{
  "id": 18889894,
  "title": "Support for grieving Australians a postcode lottery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/support-for-grieving-australians-a-postcode-lottery",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T21:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://nynganobserver.com.au/story/9387574/support-for-grieving-australians-a-postcode-lottery"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Port Arthur massacre in 1996 left 35 people dead and triggered significant changes to Australia's gun laws. However, it also underscored the importance of supporting individuals through profound loss. Thirty years later, grief support remains a postcode lottery, with free specialist counselling available only in Victoria. Grief Australia, a leading advocacy group, is pushing for universal access to such services nationwide, arguing that access to support should not be dependent on one's location. Walter Mikac, whose wife and two young daughters were taken from him in the Port Arthur massacre, is among the advocates. He believes early intervention was crucial to his ability to rebuild his life after unimaginable loss. Mikac, who turned to a grief counsellor for guidance, emphasizes that grief support is not a luxury but a necessity in moments of profound devastation. Grief Australia's chief executive, psychologist Christopher Hall, notes that while about 90% of bereaved people do not require specialist clinical intervention, for the remaining 10%, grief can develop into prolonged grief disorder. This condition, involving persistent, intense distress, can prevent individuals from returning to work, maintaining relationships, or envisioning a meaningful future. Hall emphasizes that prolonged grief disorder can respond to specialist treatment, with many people experiencing significant improvements in their quality of life after just a few counseling sessions. However, access to such support varies significantly across Australia. Victoria is the only state that provides a free specialist bereavement counselling service, funded by the Victorian government. Despite operating nationally, Grief Australia's services are not extended to residents outside Victoria, leaving dozens of Australians outside the state seeking help they cannot afford. Grief Australia advocates for federal funding to roll out specialist services nationwide and for better training for frontline workers and greater recognition of bereavement in health and workplace policies. They argue that Australia's response to grief falls short, particularly in the workplace, where full-time and part-time workers are entitled to only two days of paid compassionate leave following the death of an immediate family member. This pales in comparison to other countries, where bereaved employees receive 12 to 20 days of leave. Hall stresses that even simple measures, such as allowing flexibility and discussing an employee's needs before they return to work, can make a significant difference. Employers who provide such support often retain their employees for longer periods. For Mikac, grief support can be the difference between coping and falling apart. He acknowledges that grief lingers for years, but with the right support, individuals can rebuild their lives and find meaning even after unimaginable loss.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}