Avant's Personal Support Program (PSP)

Avant's Personal Support Program (PSP) provides a range of support options to Avant members who are suffering health issues. A central plank is six sessions of confidential, external counselling provided by Benestar, a leading global provider of corporate psychology services.

The counselling service offers objective psychological support and the provision of coping skills for a range of work-related issues such as work stress, issues with patients, personal issues relating to anxiety or depression, and legal issues around medico-legal complaints. Options available include face to face counselling, phone support or video counselling.
Contact: 1300 360 364

Doctors' Health Advisory Services

Doctors' Health Advisory Services provide independent, confidential advice to medical practitioners and students. The services provide colleague to colleague support on an anonymous basis for practitioners who are experiencing difficulties.

Rural Support Services

Wellbeing support options for rural doctors

Peer Support Services

A number of organisations offer confidential peer support for medical practitioners. Many practitioners find it beneficial to discuss their concerns on an anonymous, confidential basis with another medical professional with whom they do not work directly, and yet understands the stressors of the medical profession. A non-exhaustive list of some examples follows:

• Hand-n-Hand Peer Support (handnhand.org.au)
• Australasian Doctors' Health Network | Doctors' Health Advisory Services in Australia and New Zealand (adhn.org.au)
• Australian Medical Association provides peer support for its members in a number of states amavic.com.au/peer-support-service
• RACGP - The GP Support Program
  1800 331 626
  racgp.org.au

Many of the medical colleges and societies have support services and resources available to support their members. Contact your college or society for details.

Other Supports

• If you or someone you know needs crisis support, please phone Lifeline on 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au/gethelp for Lifeline Chat Service (24/7)
• Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636  beyondblue.org.au
• Mental health counselling | Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467
• 13 YARN - 13 92 76
  13 YARN offers crisis support through confidential one-on-one yarning opportunity with a Lifeline trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis supporter 24 hours/7days. 13yarn.org.au
• Doctors with Disabilities Australia - DWDA | dwda.org.au
• The Essential Network for Health Professionals, Beyond Blue, TEN – The Essential Network for Health Professionals - Black Dog Institute

Medical Benevolent Associations

Medical Benevolent Associations provide independent counselling, information, referral, support and some financial assistance to doctors and their families during times of need or adversity. Sessions are free and all information will remain strictly confidential. They are funded by doctors for the benefit of doctors and their families.

• Medical Benevolent Association - VIC - vmba.org.au - 03 9496 4205
• Medical Benevolent Association – NSW and ACT - mbansw.org.au - 02 9987 0504
• Medical Benevolent Association - SA - Doctors Health SA - doctorshealthsa.com.au - 08 8267 4355
• Medical Benevolent Association - QLD - mbaq.org.au - 07 3872 2222