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Discover which of our services are available in your area.

Bereavement support

Our palliative care and support continues with you even beyond the loss of a loved one, through professional and compassionate bereavement counselling.

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Grief and bereavement in palliative care

Bereavement counselling is a confidential discussion with a trained professional when you’re experiencing grief. They will help explore the impact of your loss and identify coping strategies. Grief and bereavement are different for everyone, and seeking help early supports continued healing.

Who can use this service?

  • Family and friends of someone who has died who was known to our palliative care hospitals or community palliative care services.
  • It’s free of charge if you’re located in the Northern Sydney Local Health District or the South West Sydney Local Health District.
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What we offer

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Bereavement Counselling

Bereavement counselling is a confidential discussion with a trained professional when you’re experiencing grief. They will help explore the impact of your loss and identify coping strategies.

Grief and bereavement are different for everyone, and seeking help early supports continued healing.

Who can use this service?

Family and friends of someone who has died and who was known to our palliative care hospitals or community palliative care services.

Bereavement counselling is free of charge if you’re located in the Northern Sydney Local Health District or the South West Sydney Local Health District.

These information sessions are facilitated by our Bereavement Services team and seek to provide guidance and strategies to help a person who is grieving.
  • General Grief and Bereavement
  • Understanding Children’s grief following the death of a parent
  • Grieving the death of your Spouse or Partner
  • Men and Grief
  • Surviving Christmas

Facilitated by a HammondCare Bereavement Service Counselling team member, the walking group offers support for people experiencing grief following the loss of someone close to them.

These are an opportunity to meet with others in a similar situation and be authentic about how you are coping with your grief, while enjoying some exercise outdoors, providing contact with nature and enhancing wellbeing.

Who can use this service?

Anyone who is grieving the loss of a family member or friend and was known to our palliative care hospitals or community palliative care services in Northern Sydney Local Health District.

Walking groups are free to attend

Bereavement counselling is a confidential discussion with a trained professional when you’re experiencing grief. They will help explore the impact of your loss and identify coping strategies.

Grief and bereavement are different for everyone, and seeking help early supports continued healing.

Who can use this service?

Family and friends of someone who has died and who was known to our palliative care hospitals or community palliative care services.

Bereavement counselling is free of charge if you’re located in the Northern Sydney Local Health District or the South West Sydney Local Health District.

These information sessions are facilitated by our Bereavement Services team and seek to provide guidance and strategies to help a person who is grieving.
  • General Grief and Bereavement
  • Understanding Children’s grief following the death of a parent
  • Grieving the death of your Spouse or Partner
  • Men and Grief
  • Surviving Christmas

Facilitated by a HammondCare Bereavement Service Counselling team member, the walking group offers support for people experiencing grief following the loss of someone close to them.

These are an opportunity to meet with others in a similar situation and be authentic about how you are coping with your grief, while enjoying some exercise outdoors, providing contact with nature and enhancing wellbeing.

Who can use this service?

Anyone who is grieving the loss of a family member or friend and was known to our palliative care hospitals or community palliative care services in Northern Sydney Local Health District.

Walking groups are free to attend

Bereavement counselling and how it can help

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How it works

Bereavement counselling helps you:

  • identify, understand and express your feelings
  • access your own resources and ways of coping
  • access information about the grieving process and what you may expect
  • have an opportunity to talk about your loved one
  • understand your grief and its impact
  • adjust to a new life in the absence of your loved one
  • discuss concerns with a sensitive, non-judgemental professional.

You and your counsellor will discuss what arrangements may be most helpful and/or you could also be referred to other appropriate services.

Bereavement counselling may be useful when:

  • things feel like they are getting worse over time
  • your grief is negatively impacting your relationships with others
  • you’re wondering how best to support your children, partner, parent or other family members
  • you feel like there is no-one else you can talk to or you are unable to speak about your loved one with others
  • you feel stuck in one feeling, like anger or guilt, for a long time
  • you’ve persistent, distressing memories about the events surrounding your loved one’s death
  • there are questions or challenges you wish to talk through with someone impartial.

 

Bereavement groups also offer support for people experiencing grief. The groups are free to attend and are facilitated by a bereavement counsellor online or face to face. Some specific groups include:

Bereavement Walking Groups 

These are an opportunity to meet with others in a similar situation and be authentic about how you are coping with your grief, while enjoying some exercise outdoors, providing contact with nature and enhancing wellbeing.

Bereavement Male Counselling and Group

These are provided by a male professional counsellor for men of all ages who are grieving the loss of a family member or friend.

Accessing bereavement counselling or a group is simple.

We provide free confidential grief counselling to individuals and families through self-referrals. These sessions can happen face to face, by telehealth or over the phone.

This service has selection criteria for admission which will be sensitively discussed when you contact our service.

Bereavement Groups require registration to attend and are not suitable for children.

 

To talk about bereavement support or to begin counselling, contact us on:

Or you can choose to make a referral now.

