Bereavement Services

Support for you, your family or friends when you need it most

Bereavement counselling is a confidential discussion with a specially trained professional who can support you to explore the impact of your loss and identify strategies for coping as well as possible.

Who can use this service?

Family and friends of someone who has died and who was known to a palliative care service (HammondCare or another service) are able to utilise this service free of charge if they are located in the Northern Sydney Local Health District or the South West Sydney Local Health District.

How does bereavement counselling work?

Some people attend for a single session; some attend regular weekly, fortnightly or monthly appointments; and others check in as and when they need to. There are no rules about how often you should attend counselling. You and your counsellor will discuss what arrangements may be most helpful.

Bereavement Counselling can assist you to:

  • 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 the deceased person
  • Understand your grief and its impact
  • Adjust to a new life in the absence of the deceased person
  • Discuss concerns with a sensitive, non-judgement professional

When can Bereavement Counselling help?

Bereavement counselling may be useful if:

  • Things feel like they are getting worse over time
  • Your grief is having a negative impact on your relationships with others
  • You are 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 about what you are going through or you are unable to speak about your loved one with others
  • You feel stuck in one feeling (e.g. anger or guilt) for a long period
  • You have 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 Support resources

For a range of resources for those who are grieving or supporting someone who is grieving, please click here.

How can I access bereavement counselling?

HammondCare Bereavement Service provides free confidential grief counselling to individuals and families through self-referrals, currently also provided by Telehealth and phone calls.

  • Northern Sydney LHD. Greenwich, Neringah Hospital and Mona Vale CPC. Phone: 1800 427 255 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • South West Sydney LHD. Braeside Hospital Phone: (02) 9756 8878

For more information about services across NSW, please click here.