Open Arms
What they do
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling is a national service that offers free and confidential crisis support, counselling, self-help resources, and referrals to current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families.
They provide a range of services aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing, including:
- Individual, couple, and family counselling
- Group treatment programs and workshops
- Suicide intervention support
- Peer support through the community and peer program
- Self-help tools and resources
- Crisis accommodation support.
Open Arms counselling is available face-to-face, online, or via telehealth. It's designed to help individuals build resilience, manage life challenges, and strengthen relationships.
Who they're for
Open Arms is available to anyone who has served at least one day of continuous full-time service in the ADF and their immediate families.
This includes:
- Current serving ADF members
- Personnel transitioning from the ADF
- Ex-serving veterans
- Partners, families, children, parents, and siblings of ADF members
- Carers and employers of veterans.
Open Arms counsellors are there to listen to whatever you might be experiencing. Common concerns include:
- Relationship and family issues
- Transitioning to civilian life
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anger
- Sleep difficulties
- PTSD
- Alcohol or substance misuse.
How to contact
Open Arms offers 24/7 support via:
- Phone: 1800 011 046
- Regional offices. Click here to find your local Open Arms.
You can learn more about Open Arms and explore their self-help resources by visiting openarms.gov.au.