Two Griffith women who lost their sons to tragic workplace accidents formed a support group for parents whose children have died. They invite other MIA parents in need of help to their group. 

Kay Catanzariti  said she felt she was going insane in the months after she lost her 21-year-old son Ben. 

“People would come up to me and say, ‘I know what you’re going through, I lost my mum or dad recently’, but it’s not the same. There's no comparison to losing your child”.

In a desperate state, she searched for those who really did know how she was feeling. She found Wendy Sweeney. 

Mrs Sweeney’s 22-year-old son Mitchell was killed while working on the federal government’s disastrous home insulation program.

“You never fully recover. You learn to cope but there are always reminders,” Mrs Sweeney. 

Mrs Catanzariti said other people are afraid of grief, and will avoid contact with her because they don’t know what to say. She offers advice. 

“The best question to ask someone in these situations is ‘how are you going, today?’. You’re never going well, but some days are better than other.”

Mrs Catanzariti and Mrs Sweeney found others, and organised meet ups every couple of months where parents can get together.

“We don’t sit around in a circle and say ‘my name is...people are free to share what they like… sometimes silence is golden,” Mrs Catanzariti said.

“It a space where people can go for support. It’s not for everyone, but it does work for some.” 

Anyone interested in joining the group can email Mrs Sweeney at wsweeney@fairfaxmedia.com.au for more information.