Your wellbeing is important to us. We understand life happens and you will be dealing with multiple competing priorities. It is important for you to reach out of you are having any difficulties that could affect your studies. We are here to help during office hours, but outside normal working times support is still available.
Asking for help is the first step to finding a solution to whatever barrier you may be facing. There is a wide array of services in the community that are dedicated to offering supports.

All Emergencies:

• Dial Triple Zero (000) for Police, Fire and Ambulance in an emergency.
• Lifeline: 24/7 crisis support line – call 13 11 14, chat online or text 0477 131 114
• DVConnect: 24/7 Domestic Violence Helpline – call 1800 811 811
• Sexual Assault Helpline: call 1800 010 120 (7.30 am to 11.30 pm, 7 days)
• Kids Helpline: 24/7 telephone counselling support (for young people up to age 25) – call 1800 55 1800 or Web Chat Counselling
• 13YARN:24/7 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Support – call 13 92 76

Ask Izzy for a range of supports:

Ask Izzy can assist you to find the help you need now and nearby. Ask Izzy has almost a half a million Australian support services listed by category to support you and is a great go to. Ask Izzy helps with:

• Food
• Housing
• Money help
• Support and Counselling
• Domestic and family violence help
• Everyday needs
• Health and well being
• Advice and advocacy
• Work, learning and things to do

Accommodation and Housing:

• Tenants Queensland is a free statewide advice and referral service for Queensland renters. Phone 1300 744 263.
• Residential Tenancies Authority provide tenancy information and support, bond management, dispute resolution, compliance and enforcement, and education services. Phone 1300 366 311.
• The Queensland government renting information page has helpful information.

CALD (Culturally & Linguistically Diverse):

• The Refugee Council of Australia has a list of services and supports for all aspects of life for refugees in Queensland.
• Services Australia provide a list of translated publications for community groups about payments and services.

Centrelink:

Centrelink is a Services Australia program under the Australian Government and provides services and payments to various groups, including senior citizens, the unemployed, families, carers, people with disabilities, learners, and trainees and apprentices.

Child Abuse:

In 2021, the law was strengthened to increase protection of children from the risk of sexual abuse. The law requires that all adults must report sexual offending against children to the police unless they have a reasonable excuse for not doing so.

For these laws, child means a person under 16 or a person under 18 with an impairment of the mind.
An impairment of the mind, as defined in the Criminal Code, means a disability due to an intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive or neurological impairment (or a combination of these), which leaves the person with both:

• a substantial reduction in their capacity for communication, social interaction or learning
• a need for support.

To report an offence, contact Police Link on 131 444.
In an emergency, phone Triple Zero (000)

Support, information and advice for victims is available from:

• Victim Assist Queensland
• Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800

Health Concerns:

• If you are worried about a personal health concern, speak to your doctor / GP or regular health professional. Services Australia have a bulk billing GP service finder
• Trusted health information can be found at online at health direct
• Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is the national digital gateway for women’s health and wellbeing.
• Healthy Male provides evidence-based, easy-to-understand content for men, created with the expertise and experience of Australia’s best clinicians, researchers and educators.
• Medicare Mental Health is a free service that connects you with the mental health support that is right for you.
• If you, or someone you know, are feeling worried or no good, we encourage you to connect with 13YARN or call 13 92 76 (24 hours/7 days) and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter.
• Headspace provides mental health and wellbeing information for under 25’s
• Reachout provides a safe place for youth to chat anonymously, get support, and feel better.
• Hids Helpline confidential resources, information and 24/7 phone support on 1800 55 1800 or webchat
• Dear Mind is a free Queensland government mental wellbeing initiative.
• My Health for Life is a free initiative delivered in six coaching sessions, at a relaxed pace, over 14 to 18 weeks with qualified Health Coaches to help you along the way. Plus, there are tools and resources to help you keep going after the coaching, so you can maintain your healthier habits.
• Health + Wellbeing Queensland is a dedicated prevention agency established to drive change, so all Queenslanders have the best chance to live a healthier life, no matter they are or where they live.
• A mental health treatment plan is available to people who are diagnosed with a mental health condition. It helps to cover the costs of up to 10 individual sessions of mental health treatment each year. Talk to your GP or health service provider.
• Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. You can speak to a qualified crisis counsellor by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, chat online or text 0477 131 114
• Health Translations is a free library of Australian multilingual health and wellbeing information funded by the Victorian Government.

A range of translated health fact sheets and information can also be found at:

• https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/– Women’s health
• https://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/public/language– Queensland health service information
• https://www.refugeehealthnetworkqld.org.au/forclinicians/translated-resources/ – numerous health fact sheets and videos on a range of languages

Domestic and Family Violence:

If you are in a domestic and family violence situation or experiencing sexual assault and want to talk to someone in confidence you can call DV Connect 24/7 on 1800 811 811 or read more here.

Alternatively you can call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or text 0458 737 732 or chat online.

