Scroll below to read FAQs otherwise click the link below if you’re ready to sign up.
The NewAccess for Small Business provides practical mental health support to owners of small businesses with 20 employees or less including sole traders.
It is an early intervention mental health service developed by Beyond Blue for people with symptoms of mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety and based on the United Kingdom’s National Health Service Talking Therapies program.
NewAccess for Small Business removes the barriers that usually stop small business owners from seeking support for their mental health and wellbeing. It helps small business owners experiencing business related stress or struggling due to financial pressures, business uncertainty and other challenges.
A referral is not necessary and it’s free, confidential and sessions are via phone or video conference from Monday to Friday: 8.00am to 8.00pm AEDT (VIC time) except public holidays.
As of December 2025, we are currently experiencing an exceptionally high volume of enquiries from small business owners across Australia seeking support.
As a result, wait times for an initial assessment session are longer than usual. Based on our current waitlist, anyone enquiring today will most likely be booked for an assessment in early March 2026.
Please know we are working hard to reduce these wait times. During busy periods like this, we implement strategies to ensure we can appropriately care for those already on the waitlist and provide support as quickly as possible.
Importantly, all small business owners who enquire still receive an initial intake call within 48 hours, where immediate risk is assessed and alternative support (if required) can be provided.
It is an evidence based, guided self-help program in which small business owners are supported by trained and clinically supervised mental health coaches who deliver Low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy supporting people to change unhelpful thoughts, feelings, or behaviours caused by business or life stressors and challenges, while monitoring their mental health outcomes.
Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps to identify the way we think, act and feel in situations of stress or anxiety. It seeks to break the cycle of negative and unhelpful thoughts, feelings and behaviours that many of us battle with every day.
NewAccess for Small Business offers six focused mental health coaching sessions, plus two followup sessions, which include:
A 60 minute Initial Assessment
Up to five 30 minute sessions over 5 consecutive weeks
Follow up sessions at 1 and 6 months
NewAccess for Small Business offers up to 6 focused mental health wellbeing sessions, plus 2 follow up sessions (at 1 and 6-months post program completion). The first session is a 60 minute appointment while subsequent sessions are 30 minutes including the 1 month and 6 month follow up sessions.
We understand small business owners and sole traders are incredibly busy. NewAccess for Small Business is available via phone or video conference from 8.00am to 8.00pm AEDT (VIC time) Monday to Thursday and Friday 8.00am to 5.00pm except public holidays.
The approximate total time commitment if you were to attend all sessions including the initial assessment is 4.5 hours including the 1 and 6 month follow up sessions. This does not include the time dedicated to the out of session practical activities.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological therapy supporting people to develop ways to work through issues by making targeted behavioural changes. CBT helps people to learn to understand the inter-relationship between their feelings, thinking, and behaviours.
Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LiCBT) is form of CBT which has fewer and shorter sessions than traditional CBT. It is an early intervention therapy and delivered more flexibly over telephone or internet-based sessions. It uses CBT self-help resources, delivered by specifically trained and supervised mental health coaches trained in LiCBT. LiCBT is the treatment approached used in NewAccess for Small Business.
LiCBT uses a guided self-help approach, where the mental health coach guides people through a series of structured and evidence-based resources to address their problematic symptoms and issues.
NewAccess for Small Business coaches work alongside the small business owner on their identified problem statement, developing an understanding of the problem and equipping them with practical tools and strategies they can use in their day-to-day life.
NewAccess for Small Business provides a Low intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LiCBT) intervention only and is not a general counselling service.
Counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) are both forms of talking therapy, but they have different approaches and goals.
Counselling offers a more open-ended exploration of emotions and experiences; CBT provides a structured approach to overcoming specific challenges.
Counselling is typically more open-ended and flexible, covering various topics like relationships, trauma, stress, grief, or self-esteem. It focuses on deep exploration of emotions and past experiences in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.
LiCBT is a structured, goal-oriented form of therapy that focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It involves working on specific problems to change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. LiCBT helps individuals develop healthier thinking patterns by identifying and challenging negative or irrational thoughts, leading to more positive emotions and actions. LiCBT focuses on what is happening now for an individual.
What NewAccess isn’t?
