A world-first model of grief and bereavement has been developed to better support people during their difficult time of loss.
After identifying a global gap in grief support, a collaboration of experts came together to create a much-needed framework to better support diverse community groups in their grief journey.
Their work is being proudly funded by The Hospital Research Foundation Group – Palliative Care with co-funding by the Department for Health and Wellbeing’s Health Services branch.
It is being led by Dr Kate Davis and Professor Marion Eckert from the University of South Australia’s Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre.
“Everyone grieves differently, and some need more help than others and we need to ensure our diverse communities are properly supported throughout their grief journey,” Dr Davis said.
“We completed an environmental scan of the current support services in South Australia, interviews with lived-experience people, a review of peer-reviewed literature from Australia and New Zealand, and a stakeholder workshop.
“All the data was then compiled to inform the development of a new model for integrated and connected grief and bereavement care at a statewide level.”
The team identified six key gaps in support services, including continuity of care after death, service navigation, and improved in-person support for regional communities.
“Currently there isn’t anything like this and ours would be a world-first, service-delivery model,” Dr Davis said.
“Anyone will be able to adapt this and once it’s published, it will help millions of people through their grief journey.”
This feasibility study has coincided with a Commonwealth Government funded palliative care navigation service known as Palliative Care Connect, which is currently being piloted within SA.
“The findings from Palliative Care Connect will be critical in further developing the bereavement model of care feasibility study,” said Ms Helen Chalmers, Executive Director, Health Services Programs, Adelaide Palliative Services.
