The Department of Education and Training (the Department) has engaged Benestar Group to deliver the Wellbeing Support Program (Best You by Benestar) which includes confidential and free counselling for eligible teachers and educators, as well as mediation and critical incident response services.
MyCoach – confidential counselling and support for all aspects of your life
A part of the Best You program, MyCoach is delivered by qualified and experienced clinicians and is available 24/7. The service provides personal and professional confidential support for teachers and educators including mental, physical, social and financial health. Benestar’s professional clinicians can support teachers and educators experiencing a wide range of issues and of diverse identities – including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, culturally and linguistically diverse and LGBTIQ+ staff. Translators are also available.
Teachers and educators, including Advisors and Activity Group Leaders, that deliver a funded kindergarten program in early childhood services under the Victorian Early Childhood Teachers and Educators Agreement 2020 (VECTEA) are eligible for four free confidential counselling sessions each year.
Casual Relief Teachers and educators employed by an early childhood service under the VECTEA are eligible if employed directly by the service provider. Staff employed through an employment agency, external contractors and volunteers, parents and children are not eligible to access the counselling services.
Teachers and educators are able to meet with clinicians face-to-face, via telephone, video or online LiveChat.
How to access counselling
Via telephone
Teachers and educators can book an appointment with a clinician by calling:
- Best You by Benestar general line: 1300 360 364
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander support line: 1800 816 152
Online through BeneHub
BeneHub is Benestar’s resource centre, which can be used to access the live chat function and to book an appointment with a clinician. It also has a wealth of health and wellbeing resources and information.
Download the Benehub User Guide to register.
Mediation
Mediation support is available for community-based kindergarten services referred by the Department. Mediation support may assist kindergarten services experiencing workplace disputes or conflicts that are impacting on workplace culture and can benefit from additional support to achieve positive outcomes.
Critical Incident Response
Critical Incident Response support is also available on referral by the Department for services that experience a sudden and serious emergency or trauma within the kindergarten community.
