ACGB providing bereavement support to those affected by the Victorian bushfires
March 26, 2009
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB) has been actively involved in responding to those affected by the devastating Victorian bushfires which took place on Saturday 7 February 2009, resulting in Australia's highest ever loss of life from a bushfire. 173 people died as a result of the fires and 414 were injured. As many as 400 individual fires were recorded on 7 February.
A dedicated web page has been established here, which provides information on Grief and Bereavement Organisations; Telephone Support Services; Compassion and Bereavement Payments; General Information and Resources and a range of Useful Websites.
Immediately following the bushfires many people contacted ACGB to volunteer their assistance. Over the ensuing weeks BCSS staff screened these offers of assistance and responded to enquiries from the public and bereaved people. Several new Practitioner Associates were recruited to provide outreach bereavement counselling to people bereaved through the bushfires, and some people were seen for office-based counselling. In June 2009 additional funding was provided by the Department of Health for five half-time Bushfire Specialist Bereavement Counsellors to be located in Broadford, Eltham, Kyneton and Traralgon.
In June 2009 the Manager of the Bereavement Counselling and Support Service was seconded to work on a project in partnership with the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority and the Department of Health, funded by the Bushfire Appeal Fund.
The Department of Human Services the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority (VBRRA) in partnership with the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement is currently providing discussion and support groups for people who have lost someone close to them in the Victorian bushfires. This may be a child, a young person, a partner, husband or wife, a close relative, friend or neighbour. A document, published by the Department of Human Services, titled Bushfire discussion and support groups For people who have lost someone close to them: Information for professionals, details the principles underpinning the bushfire support group program, defines support groups, How can discussion/support groups help; the style and format of the groups; the role of facilitators;Recruitment and support of facilitators; Partnerships with local agencies; Role of the bushfire support groups coordinator; Intake/triage; Administrative support; Evaluation; Establishing and advertising groups in addition to discussion of the location and timing of groups. This document can be downloaded here.
The Department of Human Services also requested ACGB to develop and deliver training to Bushfire Case Managers. To date ACGB staff have trained some 330 case managers.
Working closely with beyondblue: The national depression initiative, The Australian Red Cross and Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement have produced a publication titled Looking after yourself after a disaster. This booklet is designed to help you understand the reactions you – or someone you know – may be experiencing. It contains practical advice, numbers to call and websites to visit if you need extra information or support. A copy can be downloaded here.
A dedicated web page has been established here, which provides information on Grief and Bereavement Organisations; Telephone Support Services; Compassion and Bereavement Payments; General Information and Resources and a range of Useful Websites.
Immediately following the bushfires many people contacted ACGB to volunteer their assistance. Over the ensuing weeks BCSS staff screened these offers of assistance and responded to enquiries from the public and bereaved people. Several new Practitioner Associates were recruited to provide outreach bereavement counselling to people bereaved through the bushfires, and some people were seen for office-based counselling. In June 2009 additional funding was provided by the Department of Health for five half-time Bushfire Specialist Bereavement Counsellors to be located in Broadford, Eltham, Kyneton and Traralgon.
In June 2009 the Manager of the Bereavement Counselling and Support Service was seconded to work on a project in partnership with the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority and the Department of Health, funded by the Bushfire Appeal Fund.
The Department of Human Services the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority (VBRRA) in partnership with the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement is currently providing discussion and support groups for people who have lost someone close to them in the Victorian bushfires. This may be a child, a young person, a partner, husband or wife, a close relative, friend or neighbour. A document, published by the Department of Human Services, titled Bushfire discussion and support groups For people who have lost someone close to them: Information for professionals, details the principles underpinning the bushfire support group program, defines support groups, How can discussion/support groups help; the style and format of the groups; the role of facilitators;Recruitment and support of facilitators; Partnerships with local agencies; Role of the bushfire support groups coordinator; Intake/triage; Administrative support; Evaluation; Establishing and advertising groups in addition to discussion of the location and timing of groups. This document can be downloaded here.
The Department of Human Services also requested ACGB to develop and deliver training to Bushfire Case Managers. To date ACGB staff have trained some 330 case managers.
Working closely with beyondblue: The national depression initiative, The Australian Red Cross and Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement have produced a publication titled Looking after yourself after a disaster. This booklet is designed to help you understand the reactions you – or someone you know – may be experiencing. It contains practical advice, numbers to call and websites to visit if you need extra information or support. A copy can be downloaded here.