If you would like a member of our intake team to contact you, please leave your details below (and select option 2 from the drop down) or contact the team during office hours.
To sign up for Responder Assist updates or to find out when your emergency agency might be eligible to use the clinical services, please sign up to our mailing list here.
Sign up below to keep up to date with our latest news, events and research findings
No. A WorkCover claim is encouraged to ensure that gap-free treatment is funded throughout your treatment under Responder Assist. However, this is not the only way to fund your care. Medicare referrals with a current and valid Mental Health Care Plan from your GP can also be used to help co-fund your treatment. However, it should be noted that there is a limit to the rebated sessions (10 per calendar year) and that there is a gap per session charged which will be charged to you by your treating clinician. Finally, you can also elect to pay for the full cost of your treatment as an out-of-pocket expense.
Yes. If you or your treating clinician think that seeing a psychiatrist would be of service, the intake team can help you to arrange a referral.
The Responder Assist team aim to allocate you for treatment as soon as possible. In periods of high demand for the service, there may be a short delay to the start of your treatment. The intake clinician will be able to advise you as to whether there is a wait time at the time of your initial assessment. If there is a wait, you will be placed on a waitlist until a suitable specialist clinician becomes available.
Yes. Your intake call is completely confidential and will not be reported to your emergency services employer, EAP, or other associated party. However, please note that there are duty of care and legislative requirements for the intake team to liaise with your GP, other treaters, or mental health crisis services if they assess that you need immediate support.
The main difference between the two is that a psychiatrist has trained as a medical doctor and can prescribe medication. A psychologist is not a medical doctor and can’t prescribe medication.
Current, working and retired emergency workers (including volunteers), who are based in Victoria. We are currently operating in a trial capacity, and services are open to emergency workers from both Victoria Police and SES Victoria. In time, clinical services will also expand to include emergency services workers from other eligible emergency services agencies.
To find out when your emergency services organization becomes eligible, sign up for updates here.
Yes. In order to ensure the highest clinical standards we ask all members to complete regular questionnaires. The responses on the questionnaires will be seen by your treating clinician to optimise your treatment and will also be de-identified and collated in order to evaluate our service. By agreeing to have anonymised data collected as part of your engagement with Responder Assist you will be making an invaluable contribution to emergency worker mental health and helping us to deliver best-practice, evidence-based care to the emergency worker community.
Responder Assist is funded by the Victorian Government to aid emergency services workers in improving their mental health and recovering from trauma. Responder Assist runs a clinical intake and advice service that is open to all Victorian emergency services workers, including those that have retired from service. We also offer training in the latest evidence-based treatments and provide expert advice to mental health practitioners who work with emergency services personnel.
Find out moreResponder Assist is a government funded service that aims to improve the lives of emergency services workers through tailored mental health supports.
Confidential 24/7
counselling and referrals