An EAP program (Employee Assistance Program)  is a confidential counselling service for employees to help maintain or improve their well-being (mental, emotional and physical).

In short, an EAP  for employees is a proven way of improving workplace productivity and reducing employee attrition.

Businesses and companies that have EAP programs in place understand the importance of addressing an employee’s mental and emotional well-being to ensure a productive and engaged workplace.

We created this guide to help employees and employers understand the critical role an employee’s thoughts, feelings, environment and behaviour play in optimising performance in the workplace.

Likewise, we discuss how EAP programs help improve employees’ lives outside the workplace.

In this guide, we’ll be covering:

• What is an EAP program?
• How did EAP programs begin?
• The benefits of an EAP and why they’re essential.
• How an EAP works for an employee.
• How an EAP works for an employer.
• How businesses and companies can set up an EAP.
• The best EAP apps.
• Top tips for creating wellness (mental, emotional and physical.)
• EAP providers in Australia (listed by State.)

For more on EAP programs in Australia, talk to our team here at MindFit at Work.

Let’s get started…

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a comprehensive program. Not only does it identify a wide range of issues that affect the work employees performance, but it also looks at his/her physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

The EAP is managed by qualified counsellors who are experts in Behavioural Science and Psychology.

EAP counsellors have the knowledge and experience in developing strategies that help employees overcome behaviours and thought patterns hindering performance at work and affecting their personal lives.

EAP services are carried out via face-to-face or online sessions where counsellors meet with the employees to discuss the challenges and problems they’re dealing with.

The origins of EAPs can be traced back to the 1930s where occupational alcoholism became a serious problem in the workplace.

More employees were drinking on the job and employers noticed how this type of behaviour negatively affected productivity and performance.

Companies began implementing programs that addressed the problem of occupational alcoholism. Specifically, counseling employees who exhibited the condition of alcoholism and its symptoms.

In time, the program yielded positive results for both the employee and the employer.

Employees who were successfully rehabilitated encouraged other employees to take part in the program. Meanwhile, employers saw a marked improvement in the employees’ level of productivity.

The success of the employee counselling services motivated companies to invest in the development of programs that could resolve other problems in the workplace.

These programs were holistic in that they sought to cover the 3 key areas – physical, mental, and emotional.

The programs that addressed these 3 areas became the foundation for today’s EAP services.

An EAP program considers both the external and internal factors that may contribute to the decline of employee performance.

Examples of external factors include the following:

• Workplace environment
• Workload
• Deadlines
• Co-workers
• The threat of job loss/security
• The lack of preparedness/training or skills for the job
• Diet and nutrition
• Lack of physical exercise or movement (sedentary occupation)
• Different types of stresses – family, health, relationship, and financial

Internal factors include:

• Core values
• Personality type
• Existing beliefs
• Childhood experiences
• Traumatic experiences
• Confidence and self-esteem
• Ability to manage thoughts and emotions
• Pre-existing psychological conditions – eg: Depression or Bipolar Disorder

By identifying and successfully resolving the external and internal factors, EAP support programs could help the business improve productivity, lower costs, and reduce the rates of absenteeism and presenteeism.

The benefits of an Employee Assistance Program extends to both the employee and the employer.

For Employees:

• Confidential help from qualified professionals such as experienced psychologists and behavioural experts.
• The convenience of having sessions conducted offsite or online.
• The availability of a 24/7 hotline for round-the-clock counseling services.
• Improved work focus and performance.
• Maintain good, professional, and productive relationships with co-workers.
• Motivate employees to perform better at work.
• Discuss financial challenges and potentially connect employees with qualified financial experts for specific support
• Discuss physical health issues and potentially refer employees to medical experts who can help to discuss or diagnose physical health problems.
• Counselling for family-related issues, from relationship management to children and household management.

For Employers:

• Increase the productivity of employees.
• Increase employee engagement.
• Having an Employment Assistance Program developed by experts reduces the burden and stress on the business owner in managing their employees
• A decrease in the incidence of presenteeism and absenteeism.
• Reduce the cost of employees’ health insurance plan.
• Decrease workplace negativity.
• Reduce the attrition rate by improving employee satisfaction.
• Reduce employees’ compensation claims.
• Improve employer/employees relationship.
• Reduce the possibility of labour disputes arising.
• Address security and safety issues in the workplace.
• Greater potential for attracting top talent.
• Improve the business brand; enhance the company’s reputation in the industry. (Good for Employer/Company Review sites such as GlassDoor.com.au)

Employees will inevitably experience problems that will distract them from their duties and responsibilities that can hinder their performance in the workplace.

An employee may try to simply ignore these distractions and proceed as business as usual but this course of action may not be effective or sustainable in the long run.

