NSW DPI following the 2022 inland floods as a recovery officer dealing with farmers and graziers who had suffered flood damage along all the major NSW Inland rivers. This gave me an insight into the funding arrangements for such events and planning and rolling out community engagement activities managed by a remote team. In short, I have dealt with grief caused by financial loss, floods and droughts.

I am currently the executive pastor at Dubbo Baptist Church – a faith community that touches around 300 people each week.

I have served as the financial director on the board of a public unlisted company, am a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and have served on the NALAG management board for the past 3 years (2 as treasurer). Priority during this time has been to ensure responsible use of funds whilst remaining solvent, overseen the transition to a new bookkeeper, streamlined the number of bank accounts and ensured our financial resources are working hard.

Biography
Kerry Frost
Secretary/Public Officer
Kerry Frost

Kerry Frost

Kerry joined NALAG in 2000 as a volunteer and has served one term as President of the Dubbo branch. In 2004, Kerry accepted the position of Secretary to the NALAG Board. She has attained two Diplomas, one in counselling and another in Chaplaincy, as well as completing many workshops and courses in Loss, Grief and Trauma during her time with NALAG. This has enabled Kerry to offer Grief support to a wide variety of clients. She considers her role as a "privilege and and honour to serve with a highly skilled Board who have a passion for supporting people experiencing Loss, Grief and Trauma". As a valued volunteer for over 19 years, Kerry has contributed to the wellbeing of her community immensely, bringing her great satisfaction and joy.

Biography
Kerry Lyn-Strain
Committee Member
Kerry-Lyn Strain

 

Kerry-Lyn Strain

Kerry-Lyn Strain is a dedicated professional with a passion for education and community service. Kerry-Lyn has been a NALAG member and volunteer with the Dubbo Branch for over 12 years.

She has a strong connection with NALAG and believes in NALAG’s vision and commitment to serve the community. She wants to be on the board to ensure that NALAG continues to thrive for future generations. She believes she can be an asset to the board especially in the areas of health promotion and educational programs such as Blue Healers (Kerry-Lyn is a trained facilitator of NALAG Blue Healers Program) and engaging with local communities. Her experience and knowledge in the Education and School sector can further NALAG’s work in the support of children experiencing loss and grief and advocate to build the capacity of teachers and school communities to assist children in need.

With 28 years of experience as a secondary school teacher in Dubbo, she has made a significant impact in both the public and catholic sectors. Kerry-Lyn specializes in teaching science and agriculture, utilizing her knowledge and expertise to inspire and educate her students.  With her strong educational background, extensive experience, and passion for community service, and volunteering, Kerry-Lyn is a valuable asset and an exceptional individual in her field. She continues to make a positive impact in the lives of those she teaches and serves.

Biography
Luke Clarke
Committee Member
Luke Clarke

Luke Clarke

Luke Clarke is a Dubbo solicitor who has an understanding of loss and grief from both a family and personal perspective as well as from that of the diversity of clients he provides services to. The majority of his personal injury cases involve clients with psychological injury. Knowing how to help others is an area the law could work on, and Luke’s hope is to link the understanding and of this area to university study. Students would then have a deeper understanding of clients and provide a more personal approach to legal matters.

 Luke’s commitment to the community is demonstrated in his contribution to junior sport as both coach and committee member. Even in junior sport there have been losses. At a NALAG board level, Luke can provide a legal perspective on issues and contextualise it with first-hand experience of loss in the rural farming environment as well as in the context of a regional city.

Luke has been a NALAG Board Committee Member for the past two years. He has brought his legal expertise to assisting with the governance work of the Board. His enthusiasm and passion for progressing the work of NALAG continues.

Biography
Rhonda White
Committee Member
Rhonda White

Rhonda White

Rhonda is a Member and Volunteer Grief Support Worker for NALAG, Hunter Branch Co-ordinator and Board Member. She is also a Finance, Accounts and Administration Manager and a Marriage and Funeral Celebrant. She is studying for her Diploma in Counselling.

Rhonda has both lived, personal and professional experience, in Loss and Grief, and is passionate about helping people during their grief journey. She is also passionate about helping people to maintain their connections, whilst finding meaning and purpose in their lives post loss. She considers the work that NALAG does, an intrinsic part of her life, both personally and professionally.

She was elected to the NALAG Board for 2023. She has been working with other Board Members during that time on Policies and Procedures as well as local Hunter Promotions for the organisation.

Rhonda’s Celebrant and community work sees her network with Funeral Directors and Celebrants, Counsellors, Aged Care Facilities, Civil Celebrants, and Lake Macquarie Women in Business, which has been helpful in her Board work.

