Griefline Helpline to close: A devastating loss for grieving Australians
25 February 2025
- Griefline’s Helpline, a critical support for grieving Australians, will close on 18 March 2025 due to a lack of sustainable funding.
- Despite a 112% increase in calls, Griefline was unable to secure Commonwealth funding for our Helpline, resulting in its closure and leaving the nation without a free, accessible grief and loss telephone
support service. - The closure will have significant consequences, increasing pressure on crisis services and the broader health system, unless immediate financial support is secured.
Griefline, Australia’s national grief and loss support service, will be forced to close its Helpline on 18 March 2025 due to an ongoing lack of sustainable funding.
The announcement comes as demand for Griefline’s nationwide telephone support service has surged by 112% in the last financial year, reflecting the increasing need for free and accessible grief services in Australia.
For the past 18 months, Griefline has pursued a variety of funding opportunities, including applications for the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care’s Digital Mental Health Program 2025 – 2028, philanthropy, and corporate partnerships. While we have successfully secured some funding and demonstrated the critical role of the Helpline, additional resources are still needed to fully sustain our early-intervention grief support services.
A vital support for those in grief
For over 37 years, Griefline has provided free, evidence-based grief support to individuals across Australia, helping hundreds of thousands navigate grief and loss with compassionate listening and tailored resources. The Helpline has been particularly vital for those who fall through the cracks of the mental health system, people who are struggling but do not require crisis intervention or clinical care.
Beyond providing direct grief support, the Helpline has played a crucial role in training Australia’s future mental health workforce. Through its volunteer program and student placements, Griefline has equipped hundreds of aspiring clinicians with essential skills in grief support and compassionate communication, strengthening the mental health sector as a whole.
“Our volunteers donate over 15,000 hours each year to hold space for grieving individuals, ensuring that no one feels alone in their loss. The closure of the Helpline is heartbreaking, not only for the 2,000 callers each month who will need to find alternative free telephone and online support, but also for our dedicated team of seven staff and 150 active volunteers, who have provided an essential service with passion and care.”
Griefline has been funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care since 2020 and is one of only a dozen digital mental health services in Australia to have achieved accreditation under the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards. This accreditation was a requirement for eligibility to apply for funding, demonstrating Griefline’s commitment to providing safe and quality digital mental health support.
The ripple effect of the closure
The closure of the Helpline will leave a significant gap in Australia’s mental health support system. It will increase pressure on crisis services, GPs, and public health providers, many of whom rely on Griefline as a key referral service for grieving individuals.
Griefline is an important component of Australia’s mental health ecosystem. Our Helpline has been an essential referral pathway for key service providers, including emergency departments and inpatient doctors and clinicians in public health, who refer grieving patients to our telephone support as part of routine care. The loss of this service will create a critical gap in grief support, leaving many without timely intervention.
Research demonstrates that early intervention in mental health reduces long-term burdens on individuals and healthcare systems. While existing studies focus on conditions such as depression and anxiety, grief, when left unaddressed, can similarly escalate into complex grief disorders, contributing to mental health challenges that require intensive care. Evidence from the National Mental Health Commission highlights that investing in preventative mental health programs can yield substantial cost savings, with every $1 spent saving up to $5 in downstream healthcare costs. Griefline’s early intervention support model aligns with this principle, ensuring that people receive timely, compassionate assistance to prevent the long-term impacts of unresolved grief.
What’s next?
In the coming weeks, Griefline will focus on ensuring a smooth transition for all those affected, including:
- Supporting volunteers and staff through this change.
- Identifying alternative referral pathways for service users.
- Exploring redeployment opportunities with partner organisations for volunteers and staff.
While the Helpline is closing, Griefline remains committed to supporting Australians through grief, loss and bereavement. The organisation will continue to provide free:
- Professional bereavement counselling through the Integrating Grief Programs (IGP) in NSW and Victoria,
- Nationwide bereavement and voluntary assisted dying (VAD) support groups
- A growing range of digital grief resources accessible 24/7
Additionally, Griefline is seeking financial support to expand its social enterprise model, Griefline Knowledge, which provides fee-for-service grief literacy training and support to workplaces, community groups and mental health professionals. While this initiative is designed to generate revenue, it requires investment to reach its full impact.
Help us keep early-intervention grief support alive
We are calling on corporate and philanthropic partners and community leaders to invest in the future of grief support in Australia.
By supporting Griefline, organisations can help expand and strengthen early intervention programs, ensuring that Australians have access to grief support before they reach crisis point. This investment will contribute to a more compassionate and resilient society while aligning with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and community mental health commitments.
Grief is universal, and access to support should be too. The closure of Griefline’s Helpline will create a major gap in Australia’s mental health system. We need urgent support to build sustainable, long-term solutions for those in grief.
For partnership opportunities, or to receive a copy of Griefline’s Capability Statement, please contact: Louisa Smith, Griefline Director of Strategic Innovation. Email: [email protected]
For media inquiries, please contact: Lainie Tomming, Griefline Marketing Coordinator. Email: [email protected]
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