Resources

We urge you to monitor your own wellbeing and seek early assistance if you have concerns or experience stress. Use these resources as a guide.

RACP Support Program

Reach out to the RACP Support Program for free, 24/7, completely confidential support. Make an appointment or speak with a consultant on 1300 687 327 (Australia) or 0800 666 367 (Aotearoa New Zealand).

RACP resources

I need support | Find out more about trainee support and strategies for self-care

I want to offer support | Learn about the warning signs and how to reach-out, connect and support colleagues and trainees

Health Benefits of Good WorkTM | Initiative based on compelling evidence that good work is beneficial to health and wellbeing

Members' stories | RACP members share their wellbeing stories.

Online learning resources | Courses on topics including training support, self-care, wellbeing and creating a safe workplace

Supervisor support and resources | Resources for supervisors to develop their teaching skills

Policies and statements

Education policies | Flexible Training Policy and Trainee in Difficulty Support (TIDS) Policy

Improving workforce health and workplace productivity (PDF) | Position statement

Respectful Behaviour in College Training Programs

Trainee support | Learn more about how we can coordinate additional support to keep you on track to complete your training requirements

Pomegranate Health podcast

Our Pomegranate Health podcasts cover a range of topics, including wellbeing:

Flyers

Healthier Physicians (PDF)
Supporting the Mental Health of your Trainees (PDF)

External resources

Addiction

Alcohol and drugs

Australia alcohol | 24/7 support through Alcoholics Anonymous Australia on 1300 22 22 22

Australia drugs | 24/7 support through Narcotics Anonymous Australia on 1300 652 820

Aotearoa NZ alcohol | 24/7 support through Alcoholic Anonymous New Zealand on 0800 229 6757

Aotearoa NZ drugs | 24/7 support through Narcotics Anonymous New Zealand on 0800 628 632

Gambling

Australia | 24/7 support through Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 and Gamblers Anonymous Australia on 02 9726 6625

Aotearoa NZ | 24/7 support through Gamblers Anonymous New Zealand or call the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655

Anxiety and depression

Australia | 24/7 support through Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Aotearoa NZ | 24/7 support through depression.org.nz on 0800 111 757

Financial hardship

The Medical Benevolent Association assists medical practitioners and their families in financial hardship.

Location Service Contact
NSW/ACT The Medical Benevolent Association of NSW 02 9987 0504
QLD The Medical Benevolent Association of QLD 07 3872 2222
VIC The Victorian Medical Benevolent Association 03 9496 4295
SA The Medical Benevolent Association of SA 08 8267 4355

General advice and support

WellMob

WellMob is a resource hub made by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Australasian Doctors Health Network | Advisory service for doctors, medical students and their families and colleagues.

Doctor’s Health Advisory Service (DHAS) | Provides confidential advice to doctors and medical students on stress and mental illness, drug and alcohol problems, personal and financial difficulties.

Location Service Open Contact
NSW DHAS 24/7 02 9437 6552
ACT DHAS 24/7 0407 265 414
NT Doctors' Health NT 24/7 08 8366 0250
QLD DHAS 24/7 07 3833 4352
SA Doctors’ Health SA 24/7 08 8232 1250
VIC Victorian Doctors’ Health Program 9am to 5pm, Mon to Fri 03 9280 8712
WA DHAS 24/7 08 9321 3098
NZ DHAS NZ 24/7 0800 471 2654

Mind Tools | Resources to help reduce stress in your environment

RMHive App, iPhone | Tips, advice and tools designed to keep you mentally prepared and on-track during COVID-19 and beyond

Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners | Self-care guidebook for medical practitioners (PDF)

Standford Medicine WellMD | General health and wellbeing for doctors, including a list of anonymous online self-test sites

UCLA Health: Coping with shift work | Overcoming sleep problems caused by non-traditional work schedules

Ward, H.S., 2020, Optimizing resilience and wellbeing for healthcare professions trainees and healthcare professionals during public health crises – Practical tips for an ‘integrative resilience’ approach, Medical Teacher


Australia

If you need immediate support, call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.

