Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What is an Employee Assistance Program?

An EAP is a work-based support program designed to provide access to counselling for employees and their immediate family members.

The aim is to provide preventative and proactive support for problems and issues, which may include, but are not limited to; stress and fatigue, couple and family issues, separation and divorce, conflict and harassment, addictions, anxiety and depression, bereavement, financial difficulties, work and career problems, and adjustment to organisational change.

The current EAP agreement runs from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 (inclusive)

Linkwest's network-wide EAP

Linkwest has engaged Relationships Australia for the provision of a network-wide EAP.

There are significant advantages to having a network-wide EAP. As a virtual large organisation, we can offer access at a significantly reduced cost and ensure users have anonymity that may not be possible if each Centre signed up individually.

Relationships Australia

What is covered under the Linkwest EAP?

Up to six (6) FREE sessions over a 12-month period are available for each member of staff and, if applicable, the management committee and/or their immediate family members.

Counselling can be accessed in person at any Relationships Australia WA centre, via telephone or through Relationships Australia’s online counselling service (WebEx). Relationships Australia WA endeavours to provide counselling within three business days of receiving a request.

Relationships Australia WA’s website www.relationshipswa.org.au provides information about all services and opening times.

Who is covered and what is the cost?

All Linkwest members are eligible to join the Linkwest EAP, and the cost is calculated per person per 12-month period. The financial outlay for your Centre / organisation is therefore dependent upon:

  • If you wish to cover both staff and the management committee (MC) under the program
  • The number of staff / MC members you have at your Centre / organisation
  • Your category of membership

The rate per person for the 2023–2024 period:

 
  Member category Price per person*
Tier 1 NCs and CRC Package $50.00 + GST
Tier 2 CRC Member and Associates $80.00 + GST
Tier 3 Crisis Counselling** for NCs
and CRC Package		 POA
Tier 4 Crisis Counselling** for
CRC Member and Associates		 POA

The rates quoted above are flat fees, regardless of employment status (full-time, part-time or casual), or the number of hours each Management Committee member engages with the Centre / organisation.

* A per person administration fee, retained by Linkwest, of $10 for Tier 1 and $40 for Tier 2 is included.
** Crisis Counselling - for those members that wish to access counselling services immediately, but are not currently signed up for the EAP. Pricing will be dependent upon your membership category.

Sample costing:
Based upon 4 staff (1 full-time, 2 part-time and 1 casual) and 6 Management Committee members:

  NC or CRC Package CRC Member or Associate
Cost    
Sign-up + Admin Fee 10 x $50 10 x $80
To cover both Staff and MC  $500 + GST $800 + GST

Confidentiality

The service is strictly confidential to the extent allowed by law. No personal, confidential issue raised in counselling will be communicated to your Centre or Linkwest unless there is prior consent by the person being counselled. This confidentiality does not apply, where the case is defined as a ‘serious matter' e.g. disclosure of possible child abuse, a serious criminal offence, or threat of harm to the client or another person. Refer to the sample EAP Service Agreement for more information.

Reporting

A distinct advantage of being a part of a network-wide EAP as opposed to organising one just for your Centre – is the anonymity. Staff and, if applicable, MC members can be confident that they can access the service without the knowledge of the Centre or Linkwest.

Relationships Australia provides non-identifying reports to Linkwest on an annual basis. This report is available to EAP members on request.

What if some of my staff or MC members are already covered by their spouse / partner / parent's EAP?

In these cases, we have negotiated with Relationships Australia to allow a Centre to sign up for only the number of staff and MC members not covered by another EAP. In these circumstances it will be necessary for the names of the staff / MC to be provided to Relationships Australia at the time of contracting so they can cross-reference with their database in the event of someone from the Centre accessing the service.

An example
Janet, Josh and Jodie are covered by SuperCentre under the Linkwest EAP.

Janet calls to access the service and is asked by Relationships Australia to provide the name of the Centre. Because SuperCentre is listed as one where others are covered by different EAPs, she is also asked her name. As Janet's name is on the list that was provided by SuperCentre, she receives access to the service.  

In contrast, employee Joan is covered by her partner’s EAP, and her name is not on the list. If Joan contacts Relationships Australia to access counselling, she will be informed she is not covered under SuperCentre’s EAP, due to the fact she is covered under a different EAP.

Sounds great! How does my Centre sign up?

It’s easy! 
Just let us know:

  • your Centre / organisation name,
  • the number of staff and, if applicable, MC members you wish to have covered under the EAP. 

We will send you:

  • a service agreement that will need to be completed*** and signed, and
  • an invoice for an amount per person you want covered - based upon the current rates.

 
*** If you have staff / MC members already covered by their spouse, partner’s or parent's EAP,  you will need to provide a list of names of those you DO wish to be covered under the Linkwest EAP.

Once the agreement has been signed and returned and the invoice is paid, you will be sent:

  • A final copy of the EAP agreement (countersigned by the Linkwest CEO) for your records
  • A digital information brochure about the EAP to distribute to your staff / MC members

The current EAP agreement runs from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 (inclusive). 

Got any questions?

First, check out the sample EAP Service Agreement and employee information brochure to see if your query is covered.

Then, give Linkwest a call on 08 6164 9823 or email [email protected].