Funding Outcomes from the Good Death Impact Network – Part 4: Bereavement Companioning Project

By Shanna Provost & Lauren Anseline

Welcome to Part 4 of our series on funding outcomes from the Good Death Impact Network (GDIN) Innovation Fund 2024–2025. 

Allocating funds for projects each year is part of GDIN’s Innovation Fund, a process of participatory granting where GDIN members present their ideas to the members of the network. The network then discusses the potential of each idea to align to GDIN’s principles, systemic levers, and purpose. Instead of external funders determining priorities, this deliberative process invites the members – those who live and work within the sector’s realities, challenges and opportunities – to directly influence what gets funded. This process is not just about giving out funds. It’s a practice of connection, transparency, collaboration, and relational trust which is the culture the network wants to grow in the end-of-life sector.

In 2024, one of the Innovation Fund’s supported projects was the ‘Bereavement Companioning Project’, a pilot program designed and implemented by GDIN member Joe Sehee from Social Health Australia.

Creating social support at the end of life

Companion programs offer a unique form of social connection, creating beneficial conditions for participants, companions, and partner organisations alike. The Bereavement Companioning Project recruited, trained, vetted, and supported nearly 50 volunteers to provide sub-clinical, social-emotional, and existential support to people impacted by the recent loss of a loved one—including, in one case, a person choosing Voluntary Assisted Dying.

Referrals primarily came through national funeral provider Bare and the Victorian Department of Health. The project was in response to a growing need identified by funeral directors: bereaved families and individuals were returning to them for support, highlighting an opportunity for community-based companioning.

“The Companioning approach can be offered alongside other services such as bereavement counselling,” notes Joe.

Continuing partnerships and lessons learned

The project eventually partnered with Bare Funerals, whose values aligned with the initiative, particularly in providing grief support, which they were already doing. Social Health Australia continues to provide bereavement and Voluntary Assisted Dying  companioning as a result of this pilot project. Social Health Australia has also seen benefits from bringing forth new initiatives with volunteers where organisations are not able to manage the perceived ‘risk liability’.

Key lessons from the pilot project include:

• Volunteers working in teams of two or more help prevent dependency while providing more robust social support.

• Companioning works best as non-professional, social support and it can do things for people that professional services cannot do as easily, such as connecting them to community, helping them find common humanity in their suffering, and reducing  feelings of existential loneliness.

“People showing up without any agenda other than to be kind, decent human beings to profoundly touch the lives of those they serve. It brings meaning to events that might otherwise feel meaningless, reducing the impact of existential loneliness,” says Joe Sehee.

Drawing inspiration from within GDIN

One of GDIN’s unique strengths is cross pollination of ideas. The Bereavement Companioning Project adapted its training model after participating in Kerrie Noonan’s Showing Up for Grief workshop, shifting to techniques that help companions support people better.

“Through Kerrie Noonan’s Showing Up for Grief workshop we have changed the way in which we train our Companions in helping people they support be able to move between acknowledging their emotional pain and thinking about anything but their loss, without getting stuck on either pole. Kerrie helped us understand that being able to move between those poles can prevent a person from experiencing the kind of persistent, debilitating sadness associated with the condition known as complicated grief,” notes Joe.

What’s next?

The Bereavement Companioning team hopes to expand this work by engaging other health departments, providing companions for longer periods, and continuing to foster volunteer teams. They have a standing opportunity to re-engage with the South Australian Department of Health in the future. 

“This project shows the power of community-led, relational support at the end of life. It’s an example of how small acts of kindness, backed by thoughtful training and collaboration, can ripple out to create systemic change,” Joe reflects.

Are you interested in learning more about the Bereavement Companions Project? Reach out to GDIN member Joe Sehee from Social Health Australia. for more information.