Bereavement Counselling and Support Service

The Bereavement Counselling and Support Service, established in 1997, provides a statewide specialist bereavement service for individuals, children and families who need assistance following the death of someone close to them. The service also offers a range of bereavement support programs and a supervised clinical setting for practitioners of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement and those with a proven ability in the area of loss and grief. Counsellors at the service come from a variety of disciplines including social work, psychology and psychotherapy. They are offered a unique opportunity to extend their clinical knowledge and skills through direct service provision. In turn, the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement is able to provide a supportive community service to bereaved clients.

The Bereavement Counselling and Support Service is located at McCulloch House, Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton. For further information phone (03) 9265 2111, fax (03) 9265 2150 or email counselling@grief.org.au You can download a brochure on the Bereavement Counselling and Support Service here.

Anne Giljohann is the Manager of Bereavement Counselling and Support Services at the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement. She is social work trained with extensive clinical and educative experience in bereavement, loss and grief. Anne oversees the operation of the services's many different aspects including the Regional Specialist Bereavement Service, the Metropolitan Counselling Service, the Community Outreach Service, the Bereavement Support Groups, supervision and the Toll Free Telephone Lines. She is also a regular contributor to the centre's education program.

The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement provides two toll free telephone services for bereaved Victorians and those who care for them.

This service provides information and referral assistance to members of the general public who need information on bereavement services available in Victoria. The service can also provide information on bereavement related issues. This service is unable to provide telephone bereavement counselling to callers. Download a copy of our brochure or call:

This service provides information, consultation and support for practitioners who are working with bereaved clients experiencing complex and prolonged bereavements. Download a copy of our brochure or call:

The Bereavement Counselling Service provides counselling to bereaved people, their families and friends who have identified for themselves that speaking to somebody outside of their support network would be helpful. Appointments are face to face and people will generally attend appointments on a weekly basis. It is short term counselling and on average people attend about 8 to 10 sessions.

The service is provided by experienced counsellors participating in advanced training in bereavement counselling and by qualified bereavement counsellors. They are supervised and supported by experienced, accredited grief and bereavement practitioners.

Download a copy of our brochure for further information. Referrals can be made by the bereaved person themselves or by a referring agency by telephoning;

The Bereavement Counselling and Support Services offers an outreach service for bereaved people who are unable to access an office-based service for bereavement counselling. The Community Outreach Service is available in the Melbourne metropolitan region. For further information download a brochure or email.

Our information evenings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. These evenings are designed to give general information on grief and bereavement to bereaved people, their families and friends. Bereavement counsellors are present in case you have questions. For further information download a copy of our brochure or email support@grief.org.au

The Bereavement Counselling and Support Service also has a newsletter that is sent out to bereaved clients four times a year. "The Rosemary Branch" contains articles and poems that people send in along with tips and suggestions for bereaved people. To download the latest edition of our newsletter "The Rosemary Branch" click here. Back issues are also avasilable June 08, March 08, June 07, September 07, December 07, or email support@grief.org.au

The Bereavement Counselling and Support Service now has Regional Specialist Bereavement Counsellors available in the 5 major regional areas of Victoria including;

Barwon South West which covers: Geelong, Colac, Warnambool, Hamilton, Casterton, Mortlake, Caamperdown and Bellarine

Gippsland which takes in: Warragul, Morewell, Traralgon, Leongatha, Sale, Barinsdale, Orbost and Mallacoota.

Grampians which covers: Ballarat, Ararat, Horsham, Daylesford, Bacchus Marsh, Stawell and Ballan.

Hume which takes in: Shepparton, Goulburn Valley, Benalla, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Cobram, Yarrawonga and Yea.

Loddon Mallee which covers: Bendigo, Mildura, Swan Hill, Echuca, Kyneton, Boort, Rochester and Ouyen.

The Bereavement Counselling and Support Service offers a range of support groups including;

Kids Grieve Too
Kids Grieve Too (KG2) is a support group designed to meet the special needs of bereaved children. A caring and supportive environment is provided to assist children to explore and express their experience of bereavement and also to develop the resilience and resources to manage this experience.

Kids Grieve Too West
Kids Grieve Too (KG2) West is the result of a partnership between the Mercy Western Grief Services and the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement. Commencing in February 2008 KG2 West will provide children living in the Western Region of Melbourne access to KG2 without having to travel long distances.

Kids Grieve Too Geelong
Kids Grieve Too (KG2) Geelong is the result of a partnership between Wombats Wish and the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement. KG2 Geelong meets on the fourth Thursday of the month from 5.30pm to 7.00pm.

Death of a Parent
The Bereavement Counselling and Support Service has a support group for adults grieving the death of a parent. It is an opportunity to find that special understanding that comes from talking to people with similar experiences. This service is provided by experienced bereavement counsellors who are Practitioner Associates of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement.

Younger Bereaved Partners
Younger Bereaved Partners is a monthly support group, facilitated by trained volunteers who themselves are bereaved. The program is designed for people who are in their 20’s, 30’s or 40’s whose partner has died.

Companion Animal Loss
The Companion Animal Loss Support Group is a monthly support group, facilitated by trained volunteers.The program is designed for individuals and families who have lost a loved companion animal. The group meets on the second Saturday of each month from 10.00 am till 11.30am.

Companion Animal Loss Gisborne
The Companion Animal Loss Support Group Gisborne is a partnership between Wolling Hills Garden Estate, All Roads lead to Heaven and the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement. The group meets on the last Saturday of the month from 10.00am to 11.30am. The group is facilitated by trained volunteers and is designed for individuals and families who have lost a loved companion animal.

New Beginnings
New Beginnings is a support group for people aged 50 and over whose partner has died. New Beginnings will be held on a monthly basis commencing in February 2008.

Bereavement and Creativity Program
This is an eight week program that runs from time to time. It is disigned for bereaved adults who are interested in exploring and expressing their grief through creativity. This program is about being able to express what is right for you in relation to your bereavement experience, aided by creative activities and processes. The group will allow you to share your creative work and stories with other caring individuals (please note: no dates for 2008 have been set fo this group as yet).

Step by Step Walking Group
The Step by Step Walking Group is a monthly support group that is open to anyone who is bereaved. The group meets at different locations each month with participants taking part in easy walks through some of Melbourne's hidden walking tracks. For more information download a brochure.

View our short video here. For further information on any of the above groups telephone (03) 9265 2111 or email: support@grief.org.au