November 2004

Community focus for grief support

A $480,000 Government funding boost will ensure Victorians have better access to grief and bereavement counselling services in their local community.

Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said $430,000 would be provided to community health services to expand counselling programs and $50,000 in annual funding to establish a new specialist grief and bereavement counselling service.

‘This funding boost will ensure that community health services can strengthen their counselling services and improve access to services in local communities,’ Ms Pike said.

‘In addition, this new service will provide specialist support such as information, training, professional advice and secondary consultation to existing services.

‘The Government is working to expand and streamline the delivery of grief and bereavement counselling services in Victoria so more people can access services when they need them.’

This funding boost builds on $870,000 in annual Government funding for grief and bereavement services in Victoria.

The four services currently funded are the Centre for Grief Education, the National Association for Loss and Grief, the Community Bereavement Service and the Mercy Western Grief Service.

The Government commissioned the Department of Human Services to undertake a review into the provision of grief and bereavement services in Victoria.

‘The review found evidence of a high level of unmet demand for grief and bereavement counselling, especially in country Victoria,’ Ms Pike said.

‘It also identified the duplication of roles within the four funded grief and bereavement services in the areas of information, education and training.’

The report’s key recommendations included the development of a future directions framework for grief and bereavement services and better support for universal services, such as community health services, to provide counselling.

‘The new specialist service will reduce duplication between providers and ensure all organisations across Victoria have the specialist support and advice they need to deliver high-quality services,’ Ms Pike said.

‘The funding boost will ensure that more grief and bereavement counselling is provided in communities across the State, including country areas.’