A champion for kids’ voices  

Championing the voices of children and young people has been a passion of Meg Chin’s since she began her role with Very Special Kids 11 years ago. 

Meg has been fundamental in the development of our new Rights of the Child Working Group and has been a key voice at symposiums and conferences, presenting on the topic to her peers. 

Losby Gods Golf and Country Club, Losbyveien, Norway – location of the 2022 meeting of the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement.

In May 2022, Meg flew to Norway to attend the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement. While there, Meg participated in a weeklong workshop and shared sector innovation and ideas, collaborated on projects and developed discussion papers for publication. 

Meg has also embarked on her PhD, to better understand what exactly happens to a child in the years after their sibling’s death. Her research project will gather evidence directly from bereaved siblings, aged from five to 12 years old. 

“Research literature does not adequately reflect the important perspectives of children who are experiencing grief,” Meg explains. 

“I think as a society we have a lot more work to do when it comes to how we think and talk about grief. The contributions and perspectives of children will inform how we support and care for children who have experienced the death of a sibling, now and into the future.”

The feedback from the children about being a part of a research project has been very positive and Meg is welcoming further children to the study.   

If you are interested to learn more about Meg’s research and how bereaved siblings can participate, click here or contact Meg at mchin@vsk.org.au.