Hospital to Home is a program operating throughout Australia, providing outreach support within three months of loss to bereaved parents who have experienced the death of a baby or infant through stillbirth (including TFMR), neonatal death or the sudden unexpected death of an infant (SUDI).
Support can be provided face-to-face, by phone or videoconference and is tailored to individual needs. Bereavement Outreach Workers or BOWs all have lived experience and understand how you feel. The service if FREE.
Parents decide how they would like to be supported; the options include:
- Emotional support and help with memory making.
- Guidance and support around creating a funeral/memorial.
- Support to attend follow-up medical appointments and receive genetic test or autopsy results.
- Providing information on grief, how it impacts individuals and relationships, and the supports available.
- Talking to/supporting siblings, liaison with their school.
- Practical support, including unsubscribing from parenting forums and accessing Centrelink entitlements.
- Preparing people within the community to respond sensitively to parents’ needs, including return to work.
- Providing support to extended family (e.g. grandparents) living overseas.
- Responding to requests from bereaved parents for other types of emotional and practical support.
Bereaved parents can self-refer into the program, and professionals caring for bereaved parents can refer them into the Hospital to Home program with parents’ consent.
Red Nose is committed to supporting families navigating the complexities of the loss of a baby or child. To access our specialised bereavement support including: counselling, peer support programs, support groups, and resources tailored to individual needs, click here.
Did you find this helpful?
Good job! Please give your positive feedback
How could we improve this post? Please Help us.
