Useful links

There are some local community organisations that will provide support, as well as a number of larger well-known organisations that work throughout Australia.

These include:

• My Grief Assist 
  Helpful information on grief and loss, fact sheets and links to grief-related support services. 
  mygriefassist.com

• State Trustees 
  Information for people who need help after someone has died. They can provide advice on deceased estate administration and what happens if there is no will. 
  statetrustees.com.au

• Grief Australia 
  Grief Australia provide a statewide specialist bereavement service for individuals, children and families following the death of someone close to them. 
  1800 642 066 
  grief.org.au

• Meli 
  Providing counselling, educational and advocacy services for local people and their families to improve the quality of their lives and the community in which they live. 
  03 5278 8122 
  meli.org.au

• Grief Line 
  Online information, forums and support groups. 
  griefline.org.au

• Hope Bereavement Service 
  Hope Bereavement Care (Hope) is a Geelong based bereavement service offering free information, group support and counselling and when grieving the death of a child, the death of an adult and for those experiencing loss after suicide. 
  03 4215 3358 
  bereavement.org.au

• The Compassionate Friends
  Providing support to parents, siblings and grandparents, after the death of a child at any age, starting with their 24-hour telephone support. 
  1300 064 068 or 03 9888 4944
  compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au

• Kids Helpline 
  24-hour counselling, 7 days a week. 
  1800 55 1800 (free call) 
  kidshelp.com.au

• Lifeline 
  This service is staffed by trained volunteer telephone counsellors who are ready to take calls 24 hours a day, any day of the week, from anywhere in Australia. 
  13 11 14 
  lifeline.org.au

• Red Nose Grief and Loss 
  Providing support for anyone impacted by the death of a baby or child during pregnancy, birth, infancy and early childhood, regardless of the cause of death. 
  1300 308 307 for 24-hour telephone support 
  rednose.com.au

• Wombat’s Wish 
  Assisting children and families grieving the death of a parent or carer, through counselling and programs especially designed to provide support and understanding during a family’s grief journey.  
  0499 966 228 
  wombatswish.org.au
   

• LIFE AFTER LOSS SUPPORT GROUP
  An informal peer support group for women who have experienced the death of a partner (morning tea on second Saturday of the month, and dinner on the last Tuesday of the month). 

• MEN’S BEREAVEMENT IN THE BAR
  An informal group for men who have experienced the loss of a loved one, of any age from any cause. It is peer-led and provides an opportunity to meet with other bereaved men in the relaxed atmosphere of a pub (third Thursday of the month at 7.00pm). 

• EMPTY ARMS SUPPORT GROUP
  A support group for family and friends who have suffered a loss from miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death, either recently or many years ago (first Thursday of the month at 7.00pm). 

• TCF AND HOPE DROP IN GROUP
  An informal group run by Hope Bereavement in partnership with The Compassionate Friends (TCF) for any parent who has lost a child of any age from any cause (second Tuesday of the month at 10.00am).  The Compassionate Friends also offer 24-hour telephone support.
  1300 064 068 or 03 9888 4944

• AFTER SUICIDE LOSS SUPPORT GROUP
  A group facilitated by Hope Bereavement Care staff, for people who have lost a loved one to suicide. This is an opportunity to meet and connect with other people who have lost someone to suicide (third Tuesday of the month at 6.30pm). 

• SUPPORT AFTER SUICIDE COFFEE MORNING
  An informal peer support group facilitated by trained volunteers who have experienced suicide bereavement (first Thursday of the month at 10.00am). 

• SUPPORT AFTER SUICIDE MEN’S GROUP
  A group for bereaved men to meet other men who have lost a loved one to suicide. Each month there will be a guest speaker who will share their own thoughts and experiences, along with time for questions and discussion (second Wednesday of the month at 6.00pm). 

• PARENTAL BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP
  A group for adults who have lost a parent of any age and from any cause (second Thursday of the month at 5.30pm).

If you wish to attend any of these groups, please contact the Hope Office first via phone on (03) 4215 3358 or by emailing hope@bereavement.org.au