SIDS and Kids Hunter Region offer a unique combination of peer support and professional bereavement counselling services for those affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a infant or young child.
These include Stillbirth, Neonatal death, SIDS, Sleeping Accidents, Fast Onset Illness, Accidents and other sudden and unexpected deaths.
Its services are available to:
Some parents who have experienced the death of a young child, have been trained in bereavement support and are available for family members to talk to. In addition to this SIDS and Kids employ a Bereavement Counsellor who has specific experience in supporting and counselling bereaved persons.
SIDS and Kids services are provided free of charge, however the organization is a registered charity and does not receive any government funding. Donations over $2 are tax deductible and very much appreciated.
Services provided by SIDS and Kids Hunter Region
- Individual, couple and family counseling and support: face to face or by telephone
- Immediate response to death of a child upon notification from emergency services and with consent of the family.
- Initial Home visits (where possible)
- Support Group Meetings including:
- Monthly Parent support groups,
- Quarterly Fathers nights,
- Quarterly Grandparent meetings,
- Monthly Loss of a teenager support group
- Sibling groups during school holidays,
- Special topics or Grief information workshops
- Social outings
- Memorial services
Assistance with the creation of memories
- i.e. locks of hair, ink hand and foot prints etc
- Educational information about Grief, SIDS and Safe Sleeping environments
- Library: SIDS and Kids Hunter Region has a library located within the premises that is available for the families and the public to borrow. There is a wide range of books on grief and loss including theories, personal stories and experiences. There are also children’s books looking at grief and loss.
- Brochures and resources from other organizations that may assist families in other counseling or support circumstances.
- Referrals to other organizations
A children’s play room is available at the premises and children are welcome but must be supervised by parents or caregivers at all times. SIDS and Kids evening meetings have been designated to be child free. We appreciate your support in this.
Bereavement Counseling
Bereavement Counselling is the process of exploring your grief with a trained professional in a supportive and understanding environment.
Seeking counselling is not a reflection on you in some negative way, it is a reflection of what has happened to you.
Grief is a normal reaction to loss, and the depth and duration of the experience is different for everyone.
The experiences and reactions you are having are normal. Symptoms of grief are often the very things that we would other wise consider abnormal.
Understanding your own experience can be helpful in adapting to your new life situation. Bereavement Counselling can be helpful in assisting you to work with your grief.
Counselling can be useful for individuals, couples and families in providing another source of support and understanding.
Information provided at counseling and peer support sessions at SIDS and Kids Hunter Region remains confidential. Some information may be disclosed to peer support staff only if appropriate for the ongoing care and support to the client.
SIDS and Kids have a duty of care to comply with child protection and mental health legislation.
APPOINTMENTS
Call the centre on 02 49693171 to make an appointment with the Bereavement Counsellor.
Appointments can be made outside of normal working hours and home visits can be arranged in special circumstances.
Alternatively, you can drop in to the centre between 9am - 5pm to speak with a peer support worker.
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