SPEVI Early Intervention VI Community of Practice: 23 July 2026
ph...@sonokids.com
Dear colleagues and friends,
Announcing the next SPEVI Early Intervention VI Community of Practice: Grief, Loss and Disability.
Date: July 23rd, 2026
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm AEST (QLD, VIC, NSW), 5:30-6:30 pm NZ
Guest Presenter: Rebecca Kent
The birth or diagnosis of a child with disability can bring a complex mix of emotions for parents. Alongside joy and growth, many families also experience grief related to changed expectations, uncertainty, and the ongoing demands of caregiving. This session will explore how grief can re-emerge over time and influence family relationships, engagement, and decision-making.
We’ll consider how milestones, transitions, and life events may trigger renewed grief, and how this can affect attachment, family dynamics, and participation in services. The session will address challenges such as social isolation, comparison with peers, and responses to interventions like braille or cane use, reframing these experiences through a lens of grief rather than disengagement.
Participants will be invited to reflect on their own practice and consider practical strategies for supporting families, including:
• recognising how grief may affect engagement, attachment, and family functioning.
• responding with empathy.
• supporting families to celebrate their child’s achievements alongside ongoing challenges
• using a team-based approach and knowing when to refer families to counselling supports
The session will include a 30–40 minute presentation followed by open discussion, providing an opportunity for shared reflection and professional learning.
Presenter: Rebecca Kent is a psychologist and Senior Practitioner at Vision Australia, with a strong commitment to mental health and supporting families to thrive. Her work is broadly shaped by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and draws on play and art based therapeutic approaches. Working with children and young people with BLV and their families has also seen her deepen her practice in parent coaching, self-determination, and career education.
Note to all participants: “No recording - No redistribution - No commercial reuse”.
You are required to register in advance for this meeting through this registration link.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Please check your junk folder if you do not receive the details immediately.
Don’t forget to accept and/or upload the invitation to your calendar so you don’t miss it!
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