She has experience in preparing marketing and promotional plans. Within her role as Finance and Administration Manager, she has worked with business owners and stakeholders to promote, and market NALAG, various events, and raise their profile within the community. She has assisted the Board in exploring best practice avenues in the Bookkeeping areas for the NALAG Finance Committee.

Rhonda has enjoyed her Board Role in 2023 and would like to continue working on the Board projects she has been working on during this year to see them to their fruition.

Biography
Gerald Chitsunge
Committee Member
Dr Gerald Chitsunge

Dr Gerald Chitsunge

With expansive clinical practice as a medical doctor in a variety of roles across Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Australia, Gerald possesses sound knowledge and understanding of healthcare systems. He has extensive experience in rural health, having worked alongside distinguished organizations, including a decade with the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, where he provided primary and emergency care to the population of Western & Far West NSW. He also held positions as  Senior Clinical Lecturer with the University of Sydney School of Rural Health in Dubbo, Visiting Medical Officer with Western NSW Local Health District at Gilgandra MPS, and as a GP at Gilgandra Medical Centre for many years.

His collaboration with NALAG was established through his work in primary care, where it was not uncommon to refer patients struggling with loss and grief for support. Gerald is well-versed in the obstacles that rural and remote communities face in accessing services and is a strong advocate for a community-based approach to address such challenges.

Gerald holds Master of Clinical Medicine (Leadership & Management) from University of Newcastle; Master of Medicine (Internal Medicine) from University of Sydney; Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery from University of Zimbabwe. He is currently enrolled in the Master of Business Administration with the Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed Foundation of Directorship course.

 His experience in clinical governance, combined with his deep understanding of safety and quality in healthcare and strong strategic skills, has been extremely valuable to NALAG, in his role as a Board Member.

Biography
Sally Wooding
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Dr Sally Wooding

Dr Sally Wooding

Dr Sally Wooding has been a Clinical Psychologist for 30 years working in both QLD and NSW in the areas of loss, grief, and traumatic bereavement. She has experience in research, policy and clinical areas providing a multi-dimensional and current perspective for NALAG; particularly in terms of community experience informing policy and service delivery.

For 20 years she has worked closely with Professor Beverley Raphael, the founder of NALAG. This included the NSW Ministry of Health reviewing and revising policy and best practice guidelines for response to the impact of disasters and terrorism in children and adolescents, and loss and grief governance in the Public Sector. In this capacity she has worked with rural and regional communities, including Indigenous communities, forming relationships with a variety of key stakeholders.

Sally advocates that NALAG continues to work with Indigenous leaders in local Area Health Districts to understand the unique and often traumatic issues related to grief and loss and ways to engage with communities.

Biography
Trudy Hanson
Committee Member (ON LEAVE)
Trudy Hanson OAM

Trudy Hanson OAM, has been a member of NALAG for 43 years having held the first paid employee position in 2000. Prior to that she was the president of the Orana Chapter and a volunteer for 10 years  She worked as the CEO for 20 years and retired 2019, and joined the Board in 2021.

Trudy has had a far-reaching career in the field of loss, grief and trauma. Working as a counsellor, a support volunteer, educator, trainer and facilitator over a 30-year period for NALAG, Western Area Health and Uniting Care Burnside.

​ Professionally Trudy has a background in counselling, ACA membership, Grief Counsellor Educator, Macquarie Area Health Youth Suicide Prevention, Uniting Care Burnside working with homeless youth and set up a Mentoring program. She has been a trainer for Good Grief programs Aboriginal Seasons For Healing, Seasons For Growth Childrens Program for over 20 years. She designed and developed the celebrated Blue Healers Program to address Depression.

In 1995 she was awarded the Order of Australia and the same year was Citizen of the Year for Dubbo. Trudy has been a volunteer for most of her life State Director of Citizens Radio Emergency Service Teams (CREST) Macquarie, Divisional Controller SES.  Dubbo City SES, Controller Rotary FAIM volunteer working in disadvantaged countries, East Africa, Fiji, South America building work, and sponsoring children in schools.

Trudy has demonstrated her passion for the organisation and she brings such value to the work of the Board to promote the Mission and Vision of NALAG which is about supporting those experiencing loss, grief and adversity.

Biography
Screenshot 2024-08-21 at 12.39.00 pm
Board Consultant
Karin Lines
Biography

NALAG Staff

Trudy Hanson
CEO NALAG Centre for Loss & Grief, Dubbo
Trudy Hanson OAM
Gerry OLeary
Systems Manager
Gerry O'Leary
Brenda Baker
Intake and Support Volunteer Coordinator
Brenda Baker
Cathy Banks
Senior Counsellor
Cathy Banks
PEH_0622-2
OFFICE COORDINATOR Bereavement Support Counsellor (Dubbo)
Terrey McDermaid
Vianney McAllister
Bereavement Support Counsellor (Gilgandra)
Vianney McAllister
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