Victorian Bushfire Crisis: Mental Health and Wellbeing Services
News Archive
Victorian Bushfire Crisis: Mental Health and Wellbeing Services
Published: 08/01/2020
At VICSES, we are committed to supporting our members and their families.
Emergency Service personnel, individuals and communities can be affected directly or indirectly by the bushfires and may experience a range of thoughts, feelings or behaviours. It can be helpful to understand the common reactions to bushfires, and the signs that you may need extra support.
If VICSES members or their family and friends would like some extra support or advice, help is available:
- VICSES Peer Support is available 24/7 for volunteers and their families.
- Phone 1800 899 927: Select Option 3, provide your region number and ask for VICSES Peer Support to leave your contact details.
- Onsite support/contact – VICSES has engaged two experienced psychologists from Converge International to support the organisation. Sharon Craig and Shannon Hood (details below) will be based at the Victorian Head Office and are available to support all members.
- Sharon Craig – sharon.craig@ses.vic.gov.au or 03 9256 9143.
- Shannon Hood (available from 20/1/2020) – shannon.hood@ses.vic.gov.au or 03 9256 9061.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to all staff, volunteers and their families.
- The EAP provides short-term and solutions-focused counselling which aims to support and empower employees and family members through a variety of best practice counselling approaches to assist in resolving personal and work-based issues.
- For information, visit the Converge International website or contact Converge International on 1300 687 327.
- VICSES Mental Health and Wellbeing Team – health&safety@ses.vic.gov.au or 03 9256 9064.
- Your GP is also a good place to start if you need support. Consider discussing how you are feeling with your GP as they can provide treatment or refer you to other services that can support your wellbeing.
- Additional no-cost services, available 24/7:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au.
- Beyondblue on 1300 224 636 or beyondblue.org.au.
- MensLine on 1300 78 99 78 or mensline.org.au.
