Courses & Upcoming Events
Retreats
Camp Alex is a family bereavement retreat supported by AWC Grief Support and held at Paço da Glória, an 18th-century manor, in northern Portugal. After an incredible first retreat weekend in the fall of 2024, the next Camp Alex will held from October 3-6, 2025, with Andrea and Colleen again facilitating the bereavement programming.
Camp Alex is a small (eight family) bereavement retreat designed to support a surviving parent with a child or children under the age of 19. If you are interested in having your family attend please fill out this expression of interest form.
For a taste of Camp Alex 2024 check out this.
On-Demand Webinars (Recorded - Available Immediately)
Visit here for more information or to register.
Knowing how to share the news with children that someone in their life has cancer can be incredibly challenging. This on-demand course provided by Andrea shares best practice strategies and approaches based on her 25 years of experience supporting children who are navigating a family member's cancer diagnosis.
Get access to this $97 course here.
Live Webinars
Date: June 7, 2023
Time: 9am - 4pm ET
Presenter: Andrea Warnick, MA, RN, RP
Fee: $175 + HST
Platform: Zoom
Registration: Here
Course Description
Thanatology, the study of dying and death, is an emerging discipline that is quickly gaining momentum and recognition. It is a fascinating time in the field with grassroots movements such as “The Dinner Party”, “The Conversation Project”, as well as a resurgence in home funerals and natural burials, bringing the subjects of dying, death, and grief back into the public discourse.
The purpose of this day long interactive virtual workshop is to explore these movements alongside other contemporary issues involving grief, dying and death, such as Prolonged Grief Disorder and pandemic related grief. The interdisciplinary nature of thanatology will be explored, as will options for further study and careers in the field.
This workshop is relevant to those with a general interest and those working or volunteering in a related field such as hospice, social services, education, health care, and funeral services. All in attendance will leave day with an enhanced level of grief and death literacy.
The human experiences of grief and heartbreak are always difficult, yet additional challenges come with navigating grief in a society that struggles with mortality and emotional expression.
When supporting grieving individuals, it’s common to worry about saying or doing the wrong thing. Other popular questions include what do to if trauma is involved or what does "normal" grief look like?
In this day-long virtual workshop, therapists from AWC Grief Support team will share practical strategies and resources for professionals to support a healthy grief process in adults.
This trauma-informed webinar will be recorded and available to registrants for 30 days following the live event.
Please note that this event is designed as a professional training. While those who are bereaved in their personal lives are welcome to attend, please keep in mind that this webinar is relatively fast-paced, so those who are currently processing their own grief may prefer to watch the recording at their own pace.
Professional Development and Certificate Courses
All of the modules listed below in the Certificate Program in Children's Grief and Bereavement can also be taken as individual workshops.
In this 5-module certificate program, you must complete all 5 modules to obtain the certificate. Please note: the individual modules can be taken separately but you will not receive the certificate.
- October 22, 29, November 5, 19, and 26, 2025
- Time: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. ET
- Learn more
- Register here *Use code WARNICK to save 10%
MODULE 1: Children at the Bedside – Preparing Children for the Death of Someone Close to Them (presented by Andrea Warnick)
MODULE 2: When Death Darkens the Door – Supporting Bereaved Children and Youth (presented by Andrea Warnick)
MODULE 3: Using Mindfulness and Compassion to Support Grieving Children and Families (presented by Lysa Toye)
MODULE 4: When Grief Gets More Complicated (presented by Andrea Warnick & Liana Lowenstein)
MODULE 5: Dancing in the Darkness – Creative approaches to working with grieving children and youth (presented by Andrea Warnick & Lysa Toye)
Professional Development Course - Foundations of Grief
Offered through Wilfrid Laurier University, this foundational course on grief, death, and bereavement is taught by Andrea Warnick twice a year. This course is designed for those who would like to expand their grief literacy and explore various areas of grief and bereavement, such as theoretical approaches, contemporary issues, developmental considerations, barriers to a healthy grief process, resources and more. Practical strategies for supporting those who are grieving will be woven throughout the two days. This course will provide a broad foundation from which participants can determine which topics they may want to explore in more depth in subsequent workshops.
Delivery Options: Remote
Dates: TBA Fall 2025
Time: 9:00AM to 4:00PM
Key Topics:
Grief Literacy
Grief & Bereavement Theory
Grief Support Strategies
Common Barriers to a Healthy Grief Process
Developmental Considerations
Grief-Specific Resources
For more information, please visit the course website here.
This course is part of the Death, Dying and Bereavement Certificate program, but can be taken as a standalone course.
Grief on the frontlines: Fostering healthy grief in ourselves and those who we support
Offered through the SickKids Learning Institute, this introductory webinar, led by grief expert Andrea Warnick (RN, MA, RP), explores the challenges of supporting individuals and families facing serious illness or loss. Participants will gain insight into common myths and misconceptions about grief, review current theoretical approaches, and learn practical strategies to foster a healthy grief process—for both those they support and themselves.
Delivery Options: Remote
Dates: September 19, 2025
Time: 9:00AM to 4:00PM ET
Learning Objectives:
Identify common myths and misconceptions about grief
Understand key theoretical approaches to grief and bereavement
Learn strategies to support healthy grief in others and in oneself
Explore a range of grief-specific web and literary resources
For more information and to register, please visit the course website here.
Conferences
Deepening the Dialogue: In-Person Conference on Grief and Bereavement
June 2025 | Melbourne, Australia
Hosted by Grief Australia and the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement
This two-day, in-person conference will bring together four international leaders in the field of grief and bereavement. The event is intended for clinicians and professionals working in grief support who are interested in applied, experiential learning. Sessions will not be recorded or streamed, and participation is limited to maintain a small, practice-focused setting.
AWC Grief Presenter: Andrea Warnick, MA, RN, RP
Founder, AWC Grief Support
Topic: Dancing in the Darkness: Creative Approaches to Working with Grieving Children and Youth
Each session is designed to be participatory, with opportunities to observe and practice therapeutic approaches in real time. Topics will cover a broad range of grief experiences across the lifespan, including work with children, youth, and individuals at end of life.
Participants are eligible to claim 12 OPD points with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
To learn more and register, click here
Free Online Q&A
- Presented by Canadian Virtual Hospice & AWC
- Cost: FREE
- Register to participate in the live forum by visiting here. You will receive an email a few days prior to the event with a link to access the forum.
- In this event you are welcome to ask your own questions or learn from the questions of others.
- Q&A is not offered for the months of July and August.
