Three (3) no-cost counselling sessions for staff

Headway Gippsland has engaged the EAP arm of Relationships Australia to support the health and wellbeing of its staff. This means staff have access to face-to-face or telephone counselling with a trained professional at no cost.

EAP is a short-term, solution-focused counselling service to help staff deal with issues affecting their work. If staff are feeling overwhelmed, impacted by the work they are doing, or if they are facing issues at home they can book in for an appointment.

Headway Gippsland will cover services for three sessions per staff member this year. If you have any questions about the service, please contact your manager.

Phone Relationships Australia Victoria on 1800 720 126 to book an appointment. Phone the Traralgon branch on 5175 9500. For more information, visit relationshipsvictoria.org.au or email eap@rav.org.au.

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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What’s the EAP process?

Our counsellors work with clients to identify their primary concerns or issues affecting them, and then over a limited number of sessions together develop problem-solving strategies.

Counselling sessions can take place at one of our centres across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Clients can usually specify if they would prefer a female or male counsellor.

Clients who have needs that extend beyond the scope of our EAP Counselling service, such as a severe mental illness, are supported to access additional support through warm referrals to appropriate agencies or services.

How confidential is EAP?

What employees talk about in EAP counselling is completely confidential, and in most cases employers do not know which employees have accessed the service, and instead receive a de-identified annual or bi-annual summary usage report to assist them to plan for the future and consider other workplace needs. In some cases, managers may refer employees to the service directly.

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.