End-of-life care
The end of your child or young person’s life can be the most difficult time for your family. At Very Special Kids we provide end-of-life support focused on choice, comfort and creating memories.
Our multidisciplinary team is here to provide practical, spiritual and emotional support that aims to meet the cultural needs unique to your family.
Our skilled clinical care team of nurses, on-call doctors, allied health and personal care workers will ensure your child is as comfortable as possible through pain management and symptom control.
We will listen to you and your child to help you make well-informed choices about care, treatment and end-of-life wishes.
We have onsite family accommodation to book, making it easier for you to be with your child during their final moments.
After death care
We understand that having a space to gather and support each other after your child’s death is important.
Balam Balam, which means butterfly in the Aboriginal language Woiwurrung, is our special suite at Very Special Kids House that allows for greater privacy. It is a home-like environment that includes a family room, kitchen, outdoor verandah and a purpose-built bedroom. Here, we can care for your child if your family needs more time to say goodbye.
When the time comes to plan your child’s funeral, register their death or liaise with other agencies, our service delivery team will be by your side to offer practical advice. They can also provide emotional support that you may find comfort in, such as memory making through experiences and photographs.
When you are ready, your family support practitioner can introduce you to our bereavement support program, which includes support groups and activities where you can meet and connect with other families who have gone through something similar.