For a range of resources for those who are grieving or supporting someone who is grieving, visit our Resource Hub.

Bereavement counselling helps you:

  • identify, understand and express your feelings
  • access your own resources and ways of coping
  • access information about the grieving process and what you may expect
  • have an opportunity to talk about your loved one
  • understand your grief and its impact
  • adjust to a new life in the absence of your loved one
  • discuss concerns with a sensitive, non-judgemental professional.

You and your counsellor will discuss what arrangements may be most helpful and/or you could also be referred to other appropriate services.

Bereavement counselling may be useful when:

  • things feel like they are getting worse over time
  • your grief is negatively impacting your relationships with others
  • you’re wondering how best to support your children, partner, parent or other family members
  • you feel like there is no-one else you can talk to or you are unable to speak about your loved one with others
  • you feel stuck in one feeling, like anger or guilt, for a long time
  • you’ve persistent, distressing memories about the events surrounding your loved one’s death
  • there are questions or challenges you wish to talk through with someone impartial.

 

Bereavement groups also offer support for people experiencing grief. The groups are free to attend and are facilitated by a bereavement counsellor online or face to face. Some specific groups include:

Bereavement Walking Groups 

These are an opportunity to meet with others in a similar situation and be authentic about how you are coping with your grief, while enjoying some exercise outdoors, providing contact with nature and enhancing wellbeing.

Bereavement Male Counselling and Group

These are provided by a male professional counsellor for men of all ages who are grieving the loss of a family member or friend.

Accessing bereavement counselling or a group is simple.

We provide free confidential grief counselling to individuals and families through self-referrals. These sessions can happen face to face, by telehealth or over the phone.

This service has selection criteria for admission which will be sensitively discussed when you contact our service.

Bereavement Groups require registration to attend and are not suitable for children.

 

To talk about bereavement support or to begin counselling, contact us on:

Or you can choose to make a referral now.

For a range of resources for those who are grieving or supporting someone who is grieving, visit our Resource Hub.

Bereavement counselling and how it can help

How it works

Bereavement counselling helps you:

  • Identify, understand and express your feelings
  • Access your own resources and ways of coping
  • Access information about the grieving process and what you may expect
  • Have an opportunity to talk about your loved one
  • Understand your grief and its impact
    adjust to a new life in the absence of your loved one
  • Discuss concerns with a sensitive, non-judgemental professional

When it helps

We provide free confidential bereavement counselling to individuals and families through self-referrals. These sessions can happen face to face, by telehealth or over the phone.

This service has selection criteria for admission which will be sensitively discussed when you contact our service.

Bereavement Support Groups require registration to attend and are not suitable for children.

What to expect

You can expect your counsellor:

  • Will listen to you and learn about your experience of grief

  • Will support you to manage your grief in your own way

  • Will provide information and strategies that might be helpful

  • Won’t tell you how you should or shouldn’t think or feel

How to access

Accessing bereavement counselling or a group is simple

We provide free confidential bereavement counselling to individuals and families through self-referrals.

These sessions can happen face to face, by telehealth or over the phone.

This service has selection criteria for admission which will be sensitively discussed when you contact our service.

Bereavement Support Groups require registration to attend and are not suitable for children. 

Contact Details

Northern Sydney Local Health District
1800 427 255
bereavement@hammond.com.au

South Western Sydney Local Health District
(02) 9756-8878
braesidebereavement@hammond.com.au

We provide free confidential grief counselling to individuals and families. You can refer yourself or someone you care for.

Resources to support you through grief and bereavement

Depending on whether you live in Northern Sydney or South Western Sydney, you'll find helpful information and contact details for support in these brochures.

Further resources for everyone

You'll find useful information and guidance in these brochures to support you as someone close to you is facing the end of their life

 

The Last Days program

The Last Days Program is run by HammondCare and is made up of online or in person workshops in locations across Australia.

It is run by an experienced palliative care nurse and has been designed to provide you with knowledge and resources to support someone you care for in their last months, weeks or days.

The workshops cover topics like what to expect as a person dies, how to plan for the future and navigating grief and loss.

Find upcoming workshops near you or online here.

Contact us

Depending on where you live, contact the Bereavement Support Team at:

Northern Sydney Local Health District
1800 427 255 or bereavement@hammond.com.au

South Western Sydney Local Health District
(02) 9756 8878 or braesidebereavement@hammond.com.au

Pastoral care for all faiths and backgrounds

Support for everyone

Our pastoral care team nurtures the spiritual wellbeing and emotional needs of people from all faiths and backgrounds - including in times of bereavement.

Excellence in care

We’ll get to know you as a whole person and shape our care to suit your needs, including people with dementia. 

What’s involved

Care can involve regular phone check-ins or home visits. We’ll work with you to find peace and navigate change through: 

  • bereavement and crisis support
  • spiritual support, no matter your beliefs
  • prayer, hymns and religious services.

Need support? Reach out today

If you have general questions about palliative care, call our friendly Palliative Care Community Team on 1800 427 255 or send a message.