Workers in the community legal centre sector in NSW are able to access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for free counselling and wellbeing support.
All sector employees are entitled to six free confidential counselling sessions for each issue or problem you encounter. For example, a death in your family and a problem at work are different 'issues', and you are entitled to six counselling sessions for each of these issues.
Most workers in community legal centres in NSW are eligible to join the Australian Services Union (ASU). If you would like to join the ASU, or would like more information about the union, click here.
Most community legal centres in NSW refer to the SCHADS Award as the basis of rates of pay for staff.
Further details about the SCHADS award are available on the Fair Work website, click here.
This is a running list of support services that is produced by, or recommended during, the Vicarious Trauma: Network of Practice meetings.
Free, confidential, psychological support for staff is available through:
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Benestar
Workers in the community legal centre sector in NSW are able to access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for free counselling and wellbeing support.
Phone: 0800 360 364
- Solicitor Outreach Service (SOS)
The Law Society NSW connects NSW solicitors to confidential, psychological support. Contact PeopleSense by Altius on 1800 592 296 (24 hour)
- 1800RESPECT
Information and resources for professionals who support people impacted by sexual assault, domestic and family violence. Counsellors can also provide clinical consultations and referrals to support for professionals experiencing work-induced stress and trauma.
Phone: 1800 737 732 (24 hour)
- Full Stop Australia
Expert counsellors and care coordinators available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via telephone or online chat. Offers vicarious trauma support and debrief for professionals.
Phone: 1800 385 578
Publicly available support services that might be useful include:
-
Medicare Mental Health Treatment Plan
All people can go to their GP and get a referral for a Mental Health Treatment Plan. There is an entitlement to Medicare rebates for up to 20 individual psychological appointments per calendar year until 30 June 2022. This gives access (subsidised by Medicare, but still a cost to the individual) to certain psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers. There are some services where there is no gap (i.e. no cost to the individual) -
Lifeline
Phone: 13 11 14 -
NSW Rape Crisis
Phone: 1800 424 017 -
LGBTIQ+ Violence Service
Phone: 1800 497 212 -
Sexual Assault Counselling Australia
Phone: 1800 211 028 -
Survivors and Mates Support Network (for male survivors of child sexual abuse)
Phone: 1800 472 676 -
Kids Helpline
Phone: 1800 55 1800 -
NSW Health Sexual Assault Service
NSW Health has a network of specialist Sexual Assault Services (SAS) delivered by local health districts. View the local service list: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/parvan/sexualassault/Pages/health-sas-services.aspx
Other support services
- The Relational Institute Clinic
Mental and emotional health Gestalt therapy services at affordable rates.
Current at March 2021
This is a running list of resources and research is produced by, or recommended in, the Vicarious Trauma: Network of Practice.
Resources
- Kozarov v State of Victoria
Groundbreaking High Court decision that has shifted the onus "back onto the employer" to provide "a safe place to work and to take measures to look after" staff in instances of psychiatric injury.
- Justice doing in community work & therapy: from ‘burnout’ to solidarity
In this talk, Vikki illuminates her stance for an ethic of Justice Doing as a frame for community work and therapy, and consider the intersections, tensions and affinities between community work practice, therapy and social justice activism.
This is a running list of training options that is produced by, or recommended during, the Vicarious Trauma: Network of Practice meetings.
- Blue Knot
- Robyn Brady, RB Counselling & Consultancy Services
Email: robb@ihug.com.au
- STARTTS NSW (Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors)
- Lilly Pilly Counselling
- Lisa Gardiner, Consultant
- Phil Nunn, P & P Training and Consultancy
- Berry Street
- David Cherry and Associates
- Zoe Warwick, concepts4change
List current at March 2021