The Centre is run by the Clinical Directors, Dianne & Mal McKissock, supported by a core group of highly qualified staff and trained volunteers as well as the patronage of the current Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir.

PATRON

Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC, Governor of NSW

Professor Marie Bashir has a grand vision for NSW. Within five years she wants to achieve a more harmonious society, narrow the gap between rich and poor, be more inclusive of Aborigines and other marginalised communities, and provide more opportunities for higher education.

She also says she can act as a catalyst to bring ethnic groups closer together, and help fulfil society's expectations of living in harmony, peace and tolerance. Prof Bashir has a long and distinguished career in clinical psychology, suicide prevention, mental and indigenous health and, according to Premier Bob Carr, is the best qualified Governor NSW has ever appointed. She is the third woman to serve as governor of an Australian state.

CHARITY AMBASSADOR

Henri Szeps OAM

Henri is one of Australia's most well known and respected actors. As well as appearing in films and movies, over the years Henri has had continuing roles in several television series: Daily at Dawn (ATN 7), City West (SBS). He won the Penguin Award, 1985 (actor in a mini-series) for his performance in ABC's 10 part drama series Palace of Dreams; but he is of course still best known as "Robbie" the dentist, in Mother and Son.

Henri has had 2 books published: All in Good Timing (on acting) and One Life Two Journeys (his 2 one-man shows). He is married to Mary Ann and they have two grown up sons. Henri was born in a refugee camp in Switzerland during WWII, raised in Paris and came to Australia at the age of 8.

Henri is an Australia Day Ambassador, a Charity Ambassador for the National Centre for Childhood Grief, and on the board of the Actors Centre Australia. In 2001 he was honoured with the Order of Australia Medal for contribution to the arts and the community.

CLINICAL DIRECTOR

Dianne McKissock OAM

BSOC SCI, AAMFC, CT (ADEC USA)

A sociologist and well known Sydney psychotherapist who began her counselling career in 1969 as a relationship counsellor. Since that time she has maintained a private counselling practice, worked in a variety of educational, counselling and administrative roles in Drug & Alcohol Services (Dept. of Health, NSW) and as a consultant to a variety of Government and private organisations in planning and implementing educational and training programs.

For the past twenty years Dianne's special interest in counselling and education has been in the field of loss and grief, with current emphasis on the needs of bereaved children.

She is a Certified Thanatologist through ADEC (Association for Death Education and Counselling – USA), a clinical member of the Australian Association of Marriage & Family Counsellors and a member of the National Association for Loss & Grief. Dianne is the author and co-author of a number of books and articles on different aspects of grief and loss published in professional journals.

CLINICAL DIRECTOR

Mal McKissock OAM

RGN, RPN, FRCNA (HON), FCN (NSW), GRAD DIP AD ED (SYD), CT (ADEC USA)

One of Australia's best known and respected bereavement counsellors and educators. A Certified Thanatologist with the Association of Death Education and Counselling (USA), he is on the Board of Directors  of the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement. He began his career in the health field in 1965 and in 1975 was appointed as the first full time bereavement counsellor with the NSW Department of Health.

A founding member of the National Association for Loss and Grief, Mal was state chairperson of the Association from 1980-1982, and the National President from 1982-1985. He has studied in Israel, Canada, the United States of America, Greece, Hong Kong and New Zealand to further his knowledge and skills in the area of death, dying and bereavement and has been an invited presenter at international conferences and in overseas community settings.

For over thirty years Mal has taught bereavement counselling skills throughout Australasia and has received wide acclaim for his innovative therapeutic interventions, particularly with bereaved children. He has acted as grief and bereavement consultant to a number of government departments and community organisations, including The Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission, and his book 'Coping with Grief' (currently in its third edition) has been an invaluable resource for people experiencing loss. In addition, Mal has co-authored other books on grief and loss issues, as well as a variety of articles on death, dying and bereavement published in professional journals.

DIRECTOR

Rick Taylor

Rick worked at Arthur Andersen for six years in both the London and the Sydney offices as a chartered accountant. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer Ambition Group and has extensive experience of accounting and financial management.  He is assisted as a Director of the NCCG by his wife, Michelle.

Rick and Michelle have a son, Ralph, and a daughter Alice who now keep them both busy and amused.

DIRECTOR

Alison Mary Turner

Alison is Executive Director at the Institute of Counselling in Strathfield, Sydney, where she is responsible for the overall administration and governance of the organisation. This includes developing academic programs, course delivery, marketing and financial management.

Alison is a Psychologist and has a private practice at ‘Kirralinde’ in Drummoyne, Sydney, where she provides individual, couple and family therapy, clinical supervision and organisational consultation. Her particular clinical interests are in the areas of relational psychotherapy and the therapeutic relationship in general, attachment across the life span, and emotional development and awareness, both in life and in counsellor training.

Alison lectures in the Post Graduate Diploma at the Institute of Counselling, and is a guest lecturer at the University of Western Sydney and the Australian Catholic University in their Masters program. She is also an Associate Member of the Australian Psychological Society, an Executive Member of the Society of Counselling & Psychotherapy Educators, a member of the Ethics Committee of the Psychotherapy & Counsellors Federation of Australia and an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Catholic University.

In the time left after these roles she is a PhD Candidate in the School of Health, at the University of New England, Armidale, in keeping with her passion for clinical work she is researching Mutual Influence in the Therapeutic Relationship.  On a personal level Alison and her husband of 30 plus years Bob have 3 adult children, Jason, Rachel and Megan, who are now all successfully launched after the inevitable returns to dry dock. She is an enthusiastic gardener, loves reading, is a devoted dog owner to golden retriever Dudley, and has a keen interest in exercise, nutrition and general well being.

DIRECTOR

Peter Coupland

Peter Coupland has a diverse background of working with people on issues regarding leadership, conflict, change and bereavement.  Although his initial training was in agriculture, he began his career as an expedition guide and led trips to remote areas of Australia, Nepal and Costa Rica.  This was followed by a number of facilitation roles in personal, organisational and community development and also environmental management.

For the past 10 years, Peter has been running a private practice specialising in executive development providing personal and leadership support to senior executives in Australia, North Asia and South East Asia.  Recently his work has extended to include bereavement counselling for individuals and families.

Peter is a qualified children’s and adult’s Bereavement Counsellor and is a member of the senior team with the National Centre for Childhood Grief (NCCG) providing volunteer based support to children and adolescents on an individual and group basis.  In this capacity, he is also the coordinator of the “Bereaved Boys Adventure Program”. He joined the Board of Directors of the NCCG in early 2008 and has a fundraising responsibility. Peter works as a consultant counsellor to the Bereavement C.A.R.E Centre in Eastwood providing support to bereaved adults and also sees children and adults at his private practice in Mittagong NSW.

In 2007 Peter presented the Graham Coupland Lecture on Surgeons’ experience of Dying, Death and Bereavement to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. In 2008, a revised version of this paper was presented at the Association for Death Education and Counselling (ADEC) annual conference in Montreal where he also co-presented a paper on childhood grief.

Peter holds an undergraduate degree in Applied Science (E.A.M), Post Graduate Diplomas in Conflict Resolution, Bereavement Counselling (Children), Bereavement Counselling (Adults) and a Masters Degree in Health Studies (Loss and Grief).  He is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counselling, a Clinical Member of the NSW Counselling and Psychotherapists Association (CAPA) and a Professional Affiliate of the Australian Psychological Society.