(03) 9455 0822 After Hours (existing clients only): (03) 9483 7940. Contact Palliative Care Advice on 1800 360 000 for general information  
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Bereavement Support

Grief and Bereavement Support Services

The death of a loved one can be a difficult and emotional time. Banksia offers caring and respectful grief and bereavement services to all families of all of the people we felt privileged to care for.

 Grief and Bereavement support can provide you with:

  • Information and education on grief, loss and bereavement
  • Time to reflect, and explore common thoughts, feelings, and reactions to loss.
  • Strategies to support you and your family to manage the diverse and painful aspects of loss and uncertainty.
  • Companionship and comfort during a personal time of change, transition and adjustment.
  • Support and strategies to help you to learn to take care of yourself and your loved ones.

What we offer:

  • Grief and Bereavement counselling for individuals and families (including children) which targets the specific needs of the person/family.
  • Telehealth counselling sessions.
  • Information and education Sessions, specifically related to what to expect, and how to manage grief and bereavement.
  • Bereavement support groups – a chance to meet with others with identifiable experiences of loss and change.
  • Remembrance Services
  • Bereaved walking groups.

These services are available to all families for up to 13 months after the death of a loved one at no cost.

Grief and Bereavement Counselling

Grief and bereavement counselling is provided at no cost by an experienced, specialist-trained, expert counsellor to support a person and/or family who are grieving.

At Banksia, we recognize that grief occurs before the death of a loved one, during all the caring phases and through the difficult period of end of life care and beyond.

Counselling can support our clients, family members and carers through the challenging time of transition, loss and grief.

Sessions of up to 60 minutes are provided, and are offered onsite at the Heidelberg office and via telehalth (online). 

Appointments can be made by contacting our Grief and Loss Counsellor on 9455 0822 or by speaking to any member of the Banksia Team.

Bereavement Information Sessions (Telehealth / Online)

These sessions provide you with:

  • Information about the nature and impact of grief.
  • Coping strategies for grief and adjustment to loss.
  • Opportunities to connect with peers.

The sessions are facilitated by a highly trained grief and bereavement counsellor who is experienced with helping people deal with the impact of loss.

To comply with Covid-19 restrictions, these sessions will now be only available as Telehealth on Zoom.

You will be provided with additional information and support regarding accessing the online session after you have registered.

Sessions will be held on the last Thursday of every month (online)

Sessions times: 10.00 am – 11.30 am

2022 Session dates – Click here

 To register over the phone, please phone 9455 0822. 

Please Note: These sessions are for bereaved family and friends of Banksia Palliative Care clients.

If you are seeking further information and bereavement support for yourself or a family member, please contact the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement.

Phone: 03 9265 2100 Free Call: 1800 642 066 (Australia wide)

 

Support Groups:

Those who are experiencing loss and even grief may feel lonely or isolated, even when there is a network of family, friends and colleagues surrounding them.

Grief, and all the accompanying feelings are unique and very individual. Sometimes people can feel alone, or do not feel they can share their thoughts or pain with people who are close to them.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve. there is no timeline to “feel better” or “become normal”. There is a need to look after yourself, and spending time with others who understand have first-hand knowledge can be beneficial, and can improve wellbeing.

These sessions consist of 4 sessions, and then the 5th session at a local cafe 10:30 – 12:00.  These sessions are held at our office in Heidelberg, except for the last one which is at a cafe.

Each session is 10:30 – 12:00 at 472 Lower Heidelberg Road, Heidelberg. 

 2022 Dates – Click here

 To register, please phone 9455 0822.  Please Note: These Support Groups are for bereaved family and friends of Banksia Palliative Care clients.

Banksia Remembrance Services:

Banksia offers bereaved families and friends the opportunity to participate in our Remembrance Services throughout the year.

This service, which we run ourselves, provides an opportunity for family and friends to remember… to take some time, and to think about the person who had died. The service includes readings, music and an opportunity to light a candle in memory – it is not religious, it is not culturally specific and is appropriate for any age.

This service is open to bereaved carers of Banksia Palliative care clients.

 After the service, our staff will be on-hand to chat to families and friends. All participants must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and provide their vaccination status.

If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact Banksia on 9455 0822.

Walking Groups:

Our social walking groups are held monthly during dry and warmer months. It is a walking group for bereaved carers, designed to offer support and companionship during bereavement.

The group provides an opportunity for you to connect with others who shared a lived experience, and for informal support and friendship.

This is open to family and friends of former patients of Banksia Palliative Care clients.  A basic fitness level is required.

2022 Dates – Click here

All participants must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and provide their vaccination status.

For more information or to register, please click on the link above or phone 9455 0822.