EAP services for employees cover a range of issues, which we’ve elaborated on here:

Health And Safety
• Stress – An employee could be dealing with work-related stress including meeting deadlines or outside financial commitments.
• Depression – The key to addressing depression is to identify its root cause and that’s something an Employee Assistance Program counselor can assist with.
• Anxiety – The pressures of maintaining the quality of work, charting a career path, and attaining financial stability for the family are common causes of anxiety.
• Substance abuse – An employee may resort to abusing substances such as alcohol and illegal drugs to cope with his/her personal problems and prolonged dependency may eventually affect workplace relationships and job performance. An EAP drug program can assist employees in making better lifestyle choices.
• Concern about another person’s substance abuse – One of the key employee support services provided by an EAP is that it assures an employee they have trusted people to relay their concerns about another person’s substance abuse behaviour.
• Gambling or other addictions – counselling for addictive behaviours can be critical for breaking habits and forming new, healthier habits.
• Domestic abuse – Cases of domestic abuse may negatively impact the employee’s perception of authority as well as physically incapacitate the person’s ability to perform optimally at work.
• Grief and loss – Dealing with grief such as the loss of a loved one has serious long-term repercussions especially if the employee feels there’s no purpose or motivation to work at his/her best.
• Crisis and trauma – An employee who experiences lingering effects from crisis and trauma such as losing a home due or the death of a loved one from an accident might perform erratically or inconsistently at work that an EAP specialist may guide him/her to focus on the thing he/she can control.

Financial And Legal
• Budgeting – The employee may feel unmotivated to perform at his/her best because he/she feels that his/her salary is not enough to cover the monthly budget.
• Financial worries – Employees could have different financial worries from paying for their children’s education to saving enough money for a retirement nest egg.
• Reducing debt – Mounting debt problems could make the employee feel that he/she needs a higher paying job or a second job to pay creditors.
• Legal matters – Dealing with legal matters such as divorce, child custody, unpaid credit card bills, and mortgage default could result in increased absenteeism and presenteeism.

Work Issues
• Work-related problems – Incidents of discrimination, sexual harassment, and lack of health and safety protocols could make the workplace environment contentious and unsuitable for productive behaviour.
• Job stress – Tight deadlines, frequent overtime work, and consistently managing heavy workloads contribute to job stress that may eventually lead to the employee losing the motivation to perform at their best.
• Conflict at work – Bullying, favouritism, office politics, disagreements with supervisors, differences in leadership styles and work ethics, prejudices due to race, religious beliefs, and gender, are workplace conflicts that severely impact productivity and the organisational culture.
• Job burnout – An employee who feels he/she is being worked to the ground by a company that does not have career pathing/succession programs in place may perceive there’s no future and lead to burnout.
• Workplace change – Workplace changes in personnel, management, guidelines, employee policies, the current scope of duties and responsibilities may lead to some employees not having the ability or willingness to adapt to the new set up and respond through organised resistance.

Relationships And Family
• Adoption issues – Employees who are looking to adopt children to start a family will be under tremendous stress and face intermittent bouts of anxiety on a daily basis until the decision on the adoption application is rendered.
• Relationship issues – Failed relationships, or even just isolated incidents can make a person spiral into depression that can affect his/her focus and performance at work.
• Separation and divorce – Separation and divorce are often very traumatic experiences due to their circumstances, the involvement of children, and the ownership of conjugal assets.
• Child care and parenting issues – Employees could be dealing with various issues with their children including those with behavioural problems, medical/health concerns, or not having anyone to attend to them while they’re at work.
• Elder care/caregiving issues – An employee may need help from qualified experts in coping with the difficulties and life-changing aspects of taking care of ageing parents.
• Education issues – The inability to cover the cost of education, having children who are struggling in school or dealing with learning disabilities may result in the employee missing days at work or getting distracted from performing his/her duties and responsibilities properly.

An EAP is available to employees free of charge and is voluntary.

Immediate family members of the employee are also entitled to use EAP counseling services.

It’s standard EAP policy that all information shared by the employee is held in strict confidence. This way, the employee can be comfortable about sharing information and personal experiences with the EAP service providers.

Here is an outline of engaging with an EAP counsellor:

Just like starting a weight loss program, before you begin an EAP Program, the provider and/or counsellor will need to ask questions to find out a bit about you in order to help you most effectively.

From there, an EAP specialist will determine the best way forward to support the employee in the short, medium and long term.

The scope of an EAP program has expanded over the last 30 years to address newly identified factors that are affecting the performance of the ever-changing workforce.

Employee Assistance Program providers work with employers to come up with models that have been customised and standardised to resolve the issues prevalent in their respective workplaces.

