‘By My Side’ – A new resource for parents who have experienced the death of a child from cancer

The Behavioural Sciences Unit’s ‘Compass’ research study sought to understand how the health system and broader community may respond more effectively to the needs of families following the death of a child from cancer.

The key goals were to: improve understanding of the experience of bereaved parents, and subsequently, explore what parents’ perceive to be their needs in terms of social and professional support, and translate these research findings into tangible outcomes. Real change – real support.

Forty one bereaved mothers and fathers generously offered to share their experiences and provide important feedback through a research interview.  Many parents who participated in an interview asked what would be happening to their stories. Some wanted us to know that if there was anything else they could do to help other bereaved parents in the future to let them know. Throughout our year of interviewing we began to see that as a research team it was our responsibility to raise the voice of these parents.
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As leaders in the childhood cancer sector in Australia, the BSU and Redkite joined forces to create a resource aimed at helping bereaved parents feel just a little less alone, and perhaps a little more ‘normal’. Importantly, this resource aims to help the broader community come a little closer to understanding the reality of what it means to lose a child to cancer.

Over the course of the past year a generous group of bereaved parents worked alongside a dedicated team at Redkite and the BSU to develop this resource. By My Side is the voice of parents living a life without their child physically by their side. It is raw, heartfelt and real. Most importantly, it honours the children who have died and keeps their spirit alive.