Bereavement and Pastoral Care
Our Pastoral Care Team
At the Toowoomba Hospice we have a Pastoral Care Team who are qualified and have extensive experience in Pastoral Care in general and Palliative Care in particular.
We acknowledge that your decision to come to Hospice, or to bring your loved one to Hospice for end-of-life care can be a daunting and emotional time. As a family member/friend you may experience a myriad of feelings especially if you have been caring for your loved one at home. Hospice provides a place where we become the carers, and you can hand over your responsibilities to our staff and concentrate on being the family member/friend.
We work with compassion, common sense, empathy, integrity and respect. Our aim is to ensure that our clients and their families and friends feel comfortable and safe. We work as a team with the Nurses who support your medical and nursing needs while Pastoral Carers support your emotional and spiritual needs.
The Pastoral Carers role is:
Spiritually - to explore your agenda. To support and offer resources that support your specific cultural, ecumenical or spiritual beliefs and needs.
Emotionally - to listen to your story, to get to know your family/friends. What and who is important to you. What gives you pleasure.
Throughout your time with us our Pastoral Carers provide visits as required. We strive to build trust with our clients and their families/friends so that after your passing we will keep in regular contact with them. We provide support and ascertain their care needs up to twelve months. During the year we organise specific functions when families/friends are invited to attend a time of reflection, honouring and support.
It is our privilege to offer our support at this significant time.
Pastoral Care Coordinator: Louise Buttsworth
Support group
Grief and Loss Support Program
The Hospice offers a free Grief and Loss program to anyone who is experiencing grief through the loss of a loved one. This program was originally developed by Blue Care and has been tailored to the Hospice. The program provides the following:
- Information on the grief process
- Identifying and discussing the stages of grief
- Practical options following your loss
- Emotional and social support
- Developing coping skills for the future
- Exploring participants individual grief journey.
Location: The Toowoomba Hospice in the Reflection Room
Date: Once a week starting, next session starting on Tuesday the 29th July 2025 for 8 weeks.
Time: 09:00 – 11:00am
Refreshments will be served.
Numbers are limited to 8 participants + 2 trained Pastoral Care/Hospice Facilitators registration is essential. If you are interested in attending please fill in the enquiry form before Tuesday the 22nd of July 2025, and a member of the Pastoral Care team will be in contact.
