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SANDS Support Services
SANDS (Qld) Inc. provides a range of services to parents,
families, health care professionals and workers in allied industries.
24 Hour Telephone Support
Bereaved parents often find the need to talk to someone who has
had an experience similar to their own. Bereaved parents who have received
some training in grief and loss and listening skills man the 24-hour support
line. They also contribute their compassion and empathy.
To access the numbers for the Listeners:
- During office hours parents may telephone the SANDS office
on 07 3254 3422 and the numbers will be made available.
- After hours the numbers are available by telephoning the
office and using the options on the answering machine.
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Free Call 1800 Number:
1800 228 655
The SANDS 1800 number is a service that has been designed to
assist parents in remote and rural areas of Queensland.
Experiencing the death of a baby is a tragedy in the life of
a parent and your grief can be very isolating. Parents can then be further isolated
by geography.
A SANDS Listener who is a bereaved parent will answer the 1800
number when you ring and the call will be taken in their home. They may have
an answering machine and we encourage you to leave a message so they can return
your call.
The Listener will also be able to give you details of any local
contacts or support groups in your area.
The 1800 number cannot be used for administration issues - you
will need to ring the Brisbane office for this purpose.
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Email Support
Some parents may find that for various reasons they may be unable
to talk about their experience with their baby but will wish for some communication.
Email support can be a safe avenue for seeking support.
Grief can be an isolating experience and parents may find themselves
further isolated by other reasons such as geography, ill health, and transport
issues. Parents may use email if they have a query and are unsure where to ask
for an answer.
The SANDS email address is sandsqldinc@bigpond.com.au.
When you use this address your email will be answered in the SANDS office.
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Support Meetings
Support meetings include night support meetings, coffee mornings
and afternoons and are informal gatherings of parents who share the experience
of the death of their babies.
Very often the feelings that parents experience after their baby
has died can be confusing, even frightening. It can be a great comfort to be
in the company of other parents who have been through a similar experience.
When you attend a support meeting, generally a SANDS member who
is further into their grief journey will be there to welcome parents and to
put parents at ease.
There is no pressure to share your story. If you would prefer
to listen to other parents and not talk that is perfectly fine. The only expectation
on you is to respect other parents' right to speak and their right to privacy.
Some parent's perspectives on support meetings -:
"I was really apprehensive about going to a meeting but for
Paul and I it was a relief to meet other parents." Jane, 34
"I almost had an obsession and went to any coffee morning
that I could. I needed to know I wasn't the only Mum out there hurting."
Lisa, 30
"I didn't think a night support meeting was a man thing but
I went for my partner - to support her. I was surprised that other fathers were
there and they talked openly about their babies. It was good." Michael,
28
For details of the current support meetings please go to NEWS
and EVENTS. The details are also in the SANDS Newsletter.
Not all areas in Queensland will have support meetings. If you
are interested in having support meetings in your area please contact the SANDS
(Qld) office on 07 3254 3422.
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