Navy Wellbeing - Family and Member Support
Alcohol and Other Drugs
ADF Health Portal
Defence Health website containing information about alcohol and other drugs.
ADF Alcohol Management Strategy
Sets out a framework for improving alcohol management and reducing the negative impact of alcohol on the health, safety, capability and reputation of the ADF.
Communities
Champions of Change
A globally recognised, innovative strategy for achieving gender equality, advancing more and diverse women in leadership, and building respectful and inclusive workplaces.
Embrace Multicultural Mental Health
Provides a national platform for Australian mental health services and multicultural communities to access resources, services and information in a culturally accessible format.
Gotcha4Life
Funds sustainable educational workshops, training programmes and products building mental fitness in communities across Australia, to enable strong, open and binding relationships.
Multicultural Health Communication Service
Aims to strengthen the capacity of health services and programs to effectively and appropriately communicate with people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and coordinate the provision of multilingual health information.
National Disability Services
For non-government disability service organisations, representing over 1100 non-government service providers. Collectively, NDS members operate several thousand services for Australians with all types of disability.
People with Disability Australia (PWDA)
National disability rights, advocacy and representative organisation that is comprised, led and governed by people with disability.
Wellways
Mental health and disability support organisation with services in Qld, NSW, ACT, Vic and Tas. Services span mental health, disability and community care.
Workplace Gender Equality Agency
Aims to achieve broadly equal opportunities and outcomes for women and men; not necessarily outcomes that are exactly the same for all.
Employment
APS Career Pathways and Job Opportunities
Defence APS employees are employed in an array of critical positions, Australia-wide, enabling Navy, Army and Air Force to do their job. Defence employs public servants across Australia and around the world.
Defence Work Experience Program
National program designed to demonstrate the wide variety of interesting Defence careers available; ease transition of students into the workplace; and contribute to the development of the skills of young Australians.
MBS Build on You
Designed for Defence personnel to build on the 8 Future Focused Capabilities and to develop professional skills. Includes critical thinking, human skills, STEM, digital, data and cyber literacy, and more.
PACMAN
The ADF pay and conditions manual.
Partner Employment Assistance Program (PEAP)
Provides funding to assist eligible ADF partners with employment when relocating, or if their ADF member is medically transitioning: professional employment services, re-registration costs, virtual Job-Search Preparation workshops and Job Connections.
Prince’s Trust Australia - Enterprise for Veterans
Inspiring veterans and their families with the confidence, skills and networks they need to safely explore self-employment and engage successfully in the rapidly changing world of work.
RSL Employment Program
Powered by RSL Qld, this is a nationally available, free program that helps veterans and their families find civilian employment.
Services Australia
Australian Government website with information and resources relating to Government payments and services.
Support Programs offered by States and Territories
Australian Government
Prime Minister's Veterans' Employment Program
ACT Government
Veterans ACT
Employee Assistance Program
Veterans’ Entry Program (Undergraduate Courses)
NSW Government
Veteran's Employment Program
Vic Government
Job Opportunities for veterans in the Victorian public sector
SA Government
Ex-Service Organisation
WA Government
Public Sector Commission
Qld Government
Veteran's Employment Pathway
NT Government
RSL Employment Program in NT
Family Services and Support
1800Respect
National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. Provides support for people experiencing, or at the risk of experiencing, violence and abuse, their friends and family, and professionals.
ADF Family Health Program
For ADF members and their families who might experience difficulties in accessing affordable healthcare upon relocation. Links to GP and medical specialists, and allied health services with a funds allocation per dependant.
Australian Human Rights Commission
An independent statutory organisation, established by an act of Federal Parliament. Protecting and promoting human rights in Australia and internationally.
Australian White Ensign Requests (AWE)
Obtain a loan of an AWE to use as a pall on their coffins or at a Memorial Service.
Bereavement Pins
Obtain a Bereavement pin for the immediate family of in deceased RAN and RAN veterans.
Carer Gateway
Provides practical information and advice. Helps carers to get the services and support they need; provides free phone counselling services; provides free coaching to help those in carer roles; and connects carers with other carers through a community forum. An Australian Government initiative.
Defence Families Australia (DFA)
Official ADF Families advisory body to the Minister for Defence Personnel and Chief of the Defence Force. DFA sits outside of Defence systems, allowing DFA independence and impartiality to act in the best interests of ADF families.
Defence Housing Australia
Provides housing and related services for Defence members and their families.
