NSW Budget 2025–26: Missed Opportunity to Support the Bereaved
Grief Australia is disappointed by the NSW Government's limited investment in mental health and grief support services in the 2025–26 State Budget.
While we welcome the $15.4 million allocation to boost the community health workforce, the Budget fails to address the pressing need for dedicated grief and bereavement support - particularly for people experiencing complex grief in rural and regional communities.
"We are calling on the NSW Government to commit funding for a Statewide Specialist Grief and Bereavement Support Service, accessible to all residents regardless of where they live," said Mr Christopher Hall, CEO of Grief Australia.
"Last year, we heard from NSW families navigating the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) system who were left feeling unsupported and distressed due to a lack of specialist bereavement care."
In its pre-budget submission, Grief Australia proposed a $2.4 million investment -modelled on a successful partnership with the Victorian Government - to deliver accessible, expert grief counselling and support across NSW.
The organisation also called for the development of a 10-Year NSW Grief and Bereavement Management Plan to coordinate services and build capacity across health, mental health, and emergency response systems.
"Without a long-term plan and targeted investment, the thousands of people in NSW experiencing grief each year will continue to fall through the cracks," Mr Hall said.
"We urge the NSW Government to act now—grief is not a personal failure, it's a public health issue."
