Griefline’s phone counselling and online operations will continue until 30 June, after the essential service was threatened with closure due to a funding slash.
While demand for Griefline has doubled in the past year and it’s providing help for 30,000 people, the 37-year-old service was set to shut down permanently on 18 March, before the last-minute $400,000 funding injection.
“With just 24 hours to go before its scheduled closure, Griefline has received confirmation that … Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Aged Care, has agreed to provide additional funding for our Helpline to continue operating,” Griefline chief executive Kate Cahill told the Community Advocate.
According to Cahill, news of the initial funding cut sparked “an overwhelming public response,” as hundreds of supporters wrote to MPs and national media coverage, and the issue was raised in federal parliament. Politicians pressing for answers included Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes, who raised questions about cuts in a recent Senate Estimates hearing, prompting Butler to backtrack.
Despite the new funding, Griefline continues to battle with tonnes of paperwork, and its future funding remains uncertain. The grief service will need $865,000 a year to keep its helpline operating, but long-term grant agreements cannot be struck yet when the government enters election “caretaker mode.”
“Concerningly, the government’s own guidelines state that if an election is called before this process is concluded, funding decisions may be delayed or even cancelled altogether,” Cahill added. “While this is a huge step forward, we know the fight isn’t over. Long-term funding remains uncertain, especially with an imminent election.”
Cahill emphasised the service was badly needed and very much aligned with Mental Health Australia’s push for a better deal for providers.
“Grief is a universal human experience, yet grief support remains vastly underfunded in Australia’s mental health system. Without early intervention, grief can compound into serious mental health challenges. We will continue working with our industry peers to advocate for a system where grief support is recognised as an essential service and adequately funded, so that no one in Australia has to face loss alone.”
Read also: Grief Australia expands its range of grief services for Aussies
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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