Defence Member and Family Helpline (DMFH)
DMFH provides a 24 hour support, information and referrals for welfare-related matters for families of Defence personnel who are away from their home location.
Defence Member and Family Support (formerly DCO)
Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) offers a broad range of programs and services to help Defence families make the most of the challenges and opportunities provided by the military way of life.
Department of Families, Fairness & Housing (DFFH) Vic
DFFH works to create equal opportunities for all Victorians to live a safe, respected and valued life. Areas of focus are: child protection, housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, multicultural affairs, LGBTIQ+ equality, veterans, women and youth.
Domestic Violence Crisis Service
Specialists in domestic and family violence support. Seeks to reduce violence and abuse in relationships, offering crisis and long-term support services to help break the domestic and family violence cycle. Support for people both during and after crisis situations.
Early Childhood Defence Programs
Creates, pilots and evaluates free open access research-based resources and supports for young children, parents, family support workers, social workers, educators, Defence School Mentors and Regional Education Liaison Officers.
Eulogy Requests
Obtain a statement of service for eulogy purposes the applicant.
Family Relationships Online
Provides families with access to information, resources and advice about family relationship issues, ranging from building better relationships to dispute resolution.
InTouch
Family violence service that works with women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, their families and their communities in Victoria, case management to women, training, conduct research, and run community-based projects.
Keeping Watch
The Navy’s welfare fund that provides assistance to serving members of the Royal Australian Navy and their families who are in financial need.
Legacy
Provides services to Australian families suffering after the injury or death of a spouse or parent, during or after their defence force service.
Open Arms - Veterans and Family Counselling/ Defence Family Helpline
Provides counselling and support programs to ADF personnel and their families, and operates a free-call all-hours crisis telephone service as well as providing face-to-face support. Open Arms is not part of Defence.
Parenting Strategies
From researchers at Monash University and the University of Melbourne, this website aims to help parents manage challenging issues they may face with their children, including alcohol and drug misuse, depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.
Positive Partnerships
Delivers high quality professional learning and resources through workshops, webinars and online modules for parents, carers and school staff, strengthening capacity to support and advocate for young people on the autism spectrum.
Raising Children
Provides free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help your family grow and thrive together. Has articles, videos and interactive resources to help you to look after yourself and your family.
Relationships Australia
Leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities, to support all people in Australia to achieve positive and respectful relationships.
Service & Personnel Records
Service records are raised and maintained to assist in the effective management and administration of members both during and after their service.
Services and support - Fighting Fit
A huge range of ADF health services and support for members, families, reservists, veterans and ex-serving members.
The Top Ender Magazine
A not-for-profit bi-monthly publication run by Defence families for the ADF community in the NT. The aim is to inform, entertain and support the local Defence community.
Tresillian
Australia’s largest early parenting service, offering professional advice, education and guidance to families with a baby, toddler or preschooler.
Helplines and Counselling Services
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples Helpline 1300 287 432
All-hours Support Line (ASL): 1800 628 036 or +61 2 9425 3878 (international)
This is a confidential telephone service for Defence members and their families that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is designed as a triage line, which simply means that it is there to help you access ADF or civilian mental health services more easily. Services include psychology, medical, social work, and chaplain services. The ASL has the capacity to respond to crisis situations where required.
Beyond Blue - Stress & Anxiety Coaching 1300 907 814
Defence Employee Assistance Program
A free, confidential and professional counselling service to help people resolve problems that may impact their life. EAP services are provided by Converge International.
Disability & Carers Helpline 1300 243 543
Eldercare Helpline 1300 035 337
Employee Assistance Program - Converge International 1300 687 327
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
LGBTQI+ Helpline 1300 542 874
Open Arms - Veterans and Family Counselling/ Defence Family Helpline
Counselling and support programs for ADF personnel and their families. Provides a free-call all-hours crisis telephone service as well as face-to-face support. Open Arms is not part of Defence.
REDSIX
Mobile app with the primary purpose of lowering the growing suicide rate amongst returned servicemen and women. A virtual community, accessible no matter where you are located, using GPS technology.
Safe Zone Support - Open Arms 1800 142 072
Anonymous counselling line. Specialised counsellors with an understanding of the military culture who can offer care without knowing who you are. Hosted by Open Arms, but is a separate service.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 469
Support After Suicide
Provides a range of services and programs to support people bereaved by suicide. Based in Richmond, Melbourne but provides services in a range of locations across Melbourne and Geelong. Some services are also provided online.
Indigenous
Djirra
A place where culture is shared and celebrated, and where practical support is available to all Aboriginal women and particularly to Aboriginal people who are currently experiencing family violence or have in the past.
