Bereavement Pack: General Resources

(Last updated February 2023)

  • This resource provides guidance on the creation of bereavement packs to be provided to family members at the time of a death.
  • These recommendations are minimum suggestions for inclusion - additional material may be included based on the health professional’s knowledge of the individual family (see alternate sections below).

Item

Description

Link

Minimum resources for inclusion

Pack label

Label template for front of envelope, departments may wish to edit. A label ensures families are able to open the pack at their readiness.

Pack Labels x14

A5 or larger envelopes

Order A5 envelopes or larger to contain contents of each bereavement pack

n/a

Sympathy letter

Departments outside of Supportive & Palliative Care may include a Sympathy letter in their packs. Please contact WSLHD Bereavement Service for this.

Contact WSLHD Bereavement Service 

Bereavement counselling – WSLHD Bereavement Service [WSP-318]

Flyer about the free counselling and support provided by the WSLHD Bereavement Service including referral information (intake email and phone number). Service available for bereaved family members within WSLHD – see flyer for more information.

Bereavement Counselling & Support Pamphlet

Information about services and resources pamphlet [WSP-323]

Flyer summarising relevant support services (e.g., support groups) within WSLHD and other relevant resources (e.g. books, internet sites) on grief and bereavement.

Information & Resources Pamphlet 

Understanding your grief [WSP-290]

Resource produced by WSLHD Social Work Departments with basic psycho-educational information about grief responses

WSP-290 Grief

Organising a funeral (Fair Trading)

Information about arranging a funeral. For current and more detailed information, see: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/buying-products-and-services/buying-services/funerals

FT Organising a funeral 

Needing help after someone has died (Centrelink)

Centrelink resource about payments and support available for people after someone close to them dies.

Call 1300 367 676 to order (free, maximum 200 per order)

Telephone support/counselling sheet

List of available telephone support, telephone counselling and online chat services

Telephone Support Sheet

Children & Young People

Canteen Australia

Living with the death of your parent/sibling e-book or hardcopy ordered online.

General services flyer/parents guide

Living With The Death of Your Parent or Sibling | Canteen Australia

National Centre for Childhood Grief

Resources unfortunately involve a cost. However, you may like to highlight the service name & contact number found on the ‘Information about Services & Resources flyer.’

National Centre for Childhood Grief resources

ACGB Children & Grief

Fact sheets via age group:

  • Preschool aged (5yrs & under)
  • Primary aged (6-12yrs)
  • Adolescents (13+)

Feel the Magic

Free camps/programs for children aged 7-17yrs.

Camp Magic

Older people

Australian Centre for Grief & Bereavement: Loneliness & Social Isolation

Older adults have an increased risk of experiencing loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to face factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss.

Aboriginal resources

IPEPA

Animated clip: Grief & loss can be shared with families (in person, via text/email)

IPEPA Loss, grief and healing

Lifeline Toolkit: Coping with sorrow, loss and grief

A self-help resource to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people trying to cope with sorrow, loss and grief

Lifeline Coping with Sorrow & loss

Liaise with your relevant Aboriginal Health Worker for tailored support/advice.

CALD resources

Carers NSW

Carers NSW have specific grief & loss resources in common languages spoken in WSLHD, including: Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic & Hindi.

Caring for someone with a life limiting illness: Bereavement

Search via language group:

CALD Carers & Bereavement

Transcultural Mental Health Centre

Transcultural Mental Health Network have developed Grief kits (pg. 8) in common languages spoken in WSLHD.

Family Help Kit - Transcultural Mental Health Centre (nsw.gov.au)

Liaise with Transcultural Mental Health Centre for tailored support/advice (02 9912 3850)