At some point, in all our lives, there is sudden and unexpected death. Family, friends, at the workplace, friends of friends – the list goes on how quickly traumatic death and grief can touch each of us. The scale of the bereavement that it evidently follows can range from minor to immeasurable, as grief does not differentiate how it affects those connected to it.
Sadly, there are limited government services that cater specifically for bereavement. Yes, there are many mental health services available, but grief isn’t a mental illness. If left unaddressed, grief can certainly lead to poor mental health outcomes (eg depression, isolation, extreme sadness – even suicide) but in terms of receiving financial support, bereavement falls through the funding gaps, not at all being funded by any one government portfolio.
Hope Bereavement Care was founded here in Geelong almost forty years ago and has provided our city and surrounding districts with free support, information and counselling services to those who have experienced sudden and unexpected death of a loved one. Specific grief programs, such as Support After Suicide, Baby and Child Loss, and Kids Grieve Too have been developed to cater to for the very different bereavement needs of individuals who reach out or are referred to Hope.
Throughout the years, this vital community service has operated solely on the generous donations of local Geelong businesses and individuals – never receiving a cent of much needed government funding – to help deliver what has become an important service to our community.
Over the previous year, Hope has experienced unprecedented demand for our bereavement services, with increases across all programs. Although due to many factors, the continued suicide deaths (including many young men) as well as some traumatic and very public deaths across the Surf Coast and Geelong, have seen a large increase in demand for Hope’s essential services.
In the year from July 2022 to June 2023 alone, HOPE supported 714 individuals grieving Geelong locals and provided 2,250 occasions of service including counselling, groups and capacity building.
Since 2020 and the start of COVID, the last 3 years have seen an increase in 144.2% demand in their counselling services (including a 30% increase in our Baby and Child program) over a 500% increase in demand for their General/Adult program, and a 229% increase in our Support After Suicide clients.
Now, for the first time in HOPE’s 38 year history, they’re managing a wait list for people to access its essential services, with current wait times varying between 6-10 weeks depending on the individual.
The cost to deliver their services, including the incredible counsellors they employ, remains the organisation greatest expense. HOPE survives solely on the generosity and kindness of our Geelong donors to cover its current annual budget of $500,000, as any sort of government funding still remains completely unavailable to this organisation.
To help cope with Hope’s ongoing increase in demand, the organisation is launching a much needed fundraising campaign centred around donors contributing $100, whether that be as a one-off, monthly, quarterly or annually. This Hope’s 100 campaign is asking for local supporters at all levels – individuals, businesses, other organisations – with their contribution going directly to providing hope for those in our community who really are in need.
Through Australia’s most innovative giving platform, Give Now, they have developed a user-friendly and stress-free way people can donate with a simple few clicks of a button. Supporters can stay up to date with where their vital contributions are going, or can opt out at any time they feel is necessary, with a total tax deduction able to be made against any monies donated. Visit
www.bereavement.org.au/donateto learn more.
If you agree that providing Hope for the Future should be one of the highest priorities of our community, please think seriously of giving to Hope Bereavement Care as they continue to deliver the most important service you don’t realise you need, until you actually do.
HuG 