Frequently asked questions (FAQs) for anyone interested, or participating, in the Before Blue – Mental Health Coaching program.
If you are having technical issues with the Before Blue platform that is not dealt with the FAQs, please email the support team at support.beforeblue@beyondblue.org.au.
If you are looking for support to help you manage stress, build resilience, and enhance your overall mental wellbeing, this service might be right for you.
You may be eligible if you:
Live and work in Victoria
Work for an organisation with less than 200 employees
Do not have an active WorkCover claim for a mental injury (past, closed claims do not affect eligibility)
This program is intended for early intervention and support, before a WorkCover mental injury claim becomes necessary. It is an active, skills‑based program that focuses on building practical coping strategies and requires ongoing participation and practice between sessions.
To avoid overwhelming participants or competing with other recovery activities, the program is only available to people who do not have an active WorkCover mental injury claim.
Workers with an active WorkCover mental injury claim are therefore not eligible to participate. However, you are eligible to register if your WorkCover mental injury claim is closed. We recognise that individuals navigating a claim may benefit from support. Beyond Blue provides a range of other free support services you are welcome to access:
The Beyond Blue Support Service offers free counselling and is open 24/7 for everyone in Australia.
This service offers brief over the phone or webchat counselling and is available on 1300 22 4636 or https://www.beyondblue.org.au/support-service/chat for webchat. Our counsellors will also be able to suggest other support options that might be available to you.
Connect with our peer community through the Beyond Blue Online Forums. This can also be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provides an anonymous, moderated space to share and seek support: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums
Other support options include:
The Suicide Call-back Service supports anyone impacted by suicide in any way
Yes, you are eligible for the program if you have a previous WorkCover claim for a physical or mental injury that is closed.
Having a past WorkCover claim for either a physical or mental injury does not affect your eligibility for the Before Blue program, provided the claim is closed and you do not have an active WorkCover mental injury claim.
Yes. You are welcome to participate in Before Blue again if Beyond Blue is still under contract to deliver the Before Blue – Worker Mental Health Coaching service and you meet the following criteria::
By participating in this program, you consent to sharing some information for an independent evaluation by Monash University.
The purpose of this evaluation is to understand how well the program supports the mental health and wellbeing of workers in small and medium‑sized businesses, and to help improve future services.
Beyond Blue will only share de-identified information with the Monash University evaluation team. This means your name and contact details are removed, so you cannot be personally identified. Beyond Blue will not share any coaching session records or detailed session notes (such as case notes) with the evaluators. The information shared may include:
Your information is used only for research and evaluation. It is stored securely by Monash University and reported only in group form, so no individual participants can be identified.
To access Before Blue – Worker Mental Health Coaching, you will first need to check if you are eligible. If eligible, you can access the digital booking platform through the Before Blue Portal registration.
If you are having trouble logging in, check that your email address and password are correct. If you are still having issues, try resetting your password by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-up page and following the prompts. If the problem persists, please contact support.beforeblue@beyondblue.org.au and a member of our team will assist you.
The reason we collect this information is to keep you, our Before Blue service participant, safe.
There may be times where you indicate you are experiencing a level of distress - in extreme cases, we may need to intervene and contact emergency services or mental health crisis assessment teams. In these rare instances, date of birth and postcode can help response teams to identify and locate you. For this reason, we ask that you supply your home postcode or where you are most regularly based.
Beyond Blue collects and stores all your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988. View our Privacy Policy.
All personal health data is stored in Australia by our digital platform provider Meddbase, a market-leading health records software provider. Meddbase is ISO27001 accredited. The platform is monitored 365/24/7 and conducts daily server and database backups and regular penetration tests.
All SMS data (non-health-related) is stored by ISO27001 accredited CM Telecom in the Netherlands (a centralised and trusted vendor for all Meddbase SMS services). The Netherlands is subject to European Union’s enforceable personal data protection regulations equivalent to / stricter than the Australian Privacy Act 1988.
No individual data is shared with your organisation.
We provide aggregate reports on service engagement and outcomes to WorkSafe Victoria, the program funder. We do this to keep relevant stakeholders informed about the impact of Before Blue. These reports provide ongoing oversight of key performance indicators including overall participation rates and the effectiveness of the program in supporting your organisation’s mental health.