The purpose of employee assistance programs is to help employers maintain a happy, healthy, and welcoming workplace that is conducive to productive behaviour and long-term sustainable performance.

Obligations For Employers:

The Australian government passed legislation that requires employers to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of their employees.

Likewise, employers have a duty to introduce programs that effectively address issues that pose as threats to an employee’s physical, mental, and emotional health and overall well-being.

Employee Assistance Program providers work to guide employers so that the company can comply with the obligations outlined in the Work Health & Safety Act 2011 which are as follows:

• Protect employees from factors that could affect their physical, mental, and emotional health, safety and welfare by reducing the levels of risk in the workplace.
• Provide employees with proper representation and introduce programs that offer consultation, encourage cooperation, and resolve conflicts in the workplace.
• Assume a more proactive role in promoting workplace health and safety in order to achieve and maintain a more productive work environment.
• Give employees access to programs and tools that inform, advise, educate, and train them about the importance of maintaining workplace health and safety.
• Maintain a framework that’s dynamic, flexible, and adaptable and can be upgraded and improved upon to accommodate changes in workplace behaviour.

Given that EAP programs have grown in demand and expanded in scope over the last few decades, it’s important that guidelines for standardisation and quality assurance measures are in place to ensure their consistency and effectiveness.

The EAPAA or Employee Assistance Professional Association of Australasia is the regulatory or peak body organisation for EAPs in Australasia.

The purpose of the EAPAA is to ensure that the development and implementation of EAP programs throughout Australasia are held at the highest professional and ethical standards.

The duties and responsibilities of the EAPAA are as follows:

• To provide EAPs the necessary guidance to ensure quality control in their programs for employers in Australasia.
• To establish the definitions of professional and ethical standards for the creation of EAP programs.
• To assist and guide organisations with the development of EAP programs and operations.
• To actively promote the importance of having EAPs in place for employers throughout Australasia.
• To support and improve the EAP profession through continuous research and development activities and the availability of training programs.
• To introduce, support, and maintain a networking forum for EAPs in Australasia.

The EAPAA requires an EAP provider to have the programs designed, developed, and managed by licensed psychologists, registered social workers, and qualified professional workers.

In addition to the respective code of ethics that binds each qualified professional, providers manage the EAP must adhere to the EAPAA’s code of ethics.

Training:

EAP training is provided to businesses and companies wishing to learn about how EAP programs work, the benefits for employees as well as the organisation.

The EAP provider could schedule onsite/offsite seminars and workshops that cover topics such as:

• Stress Management
• How to Quit Smoking and Other Unhealthy Habits
• How to Maintain a Healthy Weight
• Dealing with Loss/Failure
• Coping with Depression
• Overcoming Failed Relationships
• Marital Problems/Challenges
• Career Planning
• Effective Financial Management/Planning
• Dealing with Workplace Bullying
• How to Resolve Workplace Conflicts

To make the training sessions more effective, the EAP provider could invite key resource people, licensed professionals, and reputable experts on these topics to talk during the seminars.

You can choose to work with an EAP provider who either is or isn’t a member of the EAPAA:

Step 1 – Search in google to find an EAP provider.

Step 2 – Contact an EAP provider in your State.

Step 3 – Arrange a consultation or training with the provider.

Step 4 – Prepare the guidelines and policies of the program detailing the services offered, how to avail of the service, and required documents such as the confidentiality agreement.

Management/Monitoring:

An effective EAP counselling program maps out sessions that are focused on resolving the employee’s stressors or life challenges.

The objective of the sessions is to help employees recognise their strengths and find ways to maximise these assets so they can accomplish their goals for the future.

The program can be carried out using various media:

• Counselling sessions can be carried out via phone or through online audio-video platforms.
• Online training modules that teach and help employees develop important skills proven by research to be effective in managing and addressing psychological and behavioural issues that are presently hindering how they function at work and in life.
• Employees can download an app developed by the EAP provider that has features to help them manage stress, enhance focus at work, and find comfort if they are in a state of emotional distress.
• Provide employees with specially-designed “mental health and well-being kits” that include training modules and a journal to chronicle the psychological and mental challenges they face on a daily basis.

The guidelines of the counselling program are simple and easy to follow while the sessions are fun and engaging.

The EAP provider understands that employees are stressed out. Therefore, to encourage greater participation, the program is designed to be more welcoming.

To keep its counselling services top-of-mind, the EAP could recommend having monthly newsletters circulated to employees via the company intranet.

The objective is to solicit feedback from the employees so that the EAP provider can keep track and better understand the types of problems and challenges employees face on a regular basis.

