Back
In this section

Welcome to families of NSW Ambulance staff

Family Support Network Logo

The NSW Ambulance Family Support Network has the key objective of equipping family members of NSW Ambulance staff with the knowledge and resources to look after their own and their families wellbeing.

Supports available for family of NSW Ambulance Staff

Employee Assistance and Psychological Services (EAPS)

Watch a short video from one of our Senior Staff Psychologists about EAPS.

EAPS is a professional and free telephone and face to face support service available to all NSW Ambulance employees, volunteers and their families. EAPS offers a short term solution focused counselling service. Individuals are entitled to four sessions per issue per year.

Call 1300 687 327

NSW Ambulance Legacy provides an inclusive and supportive network and services for former employees who become members.

Watch a short video of our NSW Ambulance Legacy Coordinator.

For further information go to NSW Ambulance Legacy.

Watch a short video from our Senior Chaplain.

Ambulance Chaplains are part of a holistic support team that provides nonjudgmental support to Ambulance staff and their families. We can assist you to navigate feelings of loss and grief, personal challenges and issues within the family. Chaplains can also provide spiritual guidance or help to access other faith based care or welfare services and may be requested for a baptism, wedding, funeral or other ceremony.

Get in touch with a chaplain AMBULANCE-Chaplains@health.nsw.gov.au

The Fitness Passport program allows eligible employees and their immediate family members (partner and/or children) a greatly discounted membership to gyms, fitness facilities and aquatic centres across NSW.

Watch a short video from our Health Coach

Contact Project Officer - Family Support at AMBULANCE-FamilySupport@health.nsw.gov.au

Call 02 9320 7881

Mon-Fri in business hours

For 24/7 psychological support for NSW Ambulance Staff and their families please call our EAPS on 1300 360 364

For Emergencies dial 000

Free and helpful resources and supports
Mental wellbeing
Domestic and Family Violence
  • Violence or abuse is never OK. Support is available NOW. If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call @1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au.
  • Mens Line - for men who want to change their behavior. Call 1300 78 99 78, https://mensline.org.au/
Drugs- Alcohol, Nicotine and other drugs
Parenting
Exercise
Diet
Womens Health
Mens Health
Master working from home
Young people, youth, adolescents and teenagers

For information and referral options relating to general mental health, physical health, work & study and alcohol and other drug for young people and their families a great option is Headspace

Upcoming calendar of events for NSW Ambulance staff and their families

Event titleMore information
R U OK? day webinar and live Q&A

Do you know how the people in your world are really going?  Sometimes we assume that if friends, colleagues and family seem OK, they must be OK.

RUOK day encourages us to think about those close to us – what do we know is going on for them, and how are they going both emotionally and practically?

Life's ups and downs happen to all of us and the last year or two has presented challenges for us all. So chances are someone you know might be struggling. Your genuine support can make a difference whatever they are facing, big or small.

This year we will show a brief video and then our panel will take questions about the all important R U OK? conversation

Thursday 9 September 1030-1130am

register here

Lunch and Learn

Join us for a lunch and learn session Tuesday 21 September 1230-1pm

The format will be:

  1. BYO lunch
  2. We will stream a TEDx talk and this one will be “Do schools kill creativity” by Sir Ken Robinson
  3. Discussion about any learnings or key points
    Register Here
What next?
NSW Ambulance Family Support Network Webinar Series

What topic would you like us to cover next?

Email me with your ideas AMBULANCE-FamilySupport@health.nsw.gov.au

The guest speaker podcast series is designed for busy families who would like information in an audio format to listen to whilst travelling around or doing other things.  There is video yet unlike the webinar series you wont miss anything if you choose to just listen and not watch.

If there is a topic you would like us to create a podcast on please let us know at AMBULANCE-FamilySupport@health.nsw.gov.au

Call 02 9320 7881

Mon-Fri in business hours

NSW Ambulance Staff Health team invites family and loved ones of our staff to participate in a research study on how best we can support our staff in managing alcohol and other drug use.

NSWA is partnering with The University of Sydney’s Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use in a study that aims to improve the understanding of:

  1. The mental health concerns, including concerns around substance use, of NSWA staff and their family members, friends and/or loved ones.
  2. The barriers and facilitators to seeking help for mental health concerns, including substance use issues.
  3. What interventions staff and their family members, friends and/or loved ones want available to support staff who may have concerns about their mental health and substance use, and how they would want these interventions to be delivered.

The information they collect in this study will be used to develop a new model of care to support emergency services personnel in NSW to manage their alcohol and/or other drug use. The researchers need the perspectives of family and friends of our staff, even if they don’t currently need help managing your alcohol and/or other drug use.

Family or friends who might want to offer their perspective are welcome to participate with this link.  The survey closes in September.

It takes about 20 minutes to complete.

Who is the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use?  Matilda is a multidisciplinary research centre committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people who use alcohol and other drugs through the development of evidence-based prevention and treatment programs, is conducting this research project. The Matilda Centre is not affiliated with NSWA in any way.

Why should I participate? This project seeks to understand alcohol and other drug use amongst personnel in the NSW public service, and your views on the kinds of resources and support that may be helpful for staff. Your perspectives and experiences will be used to help inform NSW public service agencies of how best to support their employees to manage alcohol and other drug use.

Do I have to participate? No - your participation is entirely voluntary.

Will my answers be confidential? Any information you give as a participant in this research will be kept completely confidential and anonymous. If you have any concerns about participating, please contact Dr Ashleigh Morse (ashleigh.morse@sydney.edu.au) for more information.