• Open Arms Clinician

    COVID-19 Update

    Open Arms is open 24/7 if you need someone to talk to. Or, if you’re simply after some helpful hints for staying calm and coping with the pandemic check out our COVID-19 page. And, if you have a counselling session scheduled but are feeling unwell or have concerns about attending it in person, call us on 1800 011 046 and we’ll reschedule it for you or discuss options for conducting it via telephone or video conferencing.

Mental health and wellbeing support for current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel and their families

Who we help

  • current serving

    Current serving

    Open Arms can help you build resilience, and enhance your mental health and wellbeing.
  • ex serving rob

    Ex-serving

    Open Arms can help you work through mental health and wellbeing issues after you’ve left the service.
  • family picnic

    Family

    Counselling support can help you build strong and healthy relationships at all stages of family life.

Signs and symptoms

There are a range of warning signs to look out for that may be prevent you from being your best. If you are feeling down or anxious, or worried about what you are doing - there are things you can do, and support is available.

Get support

  • Counselling

    Open Arms can provide individual, couple and family counselling to help improve your resilience, as well as enhance your mental health and wellbeing. Call 1800 011 046 for free and confidential 24/7 support.

  • Treatment programs and workshops

    Open Arms offers group treatment programs and educational workshops, relationship retreats, and suicide prevention workshops.

  • Eligibility

    If you have served in the ADF, you, your partner and your children can access support through Open Arms.

  • Confidentiality and privacy

    Open Arms offers free and confidential counselling, and in some circumstances working with the DVA or ADF.

News

  • Children playing

    Talking to children about COVID-19

    It's natural to try and protect children from any stress or anxiety they may experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this doesn’t mean we should avoid talking to them about how they may be feeling at this time.
  • Man reading on couch

    COVID19 – calming and coping

    Across Australia people are feeling anxious - which is a completely normal reaction to the uncertainty we are facing around the impacts of COVID19. Importantly, as long as this anxiety does not become overwhelming, it can be channelled into positive actions to help us cope and maintain our wellbeing.

  • RSL training

    Open Arms partners with RSL to deliver mental health training

    Open Arms welcomes its partnership with the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) to deliver mental health training to any volunteers in the veteran community.

Open Arms for health professionals

Open Arms provides training and support to all our counsellors, to enable the ongoing delivery of high quality mental health assessment and clinical counselling for Australian veterans and their families