In 2016, 158,504 Australians died. On average each death leaves in its wake five bereaved people. Most bereaved people, with the support of family, friends and their community, cope with this loss, however for around six percent of the bereaved their grief is chronic and disabling. Research indicates that these individuals benefit from more specialist bereavement care.  The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB) is an independent, not for profit organisation which opened in January 1996. As the largest provider of grief and bereavement education in Australia, ACGB has been providing support for bereaved and grieving Australians for over 22 years.
Its mission is to build the capacity of individuals, organisations and communities in order to enhance well-being following adverse life events. We know from the many hundreds of people that have participated in our programs, that these services have made a lasting difference on their lives and their experience of loss.
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Services Offered
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement Counselling and Support Service, provides a statewide specialist bereavement service for individuals, children and families who need assistance following the death of someone close to them. The service also offers a range of bereavement support programs and a supervised clinical setting for practitioners of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement and those with a proven ability in the area of loss and grief.
Our Specialist Bereavement counsellors provide counselling and support group services to bereaved individuals, families, young people and children at the Mulgrave office as well as via telephone or telehealth services.
Counsellors at the service come from a variety of disciplines, including social work, psychology and psychotherapy.
Fees and Payment
Counselling is free for Victorian residents.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
Online Counseling: Yes
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A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