No individual data is shared with your organisation, and WorkSafe Victoria only receive anonymised, aggregated information. If you would like to see an example of what is reported to WorkSafe Victoria, please contact support.beforeblue@beyondblue.org.au
These forms hep our coaches understand your situation and needs so they can better support you during your sessions. The questionnaires act as a check-in to assess how you’re managing different stressors.
Please complete them no sooner than 24 hours before your scheduled session with your coach. These will be discussed with your coach at your sessions.
You can see your scores and program progress by clicking on “My progress” in the main menu. Please note, scores will only be shown after you have attended the corresponding session with your coach.
Email support.beforeblue@beyondblue.org.au. The Before Blue team will reach out to you to confirm the information that needs to be updated.
You can withdraw from the Before Blue service at any time. In line with our Privacy Policy, we can delete your account if you have not attended an assessment or a coaching session.
If you have attended an assessment or a coaching session, we can deactivate your account, however we do retain your records for a period of time in line with legislation. Your information is always stored securely and disposed of in line with regulatory requirements.
Please email support.beforeblue@beyondblue.org.au with the subject line: “Delete my Before Blue account” if you would like your account deleted or deactivated. Please include the email address associated with your Before Blue account.
To reschedule an appointment, you’ll need to cancel and rebook your appointment. After logging in, view your upcoming appointments on your homepage or under the sessions tab. Click on cancel, select the Cancel and rebook option, and follow the prompts.
To cancel an appointment without re-booking, follow the step above to find the appointment you want to cancel. Click on “cancel session only” and follow the prompts.
Before Blue – Worker Mental Health Coaching is a free and confidential mental health coaching service developed by Beyond Blue and available to eligible participants who are feeling stressed or overwhelmed about everyday life issues such as work, study, relationships, health or loneliness.
The service is delivered through Beyond Blue’s secured portal, powered by Meddbase, and is available to employees of small to medium sized businesses in Victoria, via video call or phone.
Before Blue is delivered by Beyond Blue coaches who are trained in low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (LiCBT) – a personalised and structured evidence-based treatment that helps us to recognise the way we think, act and feel and support them to build practical strategies to improve their mental wellbeing.
Please be aware that Before Blue – Worker Mental Health Coaching is not a crisis support service.
If you, or someone you know, are in an emergency, or at immediate risk of harm to themselves or others please phone Triple Zero (000) and refer to your relevant organisational policy.
Please note: Before Blue is not a crisis support service.
If you’re in need of immediate mental health support, the Beyond Blue Support Service is here for you 24/7. Our online tools, web chat, phone (1300 22 4636), coaches and counsellors can support you whenever you need. If you are in an emergency, or at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others, please contact emergency services on 000.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological treatment that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to mental health issues. It focuses on developing coping strategies and problem-solving skills.
Low-Intensity CBT refers to a simpler, less resource-intensive version of CBT, often delivered in shorter sessions or through self-help materials, targeting mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or depression. It's designed to be accessible and easily scalable, making it suitable for wider use.
To access Before Blue – Worker Mental Health Coaching, you will first need to check if you are eligible. Then, you can access the digital booking platform through the Before Blue Portal registration.
You are then required to enter the unique code provided to you after completing the eligibility check. Once entered, you will be asked to verify your email and enter a few details to set up your account. After your account is created, you will be able to choose a coach and book in for your initial session.
If you need support accessing the platform, see the portal FAQs or email us at support.beforeblue@beyondblue.org.au.
Yes. Before Blue is an evolution of the NewAccess program, which was adapted from the United Kingdom’s National Health Service Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression Program. An Australian pilot of NewAccess took place from 2013 to 2016 in three locations (in three states) with a varied client base, to assess the suitability of the program across metro and regional areas of Australia.
Ernst & Young's independent evaluation found the service was appropriate and effective and achieved a recovery rate of 67.5%.
The service continues to deliver recovery rates ranging between 65 and 70 per cent for general population programs. In a workplace trial in 2019 by Comcare (the Commonwealth’s workplace health and safety regulator), an average recovery rate of 78 per cent was reported. This trial supported participants to deal with common issues like work-related stress.
Since launching in 2024, almost 800 employees across Australia have taken part in the program. The latest results show:
The service consists of:
During this session you will discuss your current circumstances and challenges and identify one or two issues to focus on. Together with your coach, you will develop a problem statement that outlines the issues you want to work on, how they are impacting you and how you plan to address them.
During the initial assessment, if it is identified that your needs are more complex and not suitable for this program, your coach will assist you to access a more appropriate service.
