Facilitating access to bereavement counselling, support and information for a diverse population: The Sydney West Area Health Service Bereavement Project

Sydney West Area Health Service (SWAHS) provides palliative care for a population of over one million people characterised by marked socio-economic, cultural, and linguistic diversity. While bereavement is recognised as a major life event encompassing anticipation, death and adjustment to living after the death of a loved one (Kristjansen et al, 2006), it has historically received inconsistent attention in the palliative care context (Hudson, 2006).

SWAHS therefore sought to prioritise the facilitation of access to bereavement support and information and to enhance the capacity of palliative care staff to respond to the varied needs of our population. Acknowledging the skills possessed by non-government organisations (NGOs), this project profiled in detail NGOs providing counselling and support for dying and bereaved people of Western Sydney. A systematic review of over 90 written resources on death, dying, grief and bereavement was also undertaken, considering aspects such as readability and cultural sensitivity.

This paper explores emerging gaps in available community services and resources for bereaved clients of Western Sydney. Future possibilities for facilitating access to bereavement support in a diverse context are highlighted through the evaluation of some of the tools (including a Database of Services and Resource Directory) developed during the project.