The Queensland government has an information page about coercive control including how to recognise the patterns of coercive control, identify healthy and harmful behaviours, understand the changes to the law, and find help and support.

Men who want to talk to someone in confidence about their own, or someone else’s behaviour, and/or seek support to change their behaviour can contact the Men’s Referral Service 24/7 on 1300 766 491.

MensLine Australia is a free telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime. Call 1300 78 99 78 or chat online

Any person, regardless of gender, who may perpetrate domestic abuse or violence are encouraged to seek support from groups and specialist programs for abusive partners from Relationships Australia. Call 1300 364 277.

Eating Disorders:

• Speaking to your doctor / GP or regular health professional is advised.
• QuEDS (Queensland Eating Disorder Service) provide assessment and treatment for people and families affected by eating disorders.
• Butterfly Foundation is the national charity for anyone in Australia impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, as well as the families, friends and communities who support them. Call 1800 334 673.
• Related health information and advice can be found at https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/

First Nations:

• If you, or someone you know, are feeling worried or no good, we encourage you to connect with 13YARN or call 13 92 76 (24 hours/7 days) and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter.
• WellMob provide social, emotional and cultural wellbeing online resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
• Thirrili provides support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the aftermath of suicide or other fatal critical incidents. Call 1800 805 801 (24/7)
• Beyond Blue is a reliable source of mental health information and support.
• Reachout is a safe place to chat anonymously, get support, and feel better.

Gambling:

Gambling Help Online provide free 24/7 online and phone support for anyone affected by gambling. Call 1800 858 858. Information on the website is available in multiple languages.

LGBTQIA+:

QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTQIA+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Call 1800 184 527 from 3:00pm to midnight or chat online

Mindfulness & Relaxation:

• Beyond Blue guided breathing and relaxation exercises
• Simple mindfulness strategies for managing stress and boosting your wellbeing can be found in the This Way Up free online program.
• Other helpful apps recommended by the Queensland government can be found here

Natural Disaster – Bushfire, Flood or Storm:

Staff and learners should only travel in their local community if it is safe to so and pay attention to:

• Queensland Government Disaster Management site
• Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Bushfire Warning Levels e.g. Advice, Watch & Act and Emergency Warnings and the QFES Facebook page
• Queensland government and Emergency Services flood water updates
• Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) weather warnings and updates
• Your local council website or disaster dashboard
• Emergency alerts – voice or text messages

Please pay particular attention to the potential risks after a weather event/flood/ bushfire and during the immediate recovery period which could include:

• Fallen powerlines/trees
• Contaminated water
• Structural damage to buildings/roads
• Temporary limited availability of emergency services due to the initial event

In all cases, please follow the advice of Queensland government and emergency services broadcasts and updates.

Helpful services:

• Dial Triple Zero (000) for Police, Fire and Ambulance in an emergency
• State Emergency Service, SES app or 132 500 for help with a damaged roof, rising flood water, trees fallen on buildings, or storm damage
•  Non-urgent medical help 13 HEALTH or 13 43 25 84
•  Non-emergency police contact: Policelink on 13 14 444

Sexual Assault:

The Sexual Assault Helpline team are specialist counsellors who will always listen and believe you. Call for advice and support on 1800 010 120 – 7:30 am to 11:30 PM, 7 days. You can choose to be anonymous.

Suicide:

• Lifeline is a national charity emotional distress with access to 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. You can speak to a qualified crisis counsellor on 13 11 14 or chat online or text 0477 131 114
• The Suicide Call Back Service provides 24/7 phone and online counselling for anyone who is struggling with situations in their life, from feeling low or stressed to the more complex issues of suicidal thoughts and grief arising from suicide. Call 1300 659 467 or chat online.

Trauma:

Trauma affects the way people feel, think and act and can overwhelm their ability to cope and engage with others.

• Blue Knot Foundation Helpline provides support, education and resources for the families and communities of adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse. Call 1300 657 380.
• QPASTT (Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma) is not a crisis service but supports people from refugee backgrounds who have experienced trauma. Call 07 3391 6677

VET in Schools/Career Ready:

• We encourage our VETiS/Career Ready learners to speak to their High School Guidance Officer regarding their health and wellbeing concerns.
• Kids Helpline is Australia’s free (even from a mobile), confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people. Call 1800 55 1800 or chat online.

Veterans:

• Open Arms provides mental health and wellbeing support to those who have served in the Australian Defence Force and their immediate families. Call 1800 011 046 24/7
• Australian Government –Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Wellbeing, Mental Health, Sexuality & Gender:

• Beyond Blue is a reliable source of mental health information, support and hope.
• Headspace provides mental health and wellbeing information
• Reachout is a safe place to chat anonymously, get support, and feel better
• Kids Helpline provides confidential resources, information and 24/7 phone support on 1800 55 1800 or webchat
• Dear Mind is a free Queensland government mental wellbeing initiative.