Employee Assistance Program FAQs

The EAP is a short-term, solutions focussed counselling, coaching and mentoring service provided by a team of psychologists.  The program is designed to help you explore and implement strategies to address issues which may be having an impact on you at work and/or at home, including:

• Interpersonal conflict (workplace/home)
• Grief / Trauma counselling
• Dealing with difficult personalities
• Fatigue and perceived inability to cope with work demands
• Dealing with change
• Building resilience and managing stress
• Anger management
• Alcohol and substance dependence
• Relationship and family problems
• Emotional and mental health issues e.g. anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder
• Basic financial issues

The approach used in EAP counselling is solutions focussed.  The psychologist will encourage you to talk about your concerns with a view to problem solving and developing strategies for successful outcomes.  The role of the psychologist is to listen and help to identify and work through the specific issues, teach coping strategies and explore available solutions.  The objective is to empower you to address your workplace concerns, sometimes with the assistance of the organisational channels available to you within the University, should you wish to use them.

Please be aware that the EAP is not:

• An advocacy service
• Your financial advisor
• A certifier of time off work/sick leave
• For long-term specialist support.

You will need to arrange for other support/service providers outside of the EAP for any of the above. 

In relation to organisational change, the EAP can help you explore personal strategies to build resilience and adaptability.  They can assist you in exploring available pathways in relation to:

• Managing known and unknown change
• Coping with change, including the processes and timeframes
• Family communication and support 
• Dealing with a range of emotions
• Making difficult decisions
• Building confidence and emotional preparation for interview (note the counsellor may assist with the pragmatics of job applications interviews and follow-up).
• Career counselling (including scoping of realistic options and advice on strategic resume preparation).

Any employee of the university and their immediate family can access EAP services. The EAP  continues to be accessible to former staff for three months after leaving the university. The service is also available to formally registered volunteers of the university and Titleholders (to be reviewed by 31 December 2025).

Student counselling is available from Student Counselling Services, Ground Floor, Horace Lamb Building, North Terrace campus (8313 5663).

The service is free of charge to University of Adelaide employees and their immediate family. You can access up to three sessions free of charge each year under most circumstances and up to five one hour sessions in the case of matters involve sexual harassment or sexual assault.

Services can be provided face-to-face or via telephone.

During business hours, general appointments can be made through contacting either

Parking is available at each site.

For public transport options go to Adelaide Metro.

The University’s EAP service is confidential.  Information regarding visits or any other details will not be relayed to other parties without your prior approval.  Statistical data is prepared quarterly regarding usage, but this information does not include individual identifying information.

It might be useful for you to spend some time before your appointment considering:

• Why you are seeking assistance
• What you hope to get out of your appointment.

This will help the psychologist determine the best way to assist you and to also provide appropriate educational and referral information if required. You may wish to bring a support person e.g. family, friend or work colleague.

• The psychologist to be prepared to discuss any concerns that you raise.
• The psychologist to write notes as a record that will be appropriately and confidentially stored.
• The psychologist to provide strategies to assist with your concerns.

The EAP is designed to provide short-term, solutions focused assistance.  If it is identified that longer term counseling or specialist assistance is required (i.e. more than 3 visits p.a. for most matters or more than 5 visits p.a. for sexual harassment or sexual assault related matters), the psychologist will suggest the appropriate referral and to help put you in contact with the service identified as best for you.