LifeWorks is a not for profit organisation that provides family, couple and individual
counselling, education, training and workplace services in Victoria Australia.
Indigenous Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
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An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free and confidential counselling service offered by employers to their employees to support their wellbeing in the workplace and in their personal lives.Depending on the employer’s arrangement, EAP may also extend to immediate family members. LifeWorks’ EAP service offers initial support and assistance to individuals and groups of employees who have personal and/or work related issues that may impact on their well-being, work performance, safety, individual and workplace morale and psychological health. Download LifeWorks' Indigenous EAP Brochure EAP counselling is aimed at assisting employees to:
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Events and issues which may give rise to requests for EAP services include (but are not limited to):
Work Issues:
- Problems with performance
- Relationships between co-workers
- Bullying and harassment
- Managing conflict and anger management
- Adjusting to change in the workplace
- Career change
- Managing work related stress
Personal Issues:
- Anxiety or depression
- Stress management
- Grief and loss
- Midlife and life transition issues
- Emotional or physical abuse
- Low self-esteem
- Substance abuse
- Gambling problems
- Anger management.
Family Issues:
- Work-life balance
- Concerns about children
- Relationship issues
- Parenting and step-parenting issues
- Separation and divorce
- Financial or legal problems
- Domestic violence.
Indigenous families and the Family Law Courts
This pamphlet from the Family Law Court is a useful resource for families entering the Family Law Court system. Click here for the link.
Family Dispute Resolution Scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Trainees
YORTA YORTA MAN AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP
LifeWorks is delighted to announce that Ryan Dean has just been awarded one of the 17 Family Dispute Resolution Indigenous and CALD training scholarships provided by Family Relationship Services Australia (FRSA).
This scholarship, funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department and supported by LifeWorks will provide Ryan with the opportunity to undertake training to qualify as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner under provisions of the Family Law Act (1975).
Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners play a vital role in assisting families through relationship conflict and separation. Practitioners work with couples in a neutral, impartial and non-judgemental way to identify issues, consider options and make arrangements thereby avoiding expensive, time consuming and daunting legal action.
Thirty three year old Ryan, a Shepparton father of three, is “very excited” about the chance to train in this area and draw upon his own cultural background within this vital relationship service.
As he explains, “I have seen too many kids suffer unnecessarily because of parents splitting up and firmly believe the pain of separation can be reduced with the dispute resolution process”.
Felicia Dean, CEO of the Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-Operative, and co-sponsor of Ryan’s application echoes Ryan’s sentiments. “We are delighted to support Ryan’s training in this area and hope that it will help more families in the community resolve their issues in a way that costs them less both financially and emotionally”.
For more details on Ryan Dean, the FRSA scholarship, family dispute resolution or LifeWorks Relationship Counselling and Education Services, please contact Kim Edwards on kedwards@lifeworks.com.au
Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians
The Australian Constitution, does not currently recognise the presence of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people in Australia prior to European settlement. At the moment the Federal Government is considering an amendment to the Constitution to reflect and acknowledge Australia’s indigenous history. Following on from the National Apology of 2008, a formal acknowledgement of the special place that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have in Australian history and national life via Constitutional recognition would be another significant step towards closing the gap between indigenous and non indigenous Australians.
We encourage all Victorians to consider the importance of formally acknowledging the unique contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have in our national history by supporting a change to the Constitution. At LifeWorks we believe that this will play an integral role in strengthening the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
LifeWorks is proud to lend its support to this very important step in our relationship with Indigenous Australians.
For more information, resources and details, please visit www.recognise.org.au
1300 LifeWorks - 1300 543 396
LifeWorks has 10 branches throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria:
Workplace Telephone 03 8650 6200 | EAP Line 8650 6262 | Melbourne CBD 03 8650 6200
Bayswater 03 8650 6200 | Broadmeadows 03 9355 4700 | Chadstone 03 9563 3555 | Frankston 03 9783 7611 | Geelong 03 5222 3172
Moonee Ponds 03 8650 6200 | Preston 03 8650 6200 | Wangaratta 03 5721 5700 | Wyndham 03 9974 3200 
LifeWorks acknowledges Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the land from which we serve and respects their spiritual and physical relationship with their country. We are always in relationship…to each other and the land.