Building Grief-Literate Systems:
Grief First Aid Response to SA Statewide Model
Sally Healey – Grief First Aid
The paper “A Statewide Model for Integrated Grief and Bereavement Support” represents a significant and much-needed advancement in how grief is understood and supported at a systems level. The authors are to be commended for developing a model that not only recognises grief as a public health issue, but also translates this understanding into a coordinated, operational framework. The support of SA Health and the Hospital Research Foundation Group in commissioning and funding this work reflects important leadership in addressing what has long been an under-recognised area of need.
What makes this model particularly compelling is its clear alignment with contemporary public health approaches to bereavement. It acknowledges that while a small proportion of individuals require specialised support, the majority are best supported through informal, community based responses. As the paper highlights, grief support is not confined to the health system, but occurs across “families and friends, workplaces, schools, faith-based institutions and every other facet of community.”
The inclusion of grief education, community capacity building, access pathways, and integrated partnerships demonstrates a comprehensive and practical approach. Importantly, the model is not purely theoretical; it is designed to be operationalised, with clear pathways for implementation and coordination across systems. In particular, the emphasis on grief education as a core component signals a recognition that capability must be built across the workforce and broader community to ensure safe, consistent, and compassionate responses.
This is where our work directly aligns…