Get a mental health coach

NewAccess - Find a free mental health coach

Coping with stress can be hard. Your emotions and mental state can have a big impact on your life, affecting your sleep, work and relationships.

NewAccess is a confidential guided 6-session mental health coaching program for anyone feeling stressed or overwhelmed about everyday life issues.

Learn more about the NewAccess programs that we offer.

NewAccess for Individuals NewAccess for Small Business Owners

What is mental health coaching?

Who can enquire?

NewAccess might be right for you if you:

are 12 years or older (or 16 years or older in some regions)
are feeling stressed or overwhelmed about everyday life issues such as work, study, relationships, health, finances or loneliness.
live in the area where the Primary Health Network has chosen to fund the service
aren't currently seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist.

If you’re in crisis, NewAccess may not be right for you. For other support options, talk to your GP or visit Get mental health support.

Am I eligible for NewAccess?

The Australian Government funds 31 Primary Health Networks (PHNs). All Primary Health Networks offer mental health services, but only some offer NewAccess.

NewAccess is currently available in parts of:

New South Wales
Queensland.

Use our service finder to check if NewAccess is available in your area, how it's delivered and if there are any age limits.

Delivery options vary because different organisations fund and run the program in each area.

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Find NewAccess Services

Queensland

New South Wales

Who is NewAccess for?

NewAccess mental health coaching could be right for you if you’re looking for affordable therapy to manage stress and worries. It is free of charge and requires no GP referral.

Working one-on-one with a mental health coach over 6 sessions, you’ll learn practical strategies to manage stressors such as:

coping with stress and anxiety - including study and work stress or increasing motivation at work
life changes – moving house, changing jobs, becoming a parent or losing someone close
sleep or concentration issues
natural disasters – recovering from fires and floods
financial worries.

NewAccess isn’t right for you if you’re in crisis or currently seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. To find other support options, talk to your GP or visit Get mental health support.

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NewAccess for Small Business Owners

We’ve developed a tailored mental health coaching program for small business owners, available by phone or online from anywhere in Australia.

You’ll be matched with a specially trained mental health coach with a small business background.

Find a mental health coach

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Before Blue for Workplaces

Before Blue is available to employees of participating organisations.

Before Blue for workplaces is a free and highly confidential mental health coaching service, delivered via phone or videoconferencing. No GP referral is required.

Find a mental health coach

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NewAccess program structure

You’ll meet with your coach for 6 sessions over 6 weeks. Your coach will then talk to you about booking follow up sessions to check in on your progress.

Initial assessment – up to 60 minutes

At your first session with your coach you’ll:

talk through your challenges – choosing one or two issues to focus on
develop a problem statement – defining exactly what the issues are
create a plan based on your needs – including practical actions to tackle the issues.

If you need more support than NewAccess can offer, your coach will help you find a more appropriate service.

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Illustration of three steps; talk through challenges, develop problem statement, create a plan

Illustration of NASBO program structure; Initial session, 5 weekly sessions, Follow up check-ins

Difference between mental health coaching and counselling

Just like counselling, your coach will support you to develop and work through your own tailored plan.

However, mental health coaching is different to counselling because:

you don’t need a GP referral or mental health treatment plan to access the program
it’s funded by the government so there’s no cost to you
it’s easy to access without long delays.

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Alternatives to NewAccess

We’re so glad you’re looking for support for your mental health, it can be difficult to take the first step. We’re here to help you. If NewAccess isn’t right for you, there are other options.

If NewAccess isn’t available for you in your area:

check if a similar program is available through your local Primary Health Network
Find a mental health professional near you
learn about other options to Get mental health support.

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Alternatives to NewAccess

If you want NewAccess to be available in your area, please talk to your Primary Health Network. Your interest will assist our efforts to expand the program.

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We’re working to increase the number of areas that NewAccess is available. NewAccess is only available in regions where the Primary Health Network has chosen to fund the service.

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NewAccess for Small Business Owners

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Illustration of a woman engaged in an online counselling session

Before Blue for Workplaces

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health experts and industry to make sure that accredited services pay attention to the
things that keep services safe.}}

_{^{An accredited service keeps your information private and they will ask for your feedback
to make the service better. They also make sure their services are based on strong
evidence.}}

^{_{A service gets accredited by an approved agency that has been trained to check for safety
and quality issues. They check evidence to show the service meets the Digital MentalHealth Standards so you can know that the service keeps people safe.
The Commission has more information on the Digital Mental Health Standards and what
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NewAccess - Find a free mental health coach

Who can enquire?

Am I eligible for NewAccess?

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Find NewAccess Services

Queensland

Gold Coast

Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay and Central Queensland (Country to Coast)

Western Queensland

New South Wales

South Eastern NSW

South Western Sydney

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Who is NewAccess for?

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NewAccess for Small Business Owners

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Before Blue for Workplaces

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NewAccess program structure

Initial assessment – up to 60 minutes

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Five weekly sessions – up to 30 minutes

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Difference between mental health coaching and counselling

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Alternatives to NewAccess

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Alternatives to NewAccess

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Enquire about our other mental health coaching programs

NewAccess for Small Business Owners

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Before Blue for Workplaces

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Make wellbeing a part of your every day

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Subscribe to receive info about mental health, keeping well and stories from our community.

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Am I eligible for NewAccess?

Find NewAccess Services

Queensland

Gold Coast

Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay and Central Queensland (Country to Coast)

Western Queensland

New South Wales

South Eastern NSW

South Western Sydney

NewAccess for Small Business Owners

Before Blue for Workplaces

Initial assessment – up to 60 minutes

Five weekly sessions – up to 30 minutes

Difference between mental health coaching and counselling

NewAccess for Small Business Owners

Before Blue for Workplaces

Make wellbeing a part of your every day

Subscribe to receive info about mental health, keeping well and stories from our community.