Introducing EAP Assist: Headway Gippsland’s new Employee Assistance Program

Headway Gippsland has partnered with EAP Assist to support the health and wellbeing of its staff.

This means staff have access to counselling with a trained professional at no cost.

What is EAP Assist?
EAP Assist is a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellbeing resource, available 24/7 to help you find answers to questions about work, life, health, family or money. It offers expert advice, support, practical resources, connections to agencies and supports and referrals to counselling (video or in-person).

What does it give me?
When you log in online (or via the app), you will have access to:
– wellbeing articles
– podcasts
– online toolkits
– interactive programs
– meditations and mindfulness
– videos
– quizzes
– access to 24/7 confidential specialist counselling
– immediate critical incident support

How do I contact EAP Assist?
By phone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. Connect with a professional consultant for support, strategies, tools and referrals.
OR online, where you can also access hundreds of articles, e-books, audio recordings, assessments, toolkits and more.

Who pays for EAP Assist?
EAP Assist is available at no cost to you, as defined by your benefits plan. Headway Gippsland provides this program as a benefit to support your wellbeing.

How many counselling sessions can I get?
The counselling model is short-term and solution-focused. You have access to a number of free counselling sessions. Your immediate family can also access this service. Please be advised that this excludes individuals under 16 years of age. In the event that your concern is ongoing in nature, your counsellor will discuss and refer you to resources outside the EAP, and help you to access this.

Are EAP counsellors qualified?
All EAP Assist counsellors are required to have a Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Educational Counselling or other related fields. Some counsellors have PhD’s, and are all screened and verified.

Is EAP Assist confidential?
Absolutely. EAP Assist takes care to protect the identity of anyone who uses the program. The only exceptions are those governed by law, i.e. under court subpoena, and the duty to report if a counsellor deems an individual to be at imminent risk of harm to self or others. Headway Gippsland cannot see who has utilised which service, but instead receive an anonymous annual or bi-annual summary usage report to assist them to plan for the future and consider other workplace needs.

If you have any questions about the service, please contact your manager.

We are not a crisis service.

If you are in immediate danger, call 000 (triple zero).

For urgent support contact:

Lifeline on 13 11 14

SuicideLine Victoria on 1300 651 251

Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732

MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78

Useful tips from Relationships Australia

• Asking about family violence in the workplace
• Becoming an elder carer
• Helping your children through separation
• Communication skills
• Elder abuse
• Family dispute resolution
• Maintaining professional boundaries
• Managing stress
• Managing conflict in the workplace
• Family violence in the workplace

COVID-19 tip sheets from Relationships Australia

• Looking after your mental health
• Working from home tips
• Working from home and managing social isolation with your partner
• Being a caring family member
• Managing conversations about money
• Managing stress and anxiety
• Preventing and overcoming loneliness
• Self-care strategies
• Managing self-isolation with your children and family

Resources

Beyond Blue – Online information and 24/7 telephone support and advice from a trained mental health professional. Phone 1300 22 4636

Black Dog Institute – Online information and research about mental health.

Embrace Multicultural Mental Health – Website with information in multiple languages for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation – Free information and support for health and wellbeing, relationships, work and study, and alcohol and other drugs.

Kids Helpline – 24/7 telephone and online counselling service for young people aged 5-25. Phone 1800 55 1800

Lifeline – 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Phone 13 11 14

MensLine Australia – 24/7 telephone and online counselling for men. Phone 1800 737 732. Qualified counsellors specialise in relationship breakdown, separation and divorce, parenting, family violence (for those who use and experience family violence), suicide prevention and emotional wellbeing.

Open Arms – 24/7 mental health and wellbeing support for current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel and their families. Phone 1800 011 046

ReachOut – Online mental health support and free apps for young people.

SANE Australia – Peer support, counselling, support, information and referrals for adults with a complex mental health issue, complex trauma or high levels of psychological distress. Phone 1800 187 263

SuicideLine Victoria – 24/7 telephone, video and online counselling. Phone 1300 651 251

Suicide Call Back Service – 24/7 Australia-wide telephone and online counselling for people affected by suicide. Phone 1300 659 467

Switchboard Victoria – Telephone counselling, information and referrals for LGBTIQ communities.

Disclaimer: While every effort is made to check the content and accuracy of the websites links, we take no responsibility for information contained on websites that are maintained by other organisations.