NewAccess for Small Business offers a consistent program of six focused mental health coaching sessions, plus two followup sessions where you will work with your Coach to develop practical strategies that focus on the key problem statement articulated in your first session. Following the assessment and subsequent sessions with your Coach, two follow-up sessions are offered at one and six months post program completion to ensure you are staying on track.
A unique feature of NewAccess for Small Business is the monitoring of your symptoms and mental health and wellbeing using validated questionnaires called clinical measurement tools at each session. This allows you to see how you are progressing towards recovery.
NewAccess for Small Business does not provide business support or business coaching and will not be able to provide business advice, work on business ideas or help you run or start up your small business. It is also not an EAP program nor is it available to your employees or business associates.
NewAccess for Small Business is designed specifically to support the mental health of small business owners and sole traders. It helps small business owners experiencing stress, overwhelm, anxiety and/or depression due to a range of factors such as work-related stress, financial pressures and business uncertainty.
The service is not just available for challenges related to owning a small business. If you are experiencing other challenges such as stress related to health, relationships or loneliness, NewAccess for Small Business is available to support you.
NewAccess for Small Business was introduced in March 2021 following acknowledgement and funding from the Australian Government to address the unique challenges faced by small business owners during to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 8,100 small business owners across Australia have signed up to NewAccess for Small Business with more than 90 per cent of small business owners who have completed the program said they feel more able to cope with the stresses after the coaching sessions and almost 70 per cent have recovered from a mental health condition.
NewAccess for Small Business is available to help small business owners and sole traders experiencing a wide range of work or life stresses and challenges. Some of the common reasons small business owners access the service are:
NewAccess for Small Business provides practical mental health support to owners of small businesses with 20 employees or less including sole traders.
It is not available for the business employees, directors and business associates or people working not-for-profit organisations.
A small business owner is anyone:
Small business owners or sole traders are eligible to enrol in NewAccess for Small Business if they are:
NewAccess for Small Business is an early intervention mental health service developed by Beyond Blue for people with symptoms of mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety.
NewAccess for Small Business is accessible to small business owners who may be engage with a psychiatrist. In your first session, your coach will review the purpose and the nature of your engagement with your psychiatrist and your suitability for Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Your coach will match your presenting problems against the service criteria to ensure the treatment is appropriate for your specific needs.
If your needs are more complex, you may be referred to a more appropriate mental health service or other support program.
NewAccess for Small Business is an early intervention mental health service for people with symptoms of mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety. It offers support to small business owners who aren’t currently engaged in mental health services but who are experiencing common mental health concerns such as stress, overwhelm and low mood as a result of the day-to-day challenges of owning a small business.
NewAccess for Small Business is accessible to small business owners who may be engaging with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health practitioner.
In your first session, your coach will review the purpose and nature of your engagement with your psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health practitioner and your suitability for NewAccess treatment. Your coach will match your presenting problems against service criteria to ensure the treatment is suitable for your needs.
Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may be unsuitable for you if you are already receiving psychological support. Because engaging in multiple mental health treatments simultaneously can present several challenges and may not always be beneficial. Some of these challenges include:
While it might seem beneficial to engage in multiple treatments to address various aspects of mental health, it is generally more effective to focus on one treatment at a time to ensure better coordination, reduce overwhelm, and achieve more consistent progress.
If your presenting issues reflect more complexity, it may be recommended that you speak to your GP to discuss your current situation and suitable support services. Your coach also has knowledge of a range of national and local support services they may share with you to meet your needs.
NewAccess for Small Business provides practical mental health support to owners of small businesses with 20 employees or less including sole traders.
If your loved one or friend is a small business owner, then yes you can sign them up for the program. It is not available for the business employees, directors and business associates or loved ones or friends of the small business owner.
Mental health Coaches have a range of backgrounds and represent a range of demographics. They are recruited for compassionate and effective communication skills and their ability to work within the parameters of a highly prescribed governance and clinical safety framework. NewAccess Coaches may have lived experience of depression and anxiety and are recruited for their small business experience.
Coaches are competency trained to deliver Low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy, a structured, evidence-based treatment that helps people to recognise the way they think, act and feel and gives them problem-solving techniques, and receive ongoing clinical supervision. Training is competency based and incorporates ongoing individual and group supervision, reflective practice and workshops.
After 6 weeks of initial intensive training coaches move to practical learning which involves seeing clients and an ongoing curriculum. After the initial 12-month period, coaches continue to have clinical supervision and further training and upskilling.