Over these sessions you will work with your coach on a program tailored to your individual needs based on your problem statement.
You will be given resources to listen to or watch, or practical activities to complete between sessions. These goals are designed to help you build skills and continue progressing towards your goals.
If at any point during treatment it becomes clear that you require a different type of support, you will be assisted to access a more appropriate service.
The follow-up sessions ensure you are staying on track and help with any challenges you’ve encountered since the end of the program. During these sessions, you and your coach will focus on relapse-prevention by revisiting the knowledge and skills you acquired during treatment.
Your progress is reviewed at each session from the initial assessment through to the final follow-up session at six-months post completion using validated outcome measure tools. This ensures you receive an appropriate level of care. If at any point you are not responding to treatment, you will be supported to access a more appropriate service or will be referred to your GP to determine the next step in your care.
The total time commitment, if you were to attend all sessions, including the initial assessment and both follow up sessions is 4.5 hours. This does not include the time dedicated to practical activities between sessions.
Before Blue is a structured program that uses Low-intensity CBT to help you recognise the connection between how you think, act and feel. Instead of a counsellor, participants are supported by a coach who helps them develop and work through an individual plan.
Over six focused sessions and two follow ups, you and your coach will develop practical strategies that address the key issue identified at your initial assessment. Your coach will guide you to practise tools between sessions and will review your progress with you during each session.
A unique feature of Before Blue is the monitoring of outcome measures (using validated outcome measure tools) at each session. This allows you to see how you’re progressing.
Before Blue coaches are trained in Low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a structured and evidence-based approach that helps you to recognise how your thoughts, actions and feelings are connected, and how changing one can influence the others.
The coaches undertake 12 months of training, starting with a six-week intensive course that followed by practical learning which involves managing clients and an ongoing education under clinical supervision.
This training model was tested in the Beyond Blue 2013-16 pilot and is now used in the Before Blue service. Our coaches are experienced coaches who have previously worked across a wide range of environments including corporate, government and community sectors. They understand the challenges of different workplaces and are skilled in applying the LiCBT framework in both work and home contexts.
Before Blue does not provide relationship counselling. However, if you would feel more comfortable having your partner, family member or friend sit in on their appointment with you, you can let your coach know when you attend your assessment.
Appointments are conducted via video or phone on a secure digital platform and are not available face to face. This allows us to service employees across Australia.
One of the strengths of Before Blue is that it’s designed to complement existing mental health services rather than compete with them. It also helps to ease pressure on higher-intensity clinical services, such as psychologists, by supporting people who aren’t currently engaged in mental health care but are experiencing common mental health concerns like stress, overwhelm and low mood as a result of day-to-day challenges.
Before Blue also aims to reduce some of the barriers that often prevent people from seeking support. You don’t need a GP referral to access the service and the service is free. Delivered via video call or phone, the service is easy to access and avoids long wait times.
Yes, cultural competency training is included in LiCBT Practitioner Training. Refer to Module 3 ‘Values and Attitudes in Ethical & Professional Practice’ of the Low Intensity CBT Coach Training Curriculum and Course Outline, which includes cultural competency training as a component.
Additionally, all Before blue coaches undertake Beyond Blue-organised Cultural Competency training with regular refresher sessions.
Although First Nations people have successfully used Before Blue, it has not been specifically tested for this community.
Independent evaluation of NewAccess shows that LiCBT is a viable option for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. However, it also highlights the importance of tailoring workbook materials and the coaching environment/mode of delivery to ensure cultural relevance and recommends further evaluation of these adaptations.
No referral is required for Before Blue. However, only employees of small to medium Victorian workplaces (fewer than 200 employees) are eligible to register for the service. We encourage individuals to read about Before Blue to determine whether it feels right for them. If you would like further information about Before Blue, visit Before Blue for Employees.
To direct someone to sign up for Before Blue – Worker Mental Health Coaching, please direct them to complete the eligibility check and register here. (with link to checker)
For further information about the program, team members can:
Please note: Before Blue is not a crisis support service and operates only during the hours of 8am – 8pm (AEST) Monday to Friday.
If you are concerned for the safety of someone you work with, please phone 000 and refer to your relevant organisational policy.
As an organisation that supports people from across Australia, Beyond Blue acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.
First Nations Peoples are advised that this website may include reference to and images of deceased persons.
Beyond Blue is committed to safe inclusive spaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.
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