The feedback mechanism will help the EAP provider in identifying common issues and problems in the workplace and give the counsellors empirical data for tweaking the current programs.

Costs:

The cost of the EAP to the employer will depend on the features of the program and the number of employees.

Generally, larger companies with a high number of employees will pay less per head compared to a small business with fewer employees.

The cost of running an EAP program may include the following charges:

• Cost per hour – Price ranges from $40 to $260 per hour.
• Fee per session – Price ranges from $165 to $310 per session.
• Annual Registration Fee – Price ranges from $330 to $4,574 per year

Not all EAP providers will charge an annual registration fee. Some will charge a combination of an annual registration fee and charge per hour or per session.

Since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated lockdowns around the world, more businesses have integrated remote employment strategies into their operations.

While the move was necessary to protect the employees and to keep the virus from spreading, many people were having difficulty adjusting to the work-from-home arrangement.

Likewise, many employees were struggling with various mental and emotional issues that involved job security, dealing with social distancing guidelines and the mandatory use of face masks, health anxieties, and bouts of depression that were triggered by the loss of freedom and normalcy.

EAP Apps became a convenient way to reach out to EAP counsellors who can help them cope with mental and emotional issues and give valuable advice on how to maintain health and wellness.

Search the App store on your mobile device to find EAP apps, read reviews and decide on an app that suits your requirements.

Wellness is the active pursuit of habits, lifestyles, and choices that contribute to achieving a state of overall health. Wellness is holistic as it covers physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being.

A person’s state of wellness is influenced by the physical, social, and cultural environment in which they live.

Although the pursuit of wellness is a matter of individual choice, achieving it is important because everything we do is affected by how we feel, think, and behave.

An employee can be physically fit but if he/she becomes emotionally distressed, he/she will not be able to mentally focus on his/her assigned tasks because he/she will be consistently distracted.

If the factors that contributed to the employee’s state of emotional distress, his/her level of physical fitness will eventually suffer.

Thus, it’s important for employees to understand the value of wellness so they can actively pursue it in their daily lives.

To achieve wellness, employees are encouraged to get involved in activities that improve their physical, mental, and emotional health.

Here are a few mental and emotional techniques and exercises that an employee can do to achieve overall wellness.

Mental and Emotional Techniques and Exercises:

• Meditation: A practice where the person learns different techniques that enable him/her to achieve a higher state of consciousness and more focused attention. An example would be for the employee to focus on an object or an activity such as breathing while shutting out everything else around him/her.
• Mindfulness: A technique used to focus the mind on the here and now. It has proven effective in overcoming mental health issues such as depression by helping the employee develop skills that allow him to be aware or conscious of the present and be more accepting and open about the situation.
• EFT: Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) including acupuncture, neuro-linguistic programming, and energy medicine are used to treat physical and psychological disorders.
• Journaling: This is a stress-management technique where the employee maintains a journal where he/she records feelings and thoughts he/she experienced with the day’s stressful events.
• Community-Based Activities: These are activities where the employee gets involved with community projects to feel a great sense of involvement, self-worth and service to other fellow humans.
• Massage: The practice whereby a trained massage therapist manipulates the body’s soft tissues to relieve pressure and allow better blood flow.
• Acupuncture: An ancient technique from China whereby needles are inserted into specific areas of the body to relieve pain, stress, and achieve overall wellness. Practitioners believe acupuncture helps balance out your life force or “chi” by opening up pathways (known as meridians) in the body.
• Acupressure: The practice whereby physical pressure is applied to acupuncture points to remove blockages in the body’s pathways or “meridians” so that the life force or “chi” can flow through obstructed.
• Time In Nature: Spending time in an area surrounded by lush greens, trees, and beautiful flora such as a park. The change in scenery – from the hustle and bustle of the city to the peacefulness and tranquility of nature – is used to help employees cope with stress.

Physical Exercise Activities:

• Cardiovascular:

Cardiovascular exercises are activities that increase heart rate and the capacity of the lungs to take in more oxygen. The benefits of cardiovascular exercise include better heart function, removal of toxins from the body, and regulated levels of blood sugar. Good examples of cardio exercises are walking 10,000 steps per day, running, cycling, Spin classes, hiking, and boxing.

• Resistance Training:

Resistance training involves exercises that require the muscles to lift varying loads or weights in order to build strength and muscle mass. Other benefits of resistance training include stronger bones, better mobility and athleticism, and loss of body fat. Good examples of resistance training are lifting weights, HIIT classes, and resistance band training.

• Flexibility:

Yoga, Pilates, and Calisthenics are excellent examples of physical activities that improve flexibility. It’s important to build flexibility because it improves the ability of the muscle to handle forces exerted upon it such as from resistance training or from sudden shifts in weight. Improved flexibility results in lower risk of injury, better movement, and more toned muscles.