This complements the stepped care model and the specialist professional skillsets of traditional mental health practitioners, who can be freed up to see people living with more severe and complex mental health issues.
NewAccess for Small Business aims to remove some of the barriers that typically prevent people from seeking support. You don’t need a referral from your general practitioner or a Mental Health Care Plan to access the service.
NewAccess for Small Business is an early intervention service and is free and available immediately to small business owners without long delays. Many psychology services are not free and have long waitlist.
NewAccess for Small Business is designed to complement the existing mental health services that are available, not compete with them.
Over 8,100 small business owners across Australia have signed up to NewAccess for Small Business with more than 90 per cent of small business owners who have completed the program said they feel more able to cope with the stresses after the coaching sessions and almost 70 per cent have recovered from a mental health condition.
NewAccess for Small Business will endeavour to match you with a coach suitable to your needs. For example, you may be more comfortable to meet with a male or female coach and you can request this.
Your allocation of a coach is initially based on you and your coach’s availability. As you engage in the assessment session you will get to know your coach, who will share some brief details of their background and small business experience.
Should you feel like your coach is not the right fit for you, you can request a change of coach and this will be actioned as soon as possible.
Coaches are specifically trained to deliver Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a structured, evidence-based treatment that helps people to recognise the way they think, act and feel and gives them problem-solving techniques, and receive ongoing clinical supervision. Training is competency based and incorporates ongoing individual and group supervision, reflective practice and workshops.
After 6 weeks of initial intensive training coaches move to practical learning which involves seeing clients and an ongoing curriculum. After the initial 12-month period, coaches continue to engage in clinical supervision and further training and upskilling.
This complements the stepped care model and the specialist professional skillsets of traditional mental health practitioners, who can be freed up to see people living with more severe and complex mental health issues.
All NewAccess for Small Business Coaches are required to undertake cultural competency training and access individual cultural supervision from the Beyond Blue Indigenous team.
NewAccess coaches reflect the diversity of cultures within the communities we work.
After you have submitted an enquiry form to enrol in NewAccess for Small Business, an Intake Officer will call you within 2 business days of making the enquiry. During the call you the Intake officer will provide additional information about NewAccess for Small Business, collect additional details about you and schedule your first appointment with a coach.
Typically small business owners are contacted within 2 business days of an enquiry and booked into their first session within seven days.
Sometimes when we get a surge in demand, it may take longer than 2 business days to contact small business owners. If you do not hear back from us within 2 business days, please know that we will try to get back to you soon.
Alternatively, you can also contact us directly on 03 9250 8305, or email us at newaccess@beyondblue.org.au. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience during this time.
NewAccess for Small Business offers six focused mental health coaching sessions, plus two followup sessions which include your first appointment is:
A 60 minute Initial Assessment
If you decide to continue with the program your coach will find a suitable time to book you into your first treatment session treatment sessions:
Up to five 30 minute sessions over 5 consecutive weeks
At the conclusion of the five treatment sessions you will be offered follow up sessions:
Follow up sessions at 1 and 6 months
Yes, in order to engage in the NewAccess for Small Business you must provide consent for Beyond Blue to store your information. If you are unable to consent to store your information, you would be unable to enter the program.
Beyond Blue’s Privacy Policy is in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles set out in the Commonwealth Privacy Act (1988) and with the Information Privacy Principles set out in the Queensland Information Privacy Act (2009). Beyond Blue only collects personal information that is reasonably necessary. At all times, personal information is collected in a fair and lawful manner.
Three million Australians live with anxiety and/or depression, many of whom are not accessing support. There are limited options for people to access support other than going to see their doctor. In addition, mental health services are inundated supporting people with more complex requirements.
Because of this, Beyond Blue undertook a global search for effective and proven approaches to this problem and developed NewAccess in 2013.
NewAccess for Small Business was introduced in March 2021 following acknowledgement and funding from the Australian Government to address the challenges faced by small business owners during to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 8,100 small business owners across Australia have signed up to NewAccess for Small Business.
NewAccess for Small Business is an evidence based mental health service modelled on the Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression program delivered by the National Health Service in the United Kingdom and aligned to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence benchmarks.
NewAccess is the result of 10+ years in development and testing by Beyond Blue in Australia. It has been independently evaluated and proven to help people with mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression.
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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