Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• How to access the EAP?
• Common issues
• Eligibility
• External providers/counsellors
• Managing and leading staff
• Feedback, issues or concerns about the program

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a counselling service available to all Deakin staff. The Program is designed specifically to address and resolve both work related and personal problems adversely affecting work performance.

All University staff can access the EAP, which provides confidential, short-term, professional, voluntary and free counselling by qualified external providers/counsellors (social workers or psychologists).

The external provider/counsellors maintain strict confidentiality. No information regarding what is discussed within any counselling session is relayed to any other person or organisation without your consent. Personal details and your participation in the program remain confidential.

• EAP information sheet (23 KB)
• EAP Poster (163 KB)

The poster should be put up in all tea/lunch rooms.

How to access the EAP?

Deakin staff may refer themselves and make their own appointments, or be referred by a colleague or a supervisor. The staff member or supervisor should consider that the problem is work-related or negatively affecting work performance. Staff just need to present their Deakin staff card at their first appointment.

Common issues

These can include issues directly related to work such as workplace conflict, difficult working relationships, stress, workplace change and workplace trauma. Personal issues such as depression, grief, chronic anxiety, alcohol and substance abuse can also directly affect workplace performance and behaviour. These issues can cause work problems such as absenteeism, friction, poor productivity, high staff turnover, reduced performance and low job satisfaction. These problems may affect your health and well-being, ability to cope with the demands of everyday life, your behaviour and work performance. Usually, the longer the problem exists, the more aspects of a person's life are affected by it.

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Eligibility

Staff will be assessed by an EAP external provider of their choice and, if appropriate, offered counselling under the Program for one to five individual sessions. Further referrals might also be suggested.

External providers/counsellors

All external counsellors are experienced, registered psychologists and social workers with expertise in a range of issues that adults face including stress related issues, depression, anxiety and managing change (both personally and professionally).

Geelong

Melbourne

Warrnambool

Managing and leading staff

If you are responsible for managing staff and you want personal support or assistance with interpersonal conflicts, communication processes and meeting the challenge of human resource management, you can obtain support through your HR Services Partner in Human Resources. Similarly if you want advice and assistance with organisational change, job and organisational design, staff development, career and succession planning or performance management, please contact your HR Services Partner in Human Resources.

Feedback, issues or concerns about the program

If you have any feedback, issues or concerns with the Employee Assistance Program or providers, these can be raised on a confidential basis with the Manager OHS.

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