VVCS - Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service
Services Provided and other information about the VVCS
VVCS Brochures available
Veterans Brochure | Younger Veterans Brochure | Partners, wives & widows | Sons & Daughters I VVCS Brochure | Stepping Out
Click here for contact details of VVCS Offices throughout Australia
Veterans' line 1 800 011 046 Nationally
CONTENTS
VVCS
Who can use the VVCS
What services VVCS provides
Individual, couple and family counselling
VVCS Outreach Program
Group Programs
Referrals
Veterans Line
Information, Education and Community Support
Referrals to VVCS services
More information about VVCS from the DVA Fact Sheet system
Emergency accommodation centres
Family therapy
Mental Health Project
VVCS
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service provides counselling and group programs to Australian veterans and peacekeepers and their families. It is a specialised, free and confidential Australia-wide service.
VVCS staff are professionally qualified psychologists or social workers with experience in working with veterans, peacekeepers and their families. They can provide a wide range of programs and treatments for war and service-related mental health conditions including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Who can use the VVCS?
The following people can use VVCS:
- Australian veterans of all conflicts and peace operations
- Partners, dependent children (under 26 years of age) of veterans with issues arising from the veteran’s service and war widows/widowers
- Ex-partners, within five years of separation
- All sons and daughters of Vietnam veterans, regardless of age, with psychological, emotional and social needs arising from the impact of their parent’s operational or warlike service
- Ex-service personnel with a mental health condition as a DVA-accepted disability, and
- Current serving members of the ADF who have been formally referred by the ADF under the Strategic Alliance (Memorandum of Understanding) Fee for Service Arrangement
DVA entitlement is not required to access services.
If you have any questions about your eligibility to access VVCS services contact your nearest office.
What services VVCS provides
Individual, couple and family counselling
In a friendly and safe setting, counsellors help people address problems in their lives with the aim of finding effective solutions for an improved health and wellbeing.
Counsellors can help with issues such as stress, relationship and family problems, alcohol and other drugs and psychological or emotional difficulties.
Veterans living in rural, remote and outer metropolitan areas can access the following VVCS services:
- Changing the Mix – Alcohol Correspondence Program – a ten week program for veterans, partners and their adult children who would like to change their drinking patterns.
- Outreach Heart Health Program – a 12 month correspondence program that gives veterans the opportunity to improve their physical and general wellbeing through information and professional training support.
- Outreach Counselling – VVCS has a number of contracted counsellors based around the country.
- Group Programs – educational courses that provide the veteran community with the opportunity to develop skills to enhance their overall health and wellbeing.
Group programs provide a variety of educative and therapeutic groups to enhance the quality of life for veterans and their families.
You can find out more information about the programs available throughout Australia here.
Referrals to specialist services and treatment programs can be arranged for VVCS clients. These include:
- psychiatric assessments for partners and children of Vietnam veterans
- PTSD programs and treatment facilities
- specialised clinical services (alcohol treatment programs – ATODS, children’s services, etc)
The after-hours crisis service provides telephone counselling services to help all veterans, peacekeepers and their families cope with crisis situations outside office hours. Follow up by VVCS staff can be organised.
Phone: 1800 011 046
Information, Education and Community Support
VVCS provides information and education on health and welfare issues that affect veterans and their families.
VVCS also assists the veteran community to identify needs and access services in the broader community.
For more comprehensive information on any of these services contact your
nearest VVCS office.
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Referrals to VVCS services
- Veterans and/or members of their families can refer themselves.
- Medical Practitioners, other service providers, community agencies and ex service organisations can provide written or verbal referrals to VVCS services.
More information about VVCS from the DVA Fact Sheet system
Go to DVA Facts, a system of fact sheets where you will find detailed information for veterans, their families and other users of VVCS. The relevant fact sheets are:
- VCS01 Information and Services for Veterans, their Families and Other Users of VVCS - Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS)
- VCS02 Combat Experience in Vietnam and its Effects
- VCS03 Impact on Work of Stress Related to War or Peacekeeping Activities
- VCS04 Impact on Relationships of Stress Related to War or Peacekeeping Activities
- VCS05 Domestic Violence
- VCS06 PTSD: General Information
- VCS09 Vietnam Veterans' Sons and Daughters
- VCS10 Veterans Line
- VCS11 Transition and Adjustment to Civilian Life
Once into DVA Facts, please read the instructions about PDF and HTML files then look down the left side of the screen and choose either:
- Numeric - gives a drop-down list of fact sheets by number. Click on the drop-down box and scroll to the number you want.
- Keyword - gives an alphabetical listing. Click on "V" and scroll down to the title you want
Emergency accommodation centres
Click here to find out how to access emergency accommodation for short periods of time.
Family therapy
Click here to find out how family therapy may be for you.
Mental Health Project
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