External Supports for At Risk Clients
The services listed on this page should not be used as a substitute for Triple-Zero emergency services. In an emergency, dial 000.
24 hour support for clients at risk
The following organisations are contactable by phone on a 24 hour basis.
DVA and Defence
- Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) - phone: 1800 011 046
- Defence Community Organisation - phone: 1800 624 608
- ADF All Hours Support Line - phone: 1800 628 036
- 1800 IM SICK (ADF personnel only) - phone: 1800 467 425
External organisations
- Lifeline - phone: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue - phone: 1300 22 4636
- Suicide Call Back Service - phone: 1300 659 467
- MensLine Australia - phone: 1300 789 978
- National Sexual Assault, domestic family violence counselling service - phone: 1800 737 732
- Health Direct Australia - phone: 1800 022 222
More information is provided below.
DVA, Defence and Government
| Links | Contact | Description |
|---|---|---|
Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) Department of Veterans' Affairs | phone: 1800 011 046 | VVCS provides free and confidential, nation-wide counselling and support, specialising in ADF service-related mental health conditions, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, anger, sleep disorders and adjustment disorder. Support is also available for relationship and family matters that can arise due to the unique nature of military service. VVCS clinicians have an understanding of military culture and can work with clients to find effective solutions for improved mental health and wellbeing. |
Defence Community Organisation Department of Defence |
| On behalf of Navy, Army and Air Force, Defence Community Organisation, or DCO, offers a broad range of programs and services to help Defence families manage the military way of life. The DCO webpage provides a Defence Family Helpline and emergency and crisis support contacts. The Helpline is staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers and psychologists, who can provide callers with assessments, assistance or referrals. |
Department of Defence | phone: 1800 628 036 | The All-hours Support Line (ASL) is a confidential telephone service for ADF members and their families that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The ASL is designed as a triage line to help with access to ADF or civilian mental health services more easily. When calling the ASL, you can expect to talk to a qualified, mental health professional, who has a good understanding of services available to you from the ADF or in the general community. |
Department of Defence | phone: 1800 467 425 | 1800 IMSICK is a national 24 hour call service providing world class nurse triage and health support for all ADF entitled personnel within Australia. 1800 IMSICK assists entitled ADF personnel to obtain health care if they become ill or injured after hours or are not in close proximity to an On-Base health facility. |
Department of Defence | online service finder | 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. The Engage Portal provides a range of contacts that are ex-service organisation (ESO) related, Australia wide. Search categories include:
|
| Australian Government website | online service only | An online directory of Australian Government information and services including:
|
| Government on-line directory | online service only | An online directory of Australian Commonwealth, State and Territory Government organisations. |
| Australian Securities and Investments Commission | online service only – services referenced have separate contact details | Information about a range of financial counselling services. |
|
| Health and related services information across Australia including locating:
|
| My Aged Care |
| Information and help accessing aged care services and support. |
| National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) |
| Provides support for Australians with disability, their families and carers. |
External organisations
| Links | Contact | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeline |
| Immediate assistance for those thinking about suicide or experiencing a personal crisis. |
| Beyond Blue |
| Information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, including access to those experiencing suicidal thoughts and those in need of crisis support. |
| Suicide Call Back Service |
| Provides free phone, video and online counselling for anyone affected by suicide 24 hours, 7 days a week. |
| Homelessness Australia | online service only – services referenced have separate contact details | Information about a range of services available for people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness, across Australia. |
| MensLine Australia |
| A telephone and online counselling and referral service for men with family or relationship concerns. |
| National Sexual Assault, domestic family violence counselling service |
| Information about counselling and support services, including a service directory across Australia. |
| Lifeline Service Finder | online service only | This site has an advanced service finder which searches keywords or services by postcode, for free or low cost health and community services including:
|
General Disclaimer
The information on this website is intended as a general reference. The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) makes information available on the understanding that the Commonwealth is not thereby engaged in rendering professional advice. DVA reviews the information available on this website and updates the information as required.
DVA does not guarantee, and accepts no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this website or on any linked site. The information on this website is not a substitute for independent professional advice and users should obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances. Before relying on any information accessed through this website, a user should exercise their own skill and care to:
- carefully evaluate the accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance to their own circumstances of the information for the purpose for which it is to be used; and
- obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to the user’s particular circumstances.
DVA does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website. You assume all risks associated with use of this website, including:
- risk of your computer, software or data being damaged by any virus which might be transmitted or activated via this website or your access to it;
- or the risk that the content of linked websites comply with the laws of any country outside Australia.
Links to external web sites
The material is presented by DVA for the purpose of disseminating information to its website users.
This website contains links to other websites that are external to DVA, including content owned and controlled by third parties. DVA has no direct control over the content of linked sites, or the changes that may occur to the content on those sites. It is the user’s responsibility to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of information contained in linked external web sites. Views and recommendations of third parties, which may also be included, do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commonwealth, or indicate a commitment to a particular course of action. The listing of a person or organisation in any part of this site in no way implies any form of endorsement by the Commonwealth of the products or services provided by that person or organisation.
Source URL: https://clik.dva.gov.au/compensation-and-support-reference-library/contacts/external-supports-risk-clients