• Diet/Nutrition:

Eating a healthy diet will improve the way the body performs, protect the organs, strengthen the immune system, and support proper brain function. A typical healthy diet features vegetables, fruits, fibre, lean protein, and good fats. Likewise, it limits the consumption of stimulants and alcohol and removes processed foods.

Employers in Australia will feel more comfortable working with an EAP provider that’s a member of the EAPAA because they can be assured the programs are designed and developed by certified professionals.

The EAPAA oversees the quality of the programs and ensures employers receive training, counselling, and recommendations that are based on industry best practices and the latest research.

For EAP providers NSW we’ve created the following list with a brief introduction to each business so that you can find out more about their training and services offered.

For EAP providers Sydney, here are some of the top providers that can assist you in developing an EAP for your organisation.

Company: Mind Fit at Work
About: Mind Fit at Work are expert EAP providers offering training and consulting for organisations across Sydney as well as expert counselling services for employees
City: Sydney, NSW
Expert:  Gina Carlon-Tozer
Website: https://mindfitatwork.com.au/eap-programs/
Phone: +61 1300 993 842

Company: Work Happy
About: More than 15 years of experience providing tailor-fit counselling, coaching, training, and consultancy services to employees, families, and organisations.
City: Sydney, NSW

Company: Mind and Matter Consulting
About: A national organisational psychology consulting firm that offers EAP services, individual counselling, and therapy programs to both large and small businesses.
City: North Sydney, NSW

Company: Veretis
About: Veretis’ EAP programme offers support for issues covering mental health and well-being, critical incidents plus referrals for elder care, financial management, and legal assistance.
City: Sydney, NSW

Company: Drake WorkWise
About: Drake WorkWise partners up with employers and develops the EAP according to company culture. Among the specialisations of Drake WorkWise include Psychometric Testing, Trauma Management, Coaching, Training, Meditation, and HR Services.
City: Sydney, NSW

Company: Actevate
About: Actevate’s team includes well-experienced counsellors with the technical knowledge to resolve both personal and work-related issues that are adversely affecting employee performance. Among the services included in the EAP are counselling via face-to-face or via phone, Critical Incident Response, Workplace Well-being, and Mental Health Training.
City: Sydney, NSW

Company: Psychological Health Interventions
About: Psychological Health Interventions’ EAP assistance program provides support and intervention services to employers, medical professionals, health providers, and insurers.
City: Sydney, NSW

Company: Benestar Group
About: Benestar offers their employee support programme 24/7 and 365 days a year through their highly-accessible health and well-being website and app.
City: Sydney, NSW

Company: AccessEAP
About: AccessEAP is a non-profit, Australian-owned organisation that provides employee assistance 24/7 via online platform, telephone, or onsite at locations that are convenient for clients.
City: Sydney, NSW

Company: Batchelor & Kimpton PTY
About: Batchelor & Kimpton EAP workplace solutions offer support services and active interventions for employers, insurers, medical and healthcare providers.
City: Sydney, NSW

Company: Uprise
About: An award-winning EAP with programs developed to improve employee engagement, retention, and performance by using scientifically-proven psychological techniques that are accessible via mobile app or phone coaching.
City: Kensington, NSW

Company: Hunterlink
About: Established in 2010, Hunterlink grew from a city-based counselling service to an organisation that delivers business-specific and customised EAP programmes to various companies across Australia including remote locations.
City: Newcastle West, NSW

Company: D’Accord NSW
About: D’Accord provides companies with diverse EAP programme features that include employee and management counselling, critical incident debriefing, workplace interventions, mediation, training, and executive staff support.
City: Edgecliff, NSW

Company: CareInsight PTY
About: CareInsight is an employee assistance provider with special focus on issues involving family, marriage, and personal problems.
City: Colo Vale, NSW

For EAP providers Victoria, here’s a list of EAP companies you can contact to ask for assistance in having a programme built into your organisation.

For EAP providers Melbourne, you can be assured of expert advice and consultation when you work with the companies listed below.

