Information for the bereaved community
Support for the bereaved
Funding and support for the bereaved community will continue until June 2013. Eastern Access Community Health (EACH) has recently been appointed to manage the bushfire bereaved community support program from 1 January 2012, replacing the role currently provided by the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB). EACH has a strong history of delivering a range of community support activities and has experience working with bushfire affected communities through its bushfire case management program. The contact at EACH is Jodie Bowker, email jbowker@each.com.au.
Bushfire discussion and support groups
The ACGB will continue to provide counselling and support groups to people bereaved by the 2009 Victorian bushfires. Support groups have been established where people can meet regularly and access information on coping with grief.
These groups are for adults who have lost someone close to them in the 2009 Victorian bushfires. This may be a child, a young person, or a close relative, friend or neighbour. People recovering from major losses and disasters have often found it helpful and comforting to meet together in groups with others who share similar losses and experiences.
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement has also established groups for children aged 5-14 who have lost someone close to them in the Victorian bushfires.
For further information about the groups or to make a referral, please contact the ACGB on 1300 664 786 (Bereavement information and referral service) or 1300 858 113 (Practitioner consultancy service) or email support@grief.org.au
| Email the Fire Recovery Unit or call 1800 055 714 |
