Psychological Support Package

Bushfire Psychological Counselling Voucher Program

Information for applicants

The Bushfire Psychological Counselling Voucher Program has been developed through a $3.5 million gift from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund. It aims to assist people directly affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires to access additional psychological counselling support.

What does the program do?

The program provides six counselling sessions to each individual (including dependant children over five years of age) who has been directly affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires. Applicants will be sent six vouchers that can be used to see an eligible counsellor of their own choice, and in their own time. There is no cash involved in this process and applicants will not have to pay any co-payment to the counsellor.

The program will commence on 10 August 2009 and will run until 10 August 2011. Vouchers can be used anytime during this period. Vouchers cannot be used for counselling sessions that have taken place before 10 August 2009.

Who is eligible for this program?

People eligible for the program include:

• people who have received grants paid by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund
• people receiving or who have received Victorian Bushfire Case Management
• dependant children (over 5 years of age) of eligible people above
• other people who have been directly affected by the Victorian bushfires, for example, family and close friends of people affected by the bushfires and those people who have lost their livelihood directly through the effects of the bushfires.

How does the program work?

The program has four steps.

1. Register for the program
2. Receive your vouchers
3. Make an appointment with an eligible counsellor
4. Attend your appointment and give the counsellor your voucher.

Who are eligible counsellors?

Counsellors eligible to provide counselling treatment under this program are:

• psychological counsellors employed in community health services receiving funds from the Department of Human Services
• psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists registered as approved Medicare providers under the Commonwealth Government's Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative.

Websites of these eligible providers are available at:

• community health services http://www.health.vic.gov.au/communityhealth/service_provider/community_health_directory.htm
• Medicare providers under the Commonwealth Government's Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative including:
  • psychologists http://www.psychology.org.au/MedicareProvider/SearchByMap.aspx
  • social workers http://www.aasw.asn.au
  • occupational therapists http://www.ausot.com.au/inner.asp?pageid=143#bahm.

How to register for the program

To register for the program complete an application form. Parents/guardians may apply on behalf of children over five years of age. Young people may also apply independently if they wish.

People may also apply for the program by downloading a Bushfire Psychological Counselling Voucher Program application form (PDF, 310KB) or by picking up a copy from Community Service Hubs and case managers.

Send completed forms to:

Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund
GPO BOX 4057
Melbourne 3001
Fax (03) 9092 1926

Further information is available through our hotline on 1800 180 213.

There is also Psychological Support Package information for Service Providers.