Things like study and work don’t go away.

• Returning to uni or TAFE after someone has died can be really, really hard.

• Don’t push yourself. Taking some time out to look after you is important.

• Grieving can be exhausting both emotionally and physically, leaving you with little energy or motivation for anything else.

If you are at uni or TAFE, talking to your lecturers, tutors or department heads should help you to work out a strategy to cope with your study work load while recognising what is going on at home.

To tell or not to tell

• Having to tell people can be really hard – especially if you have to repeat the story a few times. You may not want to tell everyone your parent or sibling has died. Plus you might not want to be treated any differently.

• But if you are finding things too hard, letting your lecturers or tutors know might mean they cut you some slack. It will also help you to not have to pretend all day that everything is okay.

• But be prepared for some people to think you should be ‘back to normal’ after a certain time. Many people just don’t get the fact that the grief journey lasts a long time.

Other help

• Most campuses have a Student Services Centre that provides counselling and support.

• At exam time you may be eligible for Special Consideration. Speak to your lecturers or tutors about this.

• Don’t be afraid to take advantage of whatever is on offer to help you get through these tough times.

Remember: It’s not bludging – it’s just recognising that things are really hard right now.