A growing number of Australian organisations understand that employing veterans and service families makes good business sense. Open Arms has a range of employee services that can complement your existing people services.

Employing veterans

Australian Defence Force (ADF) members receive world class training. When a serving member leaves the ADF, they take with them a range of qualifications and skills that make them valuable to the civilian workforce.

Organisations gain many advantages and benefits from hiring veterans who bring new insights, expertise and innovative thinking to their business.

Similarly, families face change and separation throughout a service career due to postings, training exercises and deployments. As a result, parents and children raised in a service family, learn to be adaptable and resilient.

Using Open Arms services

In addition to your organisation's Employee Assistance Program, former ADF personnel who have served at least one day of continuous full-time service, and their families, can access counselling and support services through Open Arms. Open Arms is a national, free and confidential service that specialises in helping veterans and their families.

As Australia’s leading provider of mental health services to Australia’s military community, we understand the common issues facing serving and non-serving members and their families, and have an experienced team of clinicians and support officers available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

Who we help

Designed by veterans for veterans, Open Arms works with a range of partners to ensure clients have access to the services they need, when they need them.

Our counselling services are available to:

• current serving Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force personnel
• ADF personnel transitioning to civilian life
• ex-serving members
• partners, some ex-partners and children of serving and ex-serving personnel
• reservists with one day continuous full time service or hazardous service 

And, where there has been a death of a service person—parents and siblings can also access counselling support.

What we offer

Our services include:

• unlimited access to counselling for eligible individuals, couples and families
• 24-hour telephone counselling
• peer support
• mental health training programs – for individuals and organisations
• treatment programs and workshops
• suicide prevention and resilience training
• crisis accommodation support

Open Arms counsellors help clients work through issues including:

• deployment
• discharge and transition
• difficulties with relationships
• anger control
• depression and anxiety
• substance and alcohol misuse
• past trauma and PTSD

We also offer a range of digital self-help resources, designed specifically with the military experience in mind. These resources include treatment tools, case studies and mobile applications.

See also