Support services

A range of services are available for those who may require support. More information and contact details can be found below.

In an emergency or life-threatening situation, please call Triple Zero (000) for attendance by police, fire and ambulance services.

If you need to speak to someone urgently, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24/7).

Health and Wellbeing

Mental health crisis numbers by State and Territory

Australian Capital Territory

Service: Access mental Health
Call: 1800 629 354 or 02 6205 1065 (24/7)

New South Wales

Service: Mental Health Line
Call: 1800 011 511 (24/7)

Northern Territory

Service: Northern Territory Mental Health Line
Call: 1800 682 288 (24/7)

Queensland

Service: Mental Health Access Line
Call: 1300 642 255 (24/7)

South Australia

Service: Mental Health Triage Service
Call: 13 14 65 (24/7)

Tasmania

Service: Mental Health Helpline
Call: 1800 332 388 (24/7)

Victoria

Service: SuicideLine
Call: 1300 651 251 (24/7)

Western Australia

Service: Mental Health Emergency Response Line
Call: 1300 555 788 (Metro), 1800 676 822 (Peel), 1800 552 002 (Country/Rurallink)

Support services for current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and their families

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Call: 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
Website: https://www.dva.gov.au

The Department of Veterans' Affairs provides access to advice and claims and have a range of support mechanisms.

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling Service

Call: 1800 011 046 (24/7)
Website: https://www.openarms.gov.au/

Open Arms - provides high quality mental health assessments and clinical counselling services for Australian veterans and their families.

Safe Zone Support

Call: 1800 142 072 (24/7)

Website: https://www.openarms.gov.au/safe-zone

Safe Zone support is a free and anonymous counselling line for current serving ADF personnel, veterans and their families.

All-hours Support Line

Call: 1800 628 036 (24/7)

This is a confidential telephone service that provides access to mental health advice and referral for ADF personnel and their families.

Defence Member and Family Helpline

Call: 1800 624 608 (24/7)
Website: https://defence.gov.au/members-families/

The Defence Member and Family Helpline is run by Defence Member and Family Support and is staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers and psychologists.

Support services for current Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and their immediate families, Australian Federal Police (AFP) employees, and Australian Public Service (APS) employees

Employee Assistance Program

Call: 1300 687 327 (24/7)

A confidential and professional counselling service available to Defence APS employees, Australian Signals Directorate employees, and ADF reservists, cadets, officers, instructors of cadets and their immediate families, AFP employees and APS employees.

Note: current serving ADF personnel may have access to additional resources and support services through their chain of command. For more information, please visit https://afghanistaninquiry.defence.gov.au/welfare-support/current-serving-adf-personnel.

Note: current serving AFP employees may have access to additional resources and support services through the Australian Federal Police employee portal.

Publicly available support services

Lifeline Australia

Call: 13 11 14 (24/7)
Website: www.lifeline.org.au

Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to crisis support and suicide prevention services.

BeyondBlue Support Service

Call: 1300 224 636
Website: www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support

Beyond Blue provides a telephone counselling service.

Mensline Australia

Call: 1300 789 978 (24/7)
Website: www.menslineaus.org.au

Mensline Australia is a telephone counselling service for men with relationship or family concerns.

Kids Helpline

Call: 1800 551 800 (24/7)
Website: www.kidshelpline.com.au/

Kids Helpline is a confidential online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.

Black Dog Institute

Website: www.blackdoginstitute.org.au

Black Dog Institute is a not-for-profit facility for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.

1800 RESPECT

Call: 1800 737 732 (24/7)
Website: https://www.1800respect.org.au/

1800 Respect is Australia's National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling service. It provides free, confidential telephone and online counselling and information.

Family Relationship Advice line

Call: 1800 050 321 between 8 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday and 10 am to 4 pm Saturday, excluding public holidays
Website: www.familyrelationships.gov.au/

Family Relationship Advice Line is an Australian Government service that provides immediate information and referrals to face-to-face services for those affected by family relationship or separation issues. It includes a telephone family dispute resolution service.

Commonwealth Legal Financial Assistance

The Attorney-General’s Department administers a range of legal financial assistance schemes, including one specific to matters arising from the Afghanistan Inquiry.

Visit Commonwealth legal financial assistance on the Attorney General's Department website for more information.