Rosemary Wanganeen
Transforming Aboriginal disadvantage into Aboriginal prosperity.
Meet Rosemary Wanganeen
Transforming Aboriginal disadvantage into Aboriginal prosperity.
Director & Founder, Rosemary Wanganeen
| Griefologist – Clinical Loss & Grief Counsellor-General Public & EAP provider; Facilitator; Program Designer; Assessor; Public Speaker; Consultant for research projects etc. |
| Cert IV Training & Assessment (2003) |
| Canditure: Master of Philosophy – University of Adelaide (2018-2022) |
Rosemary Wanganeen is Australia’s leading and only Griefologist, pioneering the revolutionary field of Griefology®. She is the founder and CEO of The Healing Centre for Griefology, established in 1993 in response to her personal experiences as part of the Stolen Generation.
With over 30 years of experience in health, welfare, and social justice for Aboriginal people, Rosemary has dedicated her career to transforming how individuals, communities, and organisations understand and integrate loss and grief. As a keynote speaker, educator, trainer, program designer, and peer-reviewed author, she has delivered Griefology® bi-culturally, recognising that loss and grief are universal human experiences. Her work extends across multiple sectors, demonstrating the far-reaching consequences of unaddressed grief in everyday life, including death and dying. She believes it’s time to bring loss and grief into the 21st century.
A former research officer for the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, Rosemary sought deeper understanding of personal and collective loss through what she calls intuitive research from 1987 to 1992. This research led to the development of The Seven Phases to Integrating Griefology®, a groundbreaking model that redefines grief—not as something to be “closed” but as a natural, ongoing process to be integrated into life.
Her work provides an evidence-based approach to transforming Aboriginal disadvantage into Aboriginal prosperity, shifting the conversation toward healing, sustainability, and self-determination. Her contributions have led to her recognition in academia, and she is currently a Master of Philosophy candidate at the University of Adelaide.
A proud South Australian Aboriginal woman of the Kaurna, Wirungu, and Koogatha nations, Rosemary’s work is deeply rooted in her lived experiences, cultural heritage, and academic research – making her an analytical storyteller. She continues to champion grief literacy as a transformative tool, pioneering a new paradigm for healing and prosperity—particularly for Aboriginal communities.
“Aboriginal prosperity is defined by the path the individual creates.”
Health, Welfare & Social Justice
With nearly 30 years of experience in health, welfare, and social justice for Aboriginal people, Rosemary Wanganeen has been at the forefront of advocating for change.
Her journey began in the 1980s when Rosemary worked as an advocate and full-time research officer in the Committee to Defend Black Rights (CDBR). In the Sydney office, she campaigned vigorously for a Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. CDBR became instrumental in forcing the Hawke government into calling for the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC 1988-1991).
As an Aboriginal research officer, she worked in the Adelaide office of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (1988-1991), while at the same time, still grieving and healing from her own personal lived experiences. Combining her work, her studies and her personal lived experiences, Rosemary developed the holistic and culturally safe and appropriate framework: The Seven Phases to Integrating Griefology©.
It was an incredible privilege being a part of the SA Voluntary Assisted Dying Implementation Taskforce throughout 2022 
.
A Personal Journey to Healing
While working as a research officer at the Royal Commission, Rosemary was simultaneously navigating her own journey of grief and healing. This personal experience deeply influenced her work.
The Seven Phases to Integrating Griefology© model was strengthened by studying with Bereavement Educational Services (SA) in 1994 and with COPE (SA) in Counseling Basics and Counseling Strategies in 1991.
This experience gave Rosemary the realisation that loss and inter-generational suppressed unresolved grief is the basis of so many of the challenges that beset contemporary Aboriginal people as individuals, families, communities and as a race of people. It was also the cause of many of the barriers that contribute to a fear of participation in society and accessing help from mainstream services.
Awards & Accolades
Rosemary’s dedication and expertise have not gone unnoticed. She has gained recognition from academics and health professionals for her bi-cultural training and Griefology work. Her research and methodologies have been published in reputable articles and papers, featured in specialist journals, and have made her a sought-after public speaker, both nationally and internationally.
| NITV: Our Stories Our Way – SBS Documentary (2017) |
| Outstanding Health Project/Program – Aboriginal Health Council (SA) NAIDOC Health Awards 2016 |
| Australian Ethnic Award Nomination 2012 |
| Recipient of Gladys Elphick Award 2011 |
| Winner: South Australian of the Year 2009 – Community Award |
| Telstra Businesswoman of the Year – Nomination 2000 |
| ZontaClub of Adelaide – Women of Achievement Award South Australia 2000 |
| ICAM –Living Black. SBS Documentary Indigenous Unit 1999 |
A Mission for Healing
Rosemary’s work centers on the belief that addressing loss and inter-generational suppressed unresolved grief is essential for healing contemporary Aboriginal individuals, families, and communities. It’s also a crucial step in overcoming barriers to participation in society and accessing mainstream services.
Get Educated. Get Inspired.
| Intergenerational loss and grief refers to the transmission of emotional pain and unresolved grief from one generation to the next, particularly within Aboriginal communities. |
| This phenomenon perpetuates cycles of disadvantage, impacting mental and emotional well-being, cultural identity, and relationships. Our workshops aim to break this cycle by applying Griefology principles, providing participants with tools to prevent the escalation of grief into completed suicides, strengthen resilience, foster cultural safety, and contribute to the overall social and community well-being within Aboriginal communities.
By addressing intergenerational loss and grief, our workshops seek to promote healing, empowerment, and prosperity among participants and their communities. Together, we can empower ourselves and others to create positive change. |
Suicide casts a long shadow that extends far beyond the individual within Indigenous communities. The emotional toll on families and friends is immeasurable. Griefology, as understood through the experiences of Indigenous peoples, helps us appreciate the unique cultural and spiritual dimensions of this grief.
Griefology enhances the impact of healthcare and legal professionals by seamlessly incorporating trauma-informed care into their practice. This approach recognises the profound influence of unresolved grief on individuals, families, and communities, offering a deeper understanding of trauma’s roots.
By embracing Griefology, professionals can provide more empathetic, culturally sensitive, and healing-oriented services, ultimately fostering resilience and promoting equitable access to justice and healthcare for all.
Acknowledgement of Country
The Healing Centre for Griefology and founder, Rosemary Wanganeen, acknowledge that the Kaurna people are the Traditional Owners of Country of the land on which we are privileged to live, work, and play, and pay respects to Elders of the Kaurna nation, past, present and future. Rosemary acknowledges her gratitude for the sharing of modern Australia, and at the same time, expresses her deep sadness for the cost of this sharing particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We all have a right, a role, and responsibility to support the Reconciliation process and forge a path to a place of equity, justice, and partnership for all Australians. The Healing Centre for Griefology further acknowledges all Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and Torres Strait Islands and pays respect to their continuing connection to the land, waters and community we are privileged to visit. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past, present and emerging.
