About Jeanette Roberts
Jeanette (nee Virginia) is a writer/editor, sociologist and teacher with a background in teaching English, History, Language/Literacy and working in Special Education. In the years following the unexpected death of her first born child, Jeanette returned to further study to complete a Sociology (Honours) degree before embarking on her doctoral studies. As part of her doctoral studies Jeanette combined the telling of her multi-layered experiences of loss and trauma – the death of her child and childhood trauma - with academic research on loss, trauma, grief/bereavement and autoethnographic writing. The latter in a nutshell is an evocative story of self, combined with a social/cultural analysis of the story. This experience was cathartic. Combining the evocative telling of her story with reflection and analysis, enabled Jeanette to gain deep insight into her experiences that helped her move through her stuck grief.
Since undertaking her studies, Jeanette has written and self-published two books, a memoir of her loss and grief, titled, ‘Journey Through the Abyss,’ and a bereavement self-help book, titled ‘Art of Healing the Self.’ She has edited the TCFV book ‘When Part of You Dies,’ a collection of stories and poetry by bereaved parents, as well as assisted individually other bereaved parents with editing and self-publishing their books.
Qualifications
Doctoral Studies in Loss, Trauma, Grief and Autoethnographic Writing, Deakin University (2008-2012)
Bachelor of Letters - Sociology (Honours), Deakin University (2003)
Graduate Diploma in Special Education, University of Melbourne (1991)
Diploma in Education, Monash University (1980)
Bachelor of Arts (English Literature and Anthropology), Monash University (1979)
Memberships
Loss and Grief Practitioners Association (Victoria)
Testimonials
Jeanette (nee Virginia) is a writer/editor, sociologist and teacher with a background in teaching English, History, Language/Literacy and working in Special Education. In the years following the unexpected death of her first born child, Jeanette returned to further study to complete a Sociology (Honours) degree before embarking on her doctoral studies. As part of her doctoral studies Jeanette combined the telling of her multi-layered experiences of loss and trauma – the death of her child and childhood trauma - with academic research on loss, trauma, grief/bereavement and autoethnographic writing. The latter in a nutshell is an evocative story of self, combined with a social/cultural analysis of the story. This experience was cathartic. Combining the evocative telling of her story with reflection and analysis, enabled Jeanette to gain deep insight into her experiences that helped her move through her stuck grief.
Since undertaking her studies, Jeanette has written and self-published two books, a memoir of her loss and grief, titled, ‘Journey Through the Abyss,’ and a bereavement self-help book, titled ‘Art of Healing the Self.’ She has edited the TCFV book ‘When Part of You Dies,’ a collection of stories and poetry by bereaved parents, as well as assisted individually other bereaved parents with editing and self-publishing their books.
Qualifications
Doctoral Studies in Loss, Trauma, Grief and Autoethnographic Writing, Deakin University (2008-2012)
Bachelor of Letters - Sociology (Honours), Deakin University (2003)
Graduate Diploma in Special Education, University of Melbourne (1991)
Diploma in Education, Monash University (1980)
Bachelor of Arts (English Literature and Anthropology), Monash University (1979)
Memberships
Loss and Grief Practitioners Association (Victoria)
Testimonials
- 'Thank you for the handouts – they really help me to make sense of my journey – and combined with the writing – although it is all over the place yet. I appreciate your depth of knowledge and your willingness to share your skills and story.’
- 'I appreciate the opportunity to write and share with confidence – despite the difficulties and challenges and I appreciate your generous participation in L’s story and for the time it took. It certainly takes me closer to somehow healing and accepting my grief experiences of the past couple of years not only in the writing – but the sharing - and recognising some of my inadequacies and limitations as a writer – that is a positive experience for me. My ‘I’ statements about R have helped me get things in perspective and lessen the pain in some ways.’
- 'Thank you for inspiring me to write and for all of your organising such a great course and adaptability and to have a go at art.’
- Thanks for the opportunity to write, Jeanette. It has been so therapeutic for me. The writing exercise was therapeutic & has replaced the urge to write in a daily journal.