Indigenous.gov.au
Aims to connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with Australian Government policies and programs and raise awareness about the initiatives that affect them most. This site shares news, events and stories from individuals, communities and organisations.
Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN)
Australia’s only Indigenous consumer targeted organisation that provides both financial counselling and consumer advocacy assistance to regional and remote communities across Queensland.
Wellmob
Brings together online resources made by and for our mob. Here you will find websites, apps, podcasts, videos, social media, and online counselling all with a focus on social and emotional wellbeing.
Legal
Consumer Law Centre
Provides free legal advice and representation in the areas of consumer credit (mortgages, credit cards and personal loans, debt recovery, banking, bankruptcy, insurance, simple contracts, and general fair trading and consumer protection.
Defence Counsel Services
Defence Legal
Links to Defence Legal Services, Military Justice System, and Audit and Fraud Control division.
LGBTQI+
ACON Health Limited
Provides LGBTQ community health, inclusion and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders. Also provides information, support, training and counselling services.
Another Closet
For LGBTIQ people in relationships who are or may be experiencing domestic and family violence. It contains information on what domestic and family violence is, what to do if you are experiencing abuse, suggestions on making a safety plan and support services.
Intersex Peer Support Australia
Provides peer support between people with any intersex variation throughout Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand.
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia
Supporting healthy lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans/transgender, intersex, queer and other sexuality, gender, and bodily diverse people and communities throughout Australia and the world, free from stigma and discrimination.
Living Proud - WA
Provides essential services for the Western Australian LGBTI communities, peer counselling phone line, health and wellbeing initiatives and community capacity building.
PFLAG
Non-profit voluntary organisation whose members have a common goal of keeping families together. PFLAG is here to give help, support and information to families, friends of all gay people.
Qlife
Australia-wide anonymous LGBTI peer support/referral for people wanting to talk about issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Services are free and include telephone and webchat.
The Pinnacle Foundation
Provides educational scholarships, mentoring and opportunities for young LGBTIQ+ Australians to realise their full potential and overcome challenges arising from their identity.
Men’s Support
EveryMan
Support for men who are at risk of homelessness, living with mental health issues or disabilities, perpetrators or survivors of violence, ex-prisoners, socially isolated, or having relationship or parenting difficulties.
Foundation 49
Not-for-profit Men’s Health Promotion initiative of the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. Promotes good health and wellbeing in all men through the decades of life.
MensLine Australia
Telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime.
Men’s Shed
Provides assistance for some of the problems that men may find difficult to deal with on their own, including relationship breakdown; retrenchment or early retirement from a job; loss of children following divorce; and physical or mental illness.
Veteran Support
4 Aussie Heroes Foundation Ltd
'Camp Courage’ is planned to open in SE Queensland late 2021, providing a 12-day live-in rehabilitation program in a rural environment. The aim is a dramatically enhanced quality of life for military and first responder personnel, past and present, with PTSD and related mental health issues resulting from their time in service to the nation and their communities.
Andrew Russell Veteran Living (ARVL) (SA)
Emergency accommodation and affordable housing properties for veterans and their dependents. Located in Sturt, Angle Park, Campbelltown and Wallaroo.
Anzac House Veteran Central (WA)
Specialised one-stop facility that puts Defence veterans and their families first. Medical, mental health and dental practitioners, counselling, advocacy services, welfare assistance, aged-care support, wellbeing programs, transitionary assistance, employment support, conferencing facilities, and places to chill out and socialise, plus hireable function spaces for special events.
Australian Veteran Health Services (AVHS)
Medical practice run by veterans for veterans. Their doctors can assist you with DVA claims, Permanent Impairment Assessments, ADF Transition Medicals, CASA and FAA Pilot Medicals.
Defence Reserves Association
A tri-service organisation supporting the Australian Defence Force (ADF), promoting the interests, and safeguarding the concerns of the Defence Reserve component of the ADF.
Defence Shed (Port Adelaide, SA)
Provides support through community-based projects and activities to support the mental health and wellbeing of ADF members, ADF veterans, emergency services personnel and their families by minimising social isolation, encouraging social engagement and promoting a purposeful life.
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)
Provides support to current and former serving members and their families and carers through a range of services and payments (including ongoing or one off payments). These services are designed to assist you to manage your health and lifestyle and support those you care for.
Engage - Supporting those who serve
Engage is an online portal that current, transitioning, and former ADF members; their families, and/or those involved in their support can use to locate support services.
