Telus Health: 1800 318 421 available 24hours/7days
Available to Victorian employees at businesses with less than 200 staff
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are confidential support services provided by some employers to assist employees with personal or work-related issues that may impact their wellbeing, performance, or mental health. They are designed to provide short-term, solution-focused support through counselling, coaching, and referral services, helping employees manage challenges such as stress, anxiety, conflict, grief, financial pressures, and workplace concerns, while also promoting a healthier, more productive workforce.
Importantly, a new government-funded initiative is now available to eligible Victorian businesses, and it’s one worth promoting to your team. The Worker Mental Health Support Service, delivered by TELUS Health and funded by WorkSafe Victoria, makes it easy for workers to access professional support any time they need it, and at no cost.
Important help for small business workers
Right now, most small businesses either don’t have a formal EAP in place or operate a casual pay-per-use arrangement with a trusted local provider, depending on their workforce size, budget, and awareness of this important service. The Victorian Government recognised that access to mental health support shouldn’t depend on business size or location. In response, they have partnered with TELUS Health to launch the Worker Mental Health Support Service for small and medium-sized Victorian businesses employing fewer than 200 people.
This initiative removes one of the biggest barriers to early intervention -cost – and ensures that all workers, regardless of whether their employer offers a traditional EAP, have access to confidential, professional support at no charge.
Whether you’re a sole trader with casual staff, a regional employer with limited local services, or a growing business with inconsistent EAP uptake, this helpline is a timely, practical resource to share with your team.
What’s included?
- Up to 4 free sessions per issue with a qualified counsellor or mental health professional
- Support for a wide range of concerns – stress, burnout, grief, conflict, anxiety, substance misuse, and more
- 24/7 phone support plus access to face-to-face, online, or phone appointments
- Full confidentiality – employers are not notified when workers access the service
This service is suitable for all industries, including construction, retail, health care, education, logistics, trades, and professional services.
Promoting it in your workplace
We encourage employers to actively promote this service -especially where formal mental health supports are limited or inconsistent. TELUS Health provides free promotional materials including posters, flyers and web copy, which you can access at go.telushealth.com/en-au/vic-mental-health
Meeting Your Psychosocial Safety Obligations
Under Victorian OHS legislation, employers have a legal duty to eliminate or reduce risks to psychological health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. Promoting access to professional mental health services is one meaningful way to meet this duty – particularly when it comes to managing psychosocial hazards like workplace stress, conflict, burnout, isolation, or exposure to trauma.
By sharing this free, government-funded service with your workforce, you are taking a proactive step to:
- Support early intervention and reduce harm
- Create a psychologically safe workplace culture
- Show workers that help is available confidentially and without stigma
- Complement any internal policies, training, or controls you have in place
This action aligns with the expectations of WorkSafe Victoria’s guidance on managing psychosocial hazards, and it’s especially important ahead of the 1 December 2025 psychosocial regulation changes.
Our Recommendation
Regardless of your current setup, this fully funded service provides a practical, no-cost option to strengthen your organisation’s wellbeing framework.
- If you don’t have a formal EAP, we encourage you to adopt this program and promote it widely
- If you do have an existing EAP, this service can still play a role for after-hours support, faster access during peak times, or providing extra sessions beyond your usual limits.
Either way, promoting this service helps you meet your OHS duty of care, while showing genuine commitment to your team’s mental wellbeing.
Your Next Step
- Consider your current EAP arrangements
- Visit the Telus Health website to learn more and order free promotinal resoures
- Promote to your staff
- Update any relate policies/handbooks
Contact us at hello@fullcirclehr.com.au if you would like more information or for assistance with implementing this service and related policies and processes into your business.