Bereavement Support Services and Counselling

Intake

The centralised Intake Service for all bereavement calls to Red Nose Grief and Loss was introduced on 1st July 2014-2016 in NSW, VIC, WA, ACT, Hunter and QLD) during business hours. All intake staff are fully qualified to provide bereavement support, information, resources and referrals.

The intake support pathway has been designed for the bereaved parent to access the services that best meet their needs.

It is the role of the Intake officer to provide bereavement support and assessment, to inform clients of the services offered by Red Nose Grief and Loss and to assist them in accessing the services that are most helpful to them at the time.

24 Hour Bereavement Support Line 1300 308 307

All calls to the Bereavement Support Line during business hours are handled by Service staff. All calls to the Bereavement Support Line after business hours and across the weekend are taken by trained Red Nose Grief and Loss Counsellors or Telephone Support Workers. All Telephone Support Workers are trained Parent Supporters who have undertaken further training for the after-hours bereavement support line.

Professional Counsellors and Trained Parent Supporters

Available at Red Nose Grief and Loss offices located nationally. Counselling services can be either face to face, by phone or by Skype. All counselling staff are fully accredited and trained and highly professional with many years’ experience and include Registered Psychologists, Social Workers and Counsellors.

Support Groups

1. The counselling staff at Red Nose Grief and Loss facilitates a range of monthly Support Groups in each location. We also have a range of regular Online Peer Support Groups (scroll down.)

Memorial and Remembrance Services

Memorial and Remembrance services are conducted each year by every office of Red Nose Grief and Loss. Generally, these services are scheduled on Red Nose Day Eve (Red Nose Day is held on the second Friday in August.) Along with Walks to Remember during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month (October). These services provide the opportunity for bereaved parents, families and friends to pay tribute to the baby or child who has died.

Contact 1300 308 307 for further information about services in your local area.

Health Promotion and Education

Ongoing education is provided to health professionals, community groups, emergency personnel and the workplace to assist these groups in supporting bereaved families following the death of a baby or child. Health promotion, training and education are based on the Safe Sleeping guidelines. Learn more about our education programs here.

Hospital to Home

Hospital to Home is a program operating throughout Australia, providing outreach support within three months of loss to bereaved parents who have experienced the death of a baby or infant through stillbirth (including TFMR), neonatal death or the sudden unexpected death of an infant (SUDI). Learn more about Hospital to Home here.

Heart Strings Membership

Heart Strings provides a space to connect and engage with other bereaved families, honour and remember your child among friends, and the opportunity to help to shape our programs and services for families. Being part of Heart Strings is about being part of the Red Nose community. Members are there for each other in the simplest of ways – a warm smile at an event or sharing morning tea at an Open House. Over time, members might like to be more involved in volunteering roles, but it is all about what works for you and your family as you navigate your grief journey. Learn more about our Heart Strings Membership here.

Literature and Resources

These are available to all newly bereaved families through Intake, counselling staff, Hospital Social Workers or via the Red Nose Grief and Loss website

Library

A library of bereavement and support literature and books is available at all offices of Red Nose Grief and Loss. Or you can look at our list of books recommended by our team and other bereaved parents that are available at bookstores.

Newsletter

Red Nose Grief and Loss publishes a newsletter, ‘Guiding Light’, several times a year. The Newsletter is designed as a place for bereaved parents to share their experiences and to provide information on grief & loss, bereavement services available, plus suggestions on how to deal with anniversaries and important dates. You can sign up to the newsletter here.

Other Red Nose Grief and Loss Groups and Activities

Informal Drop-in Groups - Held in some locations.

Children’s Group - Each school holiday period, a Children’s Group is held for bereaved siblings. Ages generally range between 5 years up to 12 years.

Family Events – such as ‘Walk to Remember’.

Treasured Babies Program (TBP) – provides gifts for families whose baby has died in the perinatal period. The gifts contain beautiful and specially designed handmade clothing, literature and naming certificates. The TBP also supplies Angel boxes for burial, Memory boxes in which to keep precious items, Remembrance boxes for early losses and Comfort shawls for the bereaved parents. Families receive the TBP gifts free of charge. The program is fully funded by donations and sponsorship. All materials used have been kindly donated. The TBP packs can reduce some of the stress for parents at a time that is already very difficult.

Red Nose Day - National Fundraising – is held on the second Friday in August every year and is the major national fundraising activity on the Red Nose Grief and Loss’ Calendar.

Say Their Name Day - A national day to help raise awareness of pregnancy loss, stillbirth, baby and child death and raise much-needed funds to ensure every bereaved family has access to the support they need, for as long as they need it. Say Their Name Day is held on the 25 March each year.

Research – secure funding through corporate development.

Advocacy – To provide free, confidential and professional support and service to anyone impacted by grief and loss due to the pregnancy loss, stillbirth, baby or child death.

All support services provided by Red Nose Grief and Loss are free of charge.

Last reviewed: 26/4/24