Bushfire Counselling
Sessions are still available. Victorian people directly-affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires can still access free-of-charge psychological counselling support. The Bushfire Psychological Counselling Voucher Program provides six counselling sessions to each person who has been directly affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires, including dependant children over five years of age.
The program will run until 10 August 2011. Vouchers can be used anytime during this period and people will not have to contribute any co-payment to the counsellor.
For information, speak to your case manager, visit a Community Service Hub, or phone 1800 180 213 or visit the Bushfire Appeal website.
Youth Rebuild
Kildonan's new intiative for young people affected by bushfires.
Kildonan has been working with young people affected by bushfires since Black Saturday. Part of our work includes a new program called Youth Rebuild, a program providing outreach support to young people and their families.
Youth Rebuild supports young people and their families to understand their trauma responses, and provides and opportunity for them to express their experiences of the bushfire and explore possible strategies for managing their response. Youth Rebuild counsellors will also provide supporting referrals for young people to specialised services as necessary. Youth Rebuild is for young people aged between 12 and 18 years who have been directly affected by the bushfires, and their families, and is a voluntary program.
Youth Rebuild can help young people by providing opportunities to talk about their experiences, explore positive coping strategies and help young people to communicate with their parents and families about the tragedy.
Youth Rebuild has been funded by the Uniting Church SHARE Appeal, and the Department Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), and will provide a range of community capacity building activities over the coming months.
For more information Youth Rebuild and to access the program, contact Clare Wynne, Program Manager Youth Services at Kildonan UnitingCare on 8401 0100.
Support your child’s recovery
Parenting children and teenagers Affected by Bushfires. Register today! This is a practical parenting program to help you:
- Manage stress and anxiety in your family
- Gain new skills and confidence
- Support your family’s recovery
The program is running throughout 2010 in Terms two, three and four in bushfire affected areas and other areas across Victoria. The program is free of charge, childcare will be available and refreshments will be provided.
Registrations for terms two, three and four are now open.
For more information or to book phone 1800 780 720 or visit Parenting after the bushfires website.
Counselling supports for people affected by the bushfires
Counselling can be helpful for people emotionally affected by the bushfires. Sometimes dstressing reactions and feelings only occur sometime after the event. Your GP or bushfire case manager can assist you to find the best local services to assist you as your needs change. Services are sometimes structured in different ways across the state and may have different names.
Lifeline - Lifeline provides 24-hour telephone support and counselling. Phone 13 11 14
Mensline - Mensline provides 24-hour telephone counselling, information and referral services for men with family and relationship concerns. Phone 1300 789 978
Parentline - Parentline provides a statewide telephone counselling service to parents and carers of children aged from birth to 18. Available weekdays 8am-midnight and weekends 10am-10pm. Phone 13 22 89
Kids Helpline - Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free, confidential and anonymous, 24-hour telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between five and 25. Phone 1800 551 800
DirectLine - DirectLine provides 24-hour, seven-day drug and alcohol. Counselling, information and referral. DirectLine is free,anonymous and confidential. Phone 1800 888 236
Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement - The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement provides telephone information and referral options as well as grief counselling services for people who have been bereaved. Phone 1300 664 786.
Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) Bushfire Service - Using ATAPS, general practitioners can arrange access to psychological services for their patients who have been emotionally affected by the Bushfires. ATAPS counsellors are organised in different ways in different parts of Victoria. Your GP or Victorian Bushfire Case Manager can refer you to an ATAPS counsellor. There is no fee for bushfire-affected people receiving ATAPS psychological services.
Nillumbik Community Health Service – Nillumbik Community Health Service provides counselling services to assist with many issues including family and relationships, coping with chronic illness, depression, anxiety and related conditions. Services can be provided for individuals and groups, to adults, adolescents, children and families. Services are provided in Eltham and Hurstbridge. Phone 9430 9100
Bushfire Psychological Counselling Voucher Program - The Bushfire Psychological Counselling Voucher Program provides vouchers for six counselling sessions to individuals directly affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires. No co-payment or professional referral is required to use the program. Individual, couple and family counselling is available through this program People eligible for the program includes:
- People who have received grants paid by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund
- People receiving or who have received Victorian Bushfire Case Management
- Dependant children (over five years of age) of eligible people above
- Other people who have been directly affected by the Victorian bushfires, for example, family and close friends of people affected by the bushfires and those people who have lost their livelihood directly through the effects of the bushfires.
The six vouchers can be used to see eligible counsellors anytime before Friday 10 August 2011. Information on eligible counsellors is available online. Application forms can be downloaded from the Bushfire Appeal website. Phone 1800 180 213
When engaging with a counsellor it may be useful to enquire about what happens if after 6 sessions you require further support and treatment. Some good questions to ask the counsellor are;
- If, after I have completed my six sessions, I require further sessions are you able to provide
- Is there any cost associated with these additional services?
- Do I have to get a referral from a GP to be able to receive additional sessions with you?
- Are you contracted with a Division of General Practice to provide free services through the ATAPS program?
Young Adult Assertive Outreach Work Program
The Young Adult Assertive Outreach Work Program supports survivors affected by the Victorian Bushfires who are connected to the Shire of Nillumbik. The program offers support to young adults from 16-26 years, providing:
- Assertive Outreach Support
- Individual Case Management
- Youth Support
- Advocacy
- Linkages to appropriate support services
For more information phone Stephen Macpherson on 0427 198 687.