AMA Victoria Peer Support Service | Offers a listening ear and referrals to appropriate expert services, for doctors by doctors in Victoria. Available 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week on 1300 853 338

Australian Medical Association DRS4DRS | Independent, safe, supportive and confidential advisory and referral service

Australian Medical Association (NSW) Doctors for Colleagues | Registry of General Practitioners who are are happy to take on colleagues as patients

Black Dog Institute Health professional resources | Assist with diagnosis, treatment and capacity building

Beyond Blue Health Services Program | Aims to address the prevalence of depression, anxiety and suicide in Australian medical students and doctors

Blue Knot Foundation | Empowers recovery and builds resilience for adults impacted by complex trauma

Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges | Unifying organisation for the specialist Medical Colleges of Australia

Health and Wellbeing of Junior Doctors | Run by junior doctors to negotiate some of the difficulties other junior doctors have faced since graduation

Lifeline Information and support | Information to help you understand the challenges you or a person you care for may be facing and where to go for help


Aotearoa New Zealand

If you need immediate support, call Lifeline New Zealand on 0800 543 354.

New Zealand Medical Association | Advisory service to assist on a variety of issues, including staff employment and running a practice. Members and families of deceased members may apply for aid in situations of financial hardship or distress from the Medical Benevolent Society. Contact on 0800 656 161

Te ORA Māori Medical Practitioners Association | Represents Māori medical students, doctors and medical practitioners working as clinicians, specialists, researchers and teachers. Contact on 0800 483 672


International

Physician health matters | Mental health strategy for physicians in Canada.

Medical indemnity agencies

There are a range of medical indemnity agencies across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand that provide support services and counselling programs to their members.

Service Hours Contact
Australia
Avant helpline 24/7
1800 128 268
MDA National medico-legal advice 24/7 1800 011 255
Medical Indemnity Protection Society Clinico-Legal support 24/7 1800 061 113
Medical Insurance Group Australia emergency support 24/7 1800 839 280
Medical Insurance Group Australia practitioner support service 24/7 1800 777 156
Aotearoa NZ
Medical Protection Society helpline 24/7
0800 22 55 677

Remote and rural services

Bush Support Services

CRANAplus runs Bush Support Services and offers personalised care for remote health workers. It includes a Bush Support Line, stress management workshops, self-care publications and guidelines.

The Bush Support Line is a confidential helpline staffed by registered psychologists who have experience in working in remote and rural areas. The service is tailored to each individual and their situation, with the capacity for repeat callers to speak to the same psychologist. Callers are not required to be CRANAplus members and the support line is open to spouses and family members of remote health workers.

Contact the Bush Support Line, open 24/7 in Australia, on 1800 805 391.

Rural Family Medical Network

The Rural Medical Family Network assists the spouses and families of doctors and medical students when moving to rural locations in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and WA.

Rural Medical Family Network services vary each state but generally include:

  • family and kids programs at CPD conferences
  • grants to facilitate face-to-face networking of medical spouses, partners and families
  • spouse retraining and/or education grants
  • newsletters
  • crisis assistance for rural doctors and their families who are stressed or ill
  • gatherings to lessen feelings of loneliness and isolation
Location Service Contact
NSW NSW Rural Doctors Network 02 6545 2461
QLD Queensland Rural Medical Family Network 07 3105 7800
SA South Australia Rural Medical Family Network 08 8234 8277
VIC Rural Doctors Association of Victoria 03 8610 6318
WA Rural Health West
0407 776 945

Rural Doctors Workforce Agency and Dr DOC program

The Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (RDWA) provide opportunities to access CPD activities, financial assistance, and a Dr DOC (duty of care) program, which supports rural GPs in South Australia to take care of themselves, their families and their colleagues.

Financial support includes:

  • GP Rural Incentives Program
  • professional support subsidy to enable rural GPs to access CPD opportunities
  • spouse employment assistance grant
  • relocation support subsidy
  • rural female GP pre-school childcare subsidy

Dr DOC is a confidential service linking rural GPs to a range of rural and city based doctors for general health care. The program and services work across the full spectrum of health care, from prevention and early intervention, to acute or chronic situations. A phone helpline is also available if there is a crisis.

The RDWA also offers assistance to the partners and children of doctors in a variety of ways, including helping families settle into a new community and connect to the local people and services.

Contact the Dr DOC helpline in South Australia on 08 8234 8277.

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