Company: Mind Fit at Work
About: Mind Fit at Work is an expert EAP provider in Melbourne offering workplace training, coaching and facilitation services.
City: Melbourne, Victoria
Expert: Gina Carlon-Tozer
Website: https://mindfitatwork.com.au/eap-programs/
Phone: +61 1300 993 842

Company: LifeWorks By Morneau Shepell
About: Award-winning EAP uses the latest technology to deliver mobile responsive online counselling to employees anytime and anywhere.
City: Melbourne, VIC

Company: Converge International
About: Converge International designs holistic employee support programs for businesses throughout Australia that cover health and well-being, training, conflict resolution, and organisational consulting services.
City: Melbourne, VIC

Company: SMG Health
About: With more than 35 years of experience helping organisations in Australia and the Asia Pacific region address workplace issues by developing customised holistic health and well-being programs.
City: Melbourne, VIC

Company: D’Accord PTY
About: D’Accord’s EAP assistance programme features training, counselling, and coaching services that specialise in the following areas of wellness: critical incident stress management, psychological assessments, and workplace mediation. D’Accord’s services have reached New Zealand and 17 Asia-Pacific countries.
City: Melbourne, VIC

Company: OAS Occupational Assistance Service
About: OAS is one the more recognised EAP vendors in Victoria and is known for developing solution-focused programs that are customised to meet the needs of the employer.
City: Melbourne, VIC

Company: Carfi
About: Carfi specialises in the management of psychological injury, administration of psychological treatments, provides workplace consultancy, training, coaching, and facilitation services.
City: Carlton, VIC

Company: Act Curious EAP
About: Act Curious EAP assistance program gives the company and staff evidenced-based training called “The Mindful and Effective Employee free of charge plus a 15-minute Well-being review per employee after their last session.
City: Moonee Ponds, VIC

Company: Caraniche At Work
About: 20 years of experience providing health and wellness services, training, professional development, general counselling, critical incident response, and trauma management to more than 100 customer organisations.
City: Abbotsford, VIC

For EAP providers Queensland, you can ask advice and assistance from these companies that have extensive experience helping employers address workplace problems.

For EAP Providers Brisbane, look no further that the list of distinguished and reputable companies below.

Company: Mind Fit at Work
About: Mind Fit at Work deliver engaging EAP training in Brisbane as well as consulting services for companies across the city, in addition to confidential counselling services for employees
City: Brisbane, QLD
Specialist:  Gina Carlon-Tozer
Website: https://www.mindfitatwork.com.au
Phone: +61 1300 993 842

Company: Assure Programs
About: Assure has more than 23 years of experience in giving Australian businesses employee assistance programme training, consultation and coaching services that are carried out by qualified psychologists and available 24/7 and 365 days a year.
City: Brisbane, QLD

Company: Me & Work
About: Me & Work is a member of The Better Health Generation, a global organisation composed of leading mental and physical health experts focused on developing preventive employee assistance service programs rather than traditional reactionary ones.
City: Brisbane, QLD

Company: Workplace Wellness Australia
About: Workplace Wellness Australia’s programmes for employees’ wellness and overall health are designed by experienced psychologists to make sure they get expert, professional advice for their personal and professional problems.
City: Brisbane, Queensland

Company: Acacia EAP
About: Acacia EAP provides an employer with a personalised EAP employee assistance program that includes mediation and investigation, outplacement, employee exit interviews, culture and mood check surveys, and leadership training.
City: South Brisbane, QLD

Company: MAX Solutions
About: MAX Solutions offers EAP assistance programs that are designed and developed by qualified psychologists and experienced social workers and are available to an organisation’s employees and immediate family.
City: Eight Mile Plains, QLD

Company: Amovita International
About: Amovita believes that the key to the success of an employee assistance programme is to tailor-fit the strategies and processes to the employer’s needs by using psychology, business acumen, and by understanding the employees’ mindset.
City: Manly, QLD

Company: Daly & Ritchie Consulting
About: Directors James and Diana Sheehan have been involved in the EAP industry for more than 13 years and have leveraged their experiences with other employee assistance providers in Queensland to develop effective programs for their clients.
City: Boonah, QLD

Company: Gryphon Psychology
About: Gryphon Psychology delivers professionally-designed and managed programmes throughout Australia that include Critical Incident Response, Debriefing, Organisational consulting and training plus a variety of clinical psychological services.
City: Emerald, QLD

For EAP Providers SA, give our brief descriptions a quick run-through and have an idea of what these companies can do to help employers resolve workplace performance issues.

For EAP providers Adelaide, reach out and contact the companies in our list and get advice from professionals in Psychology and workplace wellness on what your employees need to maintain productivity and performance.