Find Help - RSLQld
Offers a range of services to help veterans and their partners with emotional and physical wellness programs, employment and education, DVA claims and other programs and people to help with achieving life goals.
Group Programs - Open Arms
A range of group programs to assist the serving and ex-serving community, as well as their families, to live their best life. Includes group treatment programs, online groups, relationship retreats and suicide intervention education workshops.
Homes for Heroes - Wesley Mission (NSW)
Partnership between Wesley Mission and RSL LifeCare, a housing-first program which can help people find a safe place to stay, access the support and services they need to achieve their goals, and eventually re-join their chosen community.
Hounds 4 Healing (Townsville, Qld)
With the support of a highly qualified trainer, dogs under the Hounds 4 Healing banner receive relevant training and guidance with the goal of obtaining Public Access Test (PAT) certification to provide assistance to their owners.
Mates4Mates
Helps veterans and their families to find a way forward from service-related injuries.
Operation K9 (Adelaide, SA)
Program offering assistance dogs to ADF Veterans who have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The assistance dogs are fully trained through a comprehensive training course. Initial equipment is provided by OPK9 and provides aftercare for the dog’s working life.
Overwatch Australia
A not for profit organisation tasked with reaching out and assisting former Australian Defence Force (ADF) members. A peer to peer, boots on the ground, first response organisation formed to assist former ADF members who are at risk or in crisis. Acts as a bridge to other Ex Services Organisations (ESOs) better equipped to help with the needs of these personnel.
Returned and Services League (RSL) Australia
Advocates for the best possible conditions for our serving men and women and for those who have served the nation.
RSL LifeCare Veteran Services
Aimed at improving the wellbeing of veterans and their families, and supports veterans from the time they transition out of service right throughout their lives. Head Office 1300 232 564.
Soldier On
Works to strengthen resilience and develop connections with family members, mates and the local community through health and wellbeing services, employment opportunities, education programs, and participation in community, social and sporting activities.
Standby (Hobart, Tas)
Australia’s leading suicide postvention program dedicated to assisting people and communities bereaved or impacted by suicide. Accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing free face-to-face and/or telephone support at a time and place best for each individual. Support for individuals, families, friends, witnesses, first responders and service providers.
The Oasis (Townsville, Qld)
The Oasis' Wellbeing Program provides support before, during and after the transition process. The Employment Coordination Team supports the Wellbeing Program to find meaningful work for veterans and partners. A place to meet and connect with other veterans and families and friends, and find local services to support integration into the community.
Thirrili (Darwin, NT)
Provides crucial supports to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples suffering grief, loss and trauma due to the loss of a loved one through suicide and other critical incidents.
Timor Awakening (Qld)
An immersive, evidence-based, peer-to-peer wellbeing program for veterans and families, comprising holistic health education, group therapy, mentoring, physical activity, commemoration and community development. Aim is to reduce the instance of veteran suicide, domestic violence and detrimental effects of service life on veteran families.
Toll Removals: 1800 819 167 (freecall)
Toll Transitions offers a range of services to help you to move to your new posting or to relocate should you have a Change in Personal Circumstances.
Vasey RSL Care (Vic)
For veterans or their wives, widows or widowers. Affordable accommodation with rent that are substantially lower than comparable private rentals. Priority is given to those in greatest need. Seven locations around Melbourne.
Veteran Benefits Australia
Aims to provide connection and awareness for veterans to create a closer and well-informed Australian veteran community. Services include exercise programs, nutrition plans, mental health programs, home cleaning services, physiotherapy, medication management and dental services.
Veteran Support Centre Belconnen, ACT
Assists serving and former Defence Force members and their families, and police and emergency services to all conflicts, with DVA claims and welfare.
Veterans Support Centre - RSLACT
Trained advocates who are former servicemen and women using their extensive experience to help with DVA Claims. Advocacy services are provided for all members of the veteran community, including serving members.
Voice of a Veteran podcast
This podcast provides a platform to discuss those conversations many have been hiding from. Real and unscripted stories.
Wounded Heroes Australia
Provides support to ease financial, emotional and personal hardships of contemporary military life.
Zac’s Place (Qld)
Short to medium term emergency accommodation for veterans and their families. The seven-person house is located in Kirwan, Townsville.
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The material in this site is provided for general information only, and on the understanding that the Royal Australian Navy is not providing professional advice on a particular matter.
The material may include the views or recommendations of third parties, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Royal Australian Navy or indicate a commitment to a particular course of action.
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