Support for those affected by the Victorian bushfires

Bushfire Specialist Bereavement Counselling Service

The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB) offers a range of services and assistance to people who have been affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires. These services include; Bushfire Specialist Bereavement Counsellors located in four of the fire-affected regions including:

Gippsland

Lower Hume

Lower Lodden Mallee

Nillumbik

Melbourne Metropolitan Area

For further information on accessing counselling or to make an appointment, please contact the ACGB by phone on (03) 9265 2111. To download a copy of the brochures for the Bushfire Specialist Bereavement Counselling Service in any of the above areas, click on the links below. 

Resources and Websites

With the release of the Black Saturday Royal Commission report only days away, this article by Dr Rob Gordon may be of assistance to those bereaved by the fires.

How to Help This is information particularly for family and friends about how to help people bereaved through the bushfires.

Information and Support for Black Saturday Anniversary. While this handout relates specifically to Black Saturday, it may be useful for other anniveraries as well. To download a copy of these handouts, click on the links below.

The Rosemary Branch is a newsletter for people who are bereaved. There are three editions per year.

For as Long as it Takes

Looking After Yourself After a Disaster

VBRRA

VBRRA has recently updated their website and now has a page dedicated to providing "Information for the bereaved community". This page provides up to date information for the bereaved community as well as a link to the latest copy of the Staying in touch newsletter. For further information click on the Information for the bereaved community link.

DOH

The Department of Health DOH website offers a comprehensve overview of the services available, including links to a variety of FACT sheets as well as links to services such as case management and counselling services. For further information click on the Victorian Bushfire Support link.   

Red Cross

The Red Cross website offers a variety of information on a range of topics including, support memorials and anniversaries. For further information, click on the Red Cross Bushfire link.  

The Coroners Court

The Coroners Court website has useful information for people severely affected by the Victorian bushfires. This includes a legal handbook that can be downloaded in full or in part. This site also offers information about the coronial process. For further information click on the Coroners Court link. 

Youth Specific Links

Headspace has created "Your Bushfire Space" that is designed for young people affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires as space to share their experience, ask questions, and find information on how to cope with their bushfire experience. For further information click on the Your Bushfire Space link. 

The Australian Redcross has also developed a youth specific space that allows young people to share their stories, obtain information on common reactions, what helps and getting extra help. This site also provides lots of downloads. For further information click on the After the emergency link.    

Bushfire Discussion and Support Groups

In addition the ACGB has established a range of Bushfire discussion and support groups for adults. Groups are currently running in;

Eltham Evening

Eltham Day

Epping

Geelong

Kinglake

North Melbourne

Ringwood

Strathewen Women's group

Strathewen Young Women's group

Yarra Glen grief group

Groups can also be established in other areas on request.

For further information on any of these groups, please contact the ACGB by phone on (03) 9265 2111. To download a copy of our Bushfire Discussion and Support groups brochure click on the link under the further information section at the end of this page.

Kids Grieve Too (KG2) Bushfire Groups

The ACGB is also establishing groups for children aged 5-14 who have lost someone close to them in the 2009 Victorian bushfires. The first Kids Grieve Too (KG2) bushfire group is already running in Kinglake with the possibility of other groups being developed in Ringwood, Strathewen/St Andrews, Gippsland and North Melbourne. For further information regarding these groups or if you know any children who may benefit from participating in these groups, please contact the ACGB by phone on 9265 2111 or click on the link below.

Grief and Bereavement Organisations and Information

Information on Grief and Bereavement Organisations and Useful Websites can also be found under the futher information section below.

Further Information