Company: Psychmed Psychologists
About: Psychmed has over 25 years of experience providing evidenced-based treatment, counselling, and consultation services to organisations such as General Practices, Mental Health Service, The Salvation Army, Anglicare, Relationships Australia, VIctims of Crime, and Autism SA.
City: Adelaide, SA

Company: Human Psychology
About: Human Psychology was established in 2007 and has been helping employers manage workforce performance issues with programs that feature employee assistance strategies, Critical Incident Support Management principles, and provide employers with psychological training and consultancy services.
City: Adelaide, SA

Company: CHG
About: CHG has more than 40 years of experience working with many employers throughout South Australia and has successfully designed and implemented programs that include Critical Incident Response, group counselling, pre-employment assessment, professional training for mental health support, and counselling services for outplacement and career guidance.
City: Adelaide, SA

Company: R.M. Psychology Administration Services
About: Over 25 years of delivering proven treatments, programs, and services to a diverse of clients that include organisations from the private and public sectors as well as individuals.
City: Norwood, SA

Company: Cognition
About: Cognition is one of South Australia’s longest-running providers of EAP service and since 1991 has developed a reputation for creating personalised mental health and overall wellness programmes for employers and their employees.
City: Unley, SA

For EAP Providers WA, we’ve taken out the guesswork by preparing the list below so it would be easier for you to research and connect with the ideal service provider for your company.

For EAP providers Perth, you can get a better idea of how to improve workplace performance and address issues that affect employee productivity by contacting these companies.

Company: ORS Group
About: The ORS Group offers a wide range of EAP services to companies across Australia including counselling and coaching services, telephone counselling, psychological assessments, critical incident response, and mediation and conflict resolution to name a few.
City: Perth, WA

Company: BSS Employee Assistance PTY LTD
About: BSS started its operations in 1999 and is the largest provider of EAP services in Western Australia. From offering its programs to the oil and gas and mining companies, BSS has expanded its offerings to other industries. Among the key features of its program include Fitness for Work assessment, Supervisor Support Service, Critical Incident Response, peer support training, and anger management coaching.
City: West Perth, WA

Company: Access Wellbeing Services
About: Access Wellbeing Services develops programs that are focused on improving the health and overall wellness of employees through special counselling sessions that are available 24/7, conflict resolution, critical incident response, coaching, and workplace training.
City: Perth, WA

Additional EAP Providers in WA

Company: PeopleSense
About: PeopleSense offers confidential counselling services for the employees of more than 100 employers. These programs are developed by registered psychologists and are accessible to employees and their immediate family.
City: Subiaco, WA

Company: Illuminate Minds
About: The employees assistance programme offered by Illuminate Minds is available to employees and their immediate families and includes psychological counselling, leadership and management coaching, Psychometric screening, consulting, training, and workshops.
City: Mount Lawley, WA

Company: Pace National
About: Pace National designs programs that are available 24/7 and customised to address the specific workplace issues of the employer. Examples of its employee assistance programs include psychological appraisals, organisational consulting, conflict resolution, and critical incident management and response.
City: Subiaco, WA

Company: Oars Across The Waters PTY LTD
About: Oars Across the Waters Pty Ltd offers counselling services, training, personnel development, and intervention programs available 24/7 to employees and their immediate families. The company is reputed for its success in resolving conflicts and incidents of bullying in the workplace.
City: Subiaco, WA

EAP ACT:

For EAP providers ACT, we’ve made sure that you get in touch with reputable and respected companies with the right professionals to get your programme started.

EAP Canberra

For EAP providers Canberra, be more secure and confident about giving your employees and their families professional counselling by working with qualified companies.

Company: Benestar
About: Benestar’s employee wellness programs are designed to develop healthy levels of workforce engagement because the company believes an engaged workforce produces and supports a productive culture in the organisation.
City: Canberra, ACT

Company: Converge International
About: Converge International’s People Assist EAP program provides employers, their employees, and immediate families with a holistic approach to overall health and wellness with it’s 8-step model that features counselling services for issues ranging from career assistance to money assistance to family assistance.
City: Canberra, ACT

Company: Assure Programs
About: Assure Programs offers counselling services for employees and their families that are free and 100% confidential. The program can provide assistance, coaching, and consultation on a variety of concerns such financial problems, legal issues, and physical/mental fitness.
City: Canberra, ACT

Additional EAP Providers in ACT

Company: ORS Group
About: ORS has been in the business of rehabilitating workplace performance issues in the ACT for more than 25 years. The company leverages its expertise in the areas of Psychology, Positive Behaviour Support, and Workplace Rehabilitation and Health to get businesses back in mental, emotional, and physical shape.
City: Fyshwick, ACT

Company: Recovre
About: Recovre has more than 30 years of experience designing and developing employee assistance programs that effectively address workplace performance issues for companies based in the ACT.
City: Deakin, ACT

EAP NT:

For EAP Providers NT, contact the companies in our list to be assured of getting high quality and research-backed programs that are developed by experts in the field of Psychology and Wellness.

EAP Darwin

For EAP providers Darwin, contact the company listed below and find out the types of programs you need to keep your employees happy and working productively.

