Counselling
FireCare Counsellors are appropriately trained and experienced mental health professionals who possess tertiary qualifications and are registered with nationally recognised professional associations, e.g. Psychologists Registration Board of Queensland, Australian Association of Social Workers; Psychotherapists and Counselling Federation of Australia.
What does Counselling involve?
FireCare Counsellors will discuss your concerns and their effect on your life and work. They are trained to help you deal effectively with the problem by examining a range of options. Support is provided in a caring, non-judgemental environment.
The counsellor may also refer you to further specialist assistance such as medical, psychological, drug and alcohol counselling.
Referrals to Counselling
Peer Support Officers and workplaces in each Region have a List of FireCare Counsellors registered to provide FireCare counselling.
- You may refer yourself directly to a FireCare Counsellor
- Other people, such as a supervisor may refer you, but only with your permission
If counselling is sought during work hours, suitable arrangements need to be made with your supervisor.
All paid staff or their immediate family are entitled to FOUR counselling sessions in any 12-month period for any work-related and/or personal problem.
Volunteers and their immediate families are entitled to FOUR counselling sessions for issues involving emergency services work-related difficulties only.
A counselling session is deemed to be of one hour’s duration.
Confidentiality
FireCare Counsellors are professionally bound by the guidelines, policies and procedures of FireCare, which are in accordance with the DES Privacy Policy Statement (refer section 15.6 of the FMPM). FireCare counselling information may only be revealed when:
- It is a legal requirement to disclose information
- Failure to disclose information would place the client or another person at risk
- The client's written consent has been obtained to release the information to another person or agency
- At times an audit will be conducted, during which an external auditor will record clients’ names and dates of sessions
Cost
There is NO cost to the client for the first FOUR counselling sessions.
Further counselling beyond FOUR sessions may be available, subject to written prior approval from the Manager, FireCare. Generally, extensions may be given when the problem is impacting upon emergency services work performance and especially when the safety of the client or others is at risk.
For 24-hour confidential crisis counselling – Free Call 1800 805 980
This service is pager operated and a FireCare Counsellor will return calls as soon as possible.
Last updated 06 March 2008
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