Media Release - Operations Resilience Targets COVID-19

24 August 2021

"COVID-19 is having a profound impact on the mental and physical well-being of the nation." 

Christopher Hall, CEO, Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement 

To combat the continuing serious emotional, psychological, and physical challenges being faced by millions of Australians in the wake of the ongoing battle against COVID-19, the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement (ACGB) has launched ‘Operation Resilience’. 

Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement Chief Executive, Christopher Hall said, Operation Resilience is aimed at creating an ongoing awareness of a range of Free Aged Bereavement Support Services for Aged Care Residents, Home Care recipients, their families and staff who have been impacted by COVID across Australia. Mr Hall said, “the ongoing threat of COVID-19 around Australia has created an unprecedented distress, community turmoil, fear, personal grief and loss, all of which has had a profound impact on the mental and physical health of the nation."

Aged Care nurses have commented that ‘we work through the day to look after our patients who are our friends, when they die, we talk to their family and when work finishes, we go home talk to our own families’. Free resources available from the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement have been designed for use by community organisations, local government, Members of Parliament offices and are available to members of the community.

Aged Care Grief and Bereavement Support Fact Sheets , Phone Contact CLICK HERE 

Mr Hall said these free services, funded by the Federal Government, are available from anywhere in Australia with immediate access by telephone or online and include: 
+ a national toll-free telephone service (1800 22 22 00) linking callers with specialist bereavement practitioners.
+ tele-health e-counselling and support services provided by qualified Specialist Grief Bereavement counsellors. 

Aged Care Resources Aged Grief Resources and Fact Sheets 
Website: www.aged.grief.org.au