Company: Rehab Management
About: Rehab Management has more than 20 years of experience delivering employee wellness programs to employers in Darwin. The company has achieved 96% and 65% success rates for its return to work program for same employers and new employers respectively.
City: Darwin, NT

Additional EAP Providers in NT

Company: OPPS
About: OPPS stands for Organisational and Personal Psychological Services and is owned and managed by Psychologist Nick Stiles. OPPS offers counselling, assessment, dispute resolution, trauma response services plus training, coaching, and consulting for employers and their employees.
City: Alice Springs, NT

Company: EASA
About: EASA has been delivering professional counselling services to many employers in the NT for more than 35 years and boasts of a wide range of customised support strategies that include mediation, conflict resolution, coaching, trauma response, HR Advice, Psychological Assessments and reports plus corporate and public training programs.
City: Stuart Park, NT

EAP Tasmania:

For EAP Providers Tasmania, you can avail of effective employee health and wellness programs from the companies included in our list.

EAP Hobart

For EAP providers Hobart, employees and their immediate families will be in good qualified hands when you work with the right companies.

Company: Benestar
About: Benestar develops programs that improve workforce engagement because their experts believe an engaged workforce drives and sustains productivity while ensuring the company of drawing top-level talent from Hobart.
City: Hobart, TAS

Company: ORS Group
About: ORS offers employers in Hobart employee assistance services and programs that are designed based on research-backed and workplace proven practices.
City: Hobart, TAS

Additional EAP Providers in Tasmania

Company: Newport & Wildman
About: Newport & Wildman has been in the business of developing and implementing EAP programs for employers in Tasmania for the past 30 years. The company is a non-profit organisation that’s part of the AccessEAP group.
City: Burnie, TAS

Company: Positive Solutions
About: Positive Solutions has been helping employers throughout Tasmania fix workplace issues since 1991. The company’s employee assistance programs offer mediation and counselling services that are available to employees and their families.
City: Launceston, TAS

EAP FAQs

How does an EAP work?

An EAP addresses and seeks to resolve workplace performance issues. It provides the company’s employees and their immediate families with various resources. The most significant is access to professional counsellors, training, and referrals to recognised experts.

What does an EAP Cover?

EAPs cover a wide range of issues linked to an employee’s decline in workplace performance.

These issues could be external factors such as workplace environment, deadlines, the threat of job loss/security, and poor relations with co-workers.

Likewise, an EAP would address internal factors, including childhood experiences, trauma, existing beliefs, and core values.

What are the benefits of an EAP?

An EAP has benefits for both the employee and the employer. Employees get access to licensed professionals who are experts in psychology and achieve overall wellness.

Employers have a holistic program in place that can help them resolve workplace issues and improve employee performance.

What does the EAP offer?

An EAP offers counselling, training, consultation, and coaching services, plus referrals to the company, employees, and immediate families.

These services can be accessed online, via phone, or onsite.

Is an EAP confidential?

Yes, the employer has no insights into who avails of the program. Similarly, all information shared by the employee remains confidential.

Is an EAP easy to use?

Yes, after an initial discussion, the EAP specialist will discuss any issues raised by the employee and assist in resolving them. If additional expert assistance is required, the counsellor may refer the employee to a qualified professional in the area in question.

Is an EAP free for employees?

Yes, the EAP is offered free to employees and is voluntary.

What’s included in an EAP Program?

A typical program may include psychological assessments, mediation, critical incident response training, and group interventions.

Do employers have to provide EAP?

Although EAPs in Australia are widespread, private employers don’t need to provide them for employees. However, according to the EAPAA, government departments must have an EAP in place.

What does an EAP do for employees?

An EAP helps employees identify the factors that could be affecting their performance at work and relationships in their personal lives and the opportunity to resolve these issues with the help of experienced and knowledgeable professionals from various fields.

EAP Resources

This guide has covered an extensive range of topics and provided comprehensive information about EAPs in Australia.

However, if there are topics that weren’t covered or if you’re looking for additional information, here are some EAP resources that you can check out.

For Employees:

•https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employee_assistance_program

For Employers:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employee_assistance_program

Final Thoughts

An EAP can help a company improve productivity and reduce costs attributed to high attrition rates by identifying various factors that could be affecting the performance of the employee in the workplace.

These factors could be related to work or physical, mental, and emotional in nature.

The programme is offered free-of-charge; the EAP cost shouldered by the employer. It’s also 100% voluntary and often made available to the employee’s immediate family to help resolve any issues that may be hindering the employee in some way.

Although it’s not mandatory, the Australian government encourages employers to have an EAP programme in place for their benefit as well as for their employees.

Likewise, it’s recommended by the government that employers interested in providing the best EAP possible for their employees must work only with service providers that are members of the industry’s regulatory organisation, the EAPAA.