ARBOR

What is ARBOR?

ARBOR stands for Active Response Bereavement Outreach. 

ARBOR is a free service that offers short-medium term grief-counselling, practical/emotional support, appropriate referral support, volunteer lived-experience peer support and support groups to people who have been recently impacted by lost loved ones to suicide.

ARBOR suicide-bereavement counsellors can provide support and strategies for managing grief, as well as refer you to other Anglicare WA services if required. Counselling sessions are an hour long and can be one-on-one or involve multiple clients, with initial appointments able to be held at home.

ARBOR lived-experience peer volunteers are people who have experienced bereavement by suicide who wish to help others through similar situations. Lived-experience peer volunteers attend the ARBOR Newly Bereaved Groups in conjunction with the grief Counsellor to provide support and empathy to participants. 

ARBOR is designed to be as inclusive as possible and is appropriate for a culturally and linguistically diverse range of clients. Suicide bereavement support is offered to Aboriginal people and communities through partnerships with local Aboriginal specialist services.

ARBOR offers suicide awareness training packages to professionals and communities. This training has been developed to provide insight into suicide bereavement and information regarding appropriate referral pathways.   

How can ARBOR be accessed?

If you are interested in accessing ARBOR services, you can arrange an appointment over the phone on 1300 11 44 46, or via email at arbor.bereavement@anglicarewa.org.au.

ARBOR also offers telephone counselling via appointment only (note: this is not a crisis line. Please phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 if you are in crisis). Please phone 1300 11 44 46 to discuss booking an appointment. 

Professionals may also refer a client to ARBOR.

Locations

ARBOR is located at all metro Anglicare WA offices. The service can provide telephone counselling to clients who have difficulty travelling or reside in regional and remote regions of WA and home visits are available throughout the Metro area.

Please phone the East Perth office to make a booking or find out more.

Acknowledgements

ARBOR is funded by the WA Primary Health Alliance as the operator of the three WA Primary Health Networks.

ARBOR works closely with organisations within the Perth Metro area and has a Memorandum of Understanding with services such as the City of Armadale, Samaritans WA, and the Jesuits (Vic).