Eligibility
Open Arms provides mental health and wellbeing support to anyone who has served at least one day of continuous fulltime service in the ADF and their immediate families and Reservists who have rendered border protection or disaster relief service, or been involved in or witnessed a serious training accident, and their immediate families.
Eligibility criteria
In 2017, our eligibility criteria was expanded and now includes:
- current serving Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force personnel
- ADF personnel transitioning to civilian life
- ex-serving members
- partners and children of serving and ex-serving personnel
- ex-partners who are co-parenting
- reservists with one day continuous full time service or hazardous service.
Where there has been a death of a service person, parents and siblings may be able to access the service. We provide free and confidential counselling and support.
Eligibility matrix
The following document provides a quick overview of eligibility criteria.
Contact us
Call Open Arms on 1800 011 046 to learn more about your eligibility, and how we can provide services that are right for you.
See also
-
Our story
Open Arms – Veterans and Veterans Family Counselling (formerly VVCS) was founded by Australia's Vietnam veterans after a difficult chapter in Australia's history. -
What to expect
Open Arms specialises in giving you access to free face-to-face counselling as soon as possible. We are committed to your privacy and confidentiality and will not share information with DVA without your consent. -
Confidentiality and privacy
Open Arms offers free and confidential counselling, and in some circumstances working with the DVA or ADF.