When the loss of a loved one touches our lives, the path forward can feel impossible to navigate alone.
Through BlueCare’s Grief and Loss program, Queenslanders are finding not just support, but a safe haven where they can share, heal and rediscover hope.
“It felt like I was sinking in a bottomless hole,” shares one program participant who recently lost their son.
“Eight weeks later, I cannot believe the difference. While I will always grieve, I have now learnt to live, love and laugh again. This program helped bring me back to life.”
This transformative impact is being felt across Queensland, from bustling city centres to remote rural communities.
The program has expanded to meet growing needs, with dedicated people specially trained in supporting those who are grieving, now offering both in-person and online sessions to ensure no one faces their grief journey alone.
In the Darling Downs region, the introduction of online sessions has been revolutionary.
As local pastor Jenny Noble explains, “I have seen firsthand the isolation suffered when people are physically remote, as well as emotionally remote after the loss of a loved one.
“To me, the online program opens so many doors for people who otherwise couldn’t access our special level of support and care.”
The program’s reach extends beyond bereavement to support those caring for loved ones with dementia.
At Buderim, where the Grief, Loss and Dementia program was first offered last year, participants found solace in sharing their experiences.
Even those living with dementia have joined the sessions, eager to understand and support their carers while they can.
The dedication of people like Sharon Kirk from Hervey Bay, recently awarded the Moderator’s Community Service Medal, ensures each participant feels heard and supported.
“These groups are designed to assist people who are struggling on their grief journeys,” Sharon shares, bringing calm, compassion and wisdom to each session.
As one participant reflected, “These past eight weeks have offered a haven from the confusion, guilt and loneliness. I know that although it will be a rocky road ahead, there is life after the loss of a loved one.”
In 2024, the Robina Grief and Loss advisors alone supported seven groups, offering both morning and evening sessions to accommodate different needs. The program continues to evolve, with new initiatives like ‘My Grief Journal’ launched in January 2025, giving participants a personal space to reflect on their journey.
For the dedicated team behind the program, each story of healing reinforces the vital importance of their work. As Kaye Hollings from the Gold Coast program observes, “Grief is almost like being released from jail and finding yourself in a new world you now don’t recognise. Through these sessions, participants discover they’re not alone in navigating this new reality.”
Thanks to generous supporters just like you, BlueCare’s Grief and Loss program has been able to hold 30 sessions last year. And with your continued support, we hope to expand this to even more sessions and locations this year.
