October 2002

New community grief service

Victorians who have lost a loved one can now access grief counselling through the new Community Bereavement Service.

Health Minister John Thwaites the service was established after the Government stepped in to help save a Melbourne grief counselling service that was threatened with closure.

‘The Government has provided $300,000 over three years to ensure services provided by the former Outreach Grief Service continue to help thousands of families who have lost a loved one.

‘Earlier this year the Sisters of Charity and St Vincents and Mercy Private hospitals indicated they could not continue to fund the Outreach Grief Service.

‘Community Bereavement Services has come about through a new partnership with Eastern Palliative Care, the largest palliative care service in Victoria with 1,800 clients a year.

‘From 1993, the grief counselling service grew from helping families of hospital patients to a much broader role in the community, including helping clients of the Coroner’s Court and families who experience a tragic loss.

‘The Government is pleased to have played a role in saving the grief service which has helped many families through personal tragedies. We didn’t want to lose the service associated with Outreach Grief Service.

‘The service will now be offered from a greater range of sites, providing grief and bereavement support to people with a terminal or life-threatening illness, their families and carers.’

A large number of volunteers from the former Outreach Grief Service are continuing to support the Kids Grieve 2 and the Younger Bereaved Parents groups.

As well as skilled professional counsellors, Community Bereavement Services provides education and training and works with other experts in grief counselling such as the Centre for Grief Education and palliative and non-palliative care groups.