Victorian public servants offered free relationship counselling, family therapy

COUNSELLING is being ­provided for free to Victorian public servants whose relationships are on the rocks, with the move slammed by the Opposition.

COUNSELLING is being ­provided for free to Victorian public servants whose relationships are on the rocks.

Psychologists and social workers are on hand for relationship counselling, family therapy and parenting advice.

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CALLS FOR FINANCIAL HELP HIT ALL-TIME HIGH

The taxpayer-funded scheme even allows bureaucrats to bring their parents, partners and children to confidential counselling sessions.

The government has defended the “employee assistance programs” — run by departments across the public service — as a way to keep staff “healthy and productive”.

Victorian public servants have been offered free relationship counselling. Generic image

But Opposition Treasurer Michael O’Brien said Victorians were under enough financial pressure without having to cover the cost of sorting out bureaucrats’ relationships.

“Most families would be shocked to find that their taxes are paying for the private lives of public servants,” he said.

“That is not what people ­expect to be paying for.”

The Herald Sun can reveal that as well as offering couples’ therapy, the Department of Health and Human Services is looking to provide psychological support for staff suffering through separation or divorce.

It also plans to offer expert advice on mindfulness, compassion fatigue and “nutrition and dietetics”.

Victoria’s departments of Education and Training, Justice, and Premier and Cabinet are among those that offer staff counselling services.

Each department administer and pays for its own program separately.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet spent more than $45,000 on its support services last financial year.

A department spokeswoman said the service helped staff deal with events that have a “direct impact” on their health and wellbeing, such as responding to the Bourke St Mall tragedy. She said the state government took its duty of care to staff “very seriously”.

“The Victorian Government takes its duty of care to staff very seriously, and similar to other organisations, provides an Employee Assistance Program to assist (public service) staff to stay healthy and productive,” she said.

“We understand that there are times when an employee’s personal circumstances can affect their employment, so the service extends to confidential support for personal crisis and trauma, anxiety and depression as well as stress management.”

COUNSELLING MONEY SHOULD GO TO CRIME VICTIMS: OPPOSITION

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