The Early Childhood Wellbeing Support Program (ECWSP) is part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to provide free counselling for early childhood teachers and educators.
The program, delivered by TELUS Health, provides up to 4 counselling sessions each year to eligible staff. Sessions are free and confidential and can provide professional and personal support. Counselling is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Translation services are available.
TELUS Health has a team of psychologists, counsellors and social workers who offer expertise and support across a range of professional and personal areas, including:
- developing strategies to manage stress
- creating a better work-life balance
- managing and implementing strategies to support your mental health
- managing community and cultural conflicts of interest
- managing and implementing strategies to support you with family issues or conflict
- drug and alcohol related issues.
A dedicated support line is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For an appointment call 1800 816 152.
Eligibility
Staff directly employed by a service under the Victorian Early Childhood Teachers and Educators Agreement 2020 are eligible, including:
- early childhood teachers delivering a funded kindergarten program
- educators, activity group leaders, advisors and casual relief teachers helping to deliver a funded kindergarten program.
How to access support
Eligible staff can access free counselling sessions through a range of platforms – phone, in-person and live chat.
For an appointment call 1300 360 364 or to start an SMS conversation with a clinician, send a text message to 0480 032 310.
Additional services available
The program also provides support to teachers and educators through mediation and access to critical incident support.
Mediation support can help community-based kindergarten services experiencing workplace disputes or conflicts to achieve positive outcomes.
A critical response service is available to all funded kindergarten services who experience a sudden or serious emergency or trauma within their community.
If you would like to request mediation or critical incident response, contact your local Early Childhood Improvement Branch.
Find out more
For more information, look for the TELUS Health brochures at your service or ask your service provider for the TELUS Health contact details so that you can access all of the supports available.
For further enquiries, contact your local Early Childhood Improvement Branch.
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