AVA Telephone counselling

The service is available to AVA members, the vet professionals that work for them (who may not be members) and family members. It is available all day every day on 1300 687 327. Download the information poster here.

Stressed or worried?

If you’re having trouble dealing with something in either your personal or work lives, the free confidential telephone counselling service is here to help.

A qualified counsellor is available 24 hours to help you with relationship, stress or emotional problems. Your counsellor maintains complete confidentiality, and the freecall number does not appear on your telephone bill to ensure your privacy.

Counsellors use non-judgemental and unbiased techniques to help you work through problems. Both male and female professionals are available.

If you think one of your colleagues may be in trouble, the service can also give you sensible advice about the best way to help them.

Need help with one of these?

• Trauma
• Conflict, harassment and bullying
• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Relationship problems
• Job and career issues
• Grief, loss or bereavement
• Managing natural disasters

The AVA Telephone Counselling Service is free to AVA members and their immediate families.

On the rare occasion that all the counsellors are busy, a voicemail message from Converge International will ask you to leave a message. Converge International is the service provider appointed by the AVA, and they will return your call at the first available moment.

There are also a number of helpful fact sheets with more information. These can be downloaded from the Converge website. Please enter the user name: converge and password eap to access the additional resources.

Additional help

The Counselling Service can also provide face-to-face sessions at 90 locations around Australia. You can find out your nearest location and the costs involved with a simple phone call.

Members can also arrange a counsellor to visit their veterinary practice for post-trauma counselling or discussion after a difficult event such as the sudden death of a team member. This service is offered at a special member discount.