Have you been affected by the 2019 bushfires? Have you experienced hardship because of them? Many Australians have found it difficult to return to life as normal while dealing with loss of a job or business downturn, relocation due to destruction of property or loss of their home and disruption to their community.
It is quite normal when dealing with a disaster like this, to experience stress, confusion, fear, anger or despair. Some people may suffer with more severe or long-lasting thoughts and feelings than others. Remember everyone goes through this and deals with it differently. Seeking help too early is always better than too late.

Common Reactions

  • Finding it difficult to concentrate or make decisions
  • Constantly replaying events in your head, imagining “what if?” scenarios
  • Disrupted sleep due to bad dreams or lying awake worrying
  • Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, tearful or anxious
  • Guilt or shame about past actions
  • Negative expectations about the future

Trauma responses

  • Losing a sense of purpose or self-worth
  • Intense emotional distress
  • Urges or thoughts of self-harm or that life isn’t worth living
  • Avoiding life’s normal demands, excessive drug or alcohol use, needing to distract yourself constantly
  • Feeling like you don’t care about yourself or others
  • Being scared, jumpy or constantly on alert
  • Panicky – episodes of racing heart rate, sweatiness, difficulty breathing, dizziness or fainting – or feeling like you might.
Whatever your response, it can help to talk to someone experienced in helping people get to the other side of these responses. Our psychologists and counsellors are able to provide support and counselling via telehealth (phone or video counselling).

Medicare Rebates

If you have been affected by the 2019 bushfires, no matter where you are in Australia now, you can get up to 10 psychology sessions under Medicare’s Bushfire Recovery Initiative.
You do not need to visit a doctor or get a mental health care plan – you can self-refer. Just contact our staff and let them know you have been affected by the fires and whether you prefer  a phone or video appointment. Make sure you have your current Medicare details with you and we will make an appointment for you as soon as you are ready.
You can contact us on our contact page, by emailing info@actofliving.com.au or by phoning (03)91330891.

Other sources of support

LifeLine: 13 11 14
BeyondBlue: 1300 22 4636
Men’s Line: 1300 78 99 78
If you are in an emergency, call ambulance on 000 or attend  your local hospital emergency department – their mental health team can provide assessment and brief intervention in times of mental health crisis.

Our Psychologists

Brock Bastian
Brock BastianPsychologist
Practising as a psychologist for the past 15 years I have worked with a great variety of people from a wide range of backgrounds. My approach draws on […]
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Patch Callahan
Patch CallahanClinical Psychologist
Josh Hobson is a compassionate and supportive psychologist who works with his clients to identify their inner strengths, and to draw on these strengths so that his clients […]
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Dayana Noor
Dayana NoorPsychologist
Dayana is a Registered Psychologist with the Psychologist Board of Australia. She is also a full member of the Australian Psychological Society and a member of the Association […]
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Josh Hobson
Josh HobsonPsychologist
Josh Hobson is a compassionate and supportive psychologist who works with his clients to identify their inner strengths, and to draw on these strengths so that his clients […]
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Julian McNally
Julian McNallyCounselling Psychologist
Julian McNally has practised counselling psychology since 1995. He trained in client-centered and solution-oriented approaches before discovering Acceptance and Commitment Therapy […]
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Steve Fahey
Steve FaheyPsychologist
After previously working in the corporate and tertiary education sectors, Steve Fahey has been a registered psychologist since 2004. He has worked as a counsellor in community and […]
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Get Your Life Back On Track, Find A Way Forward, Experience Peace of Mind

We’re here to help you find the way into a life you love. You may be facing one of life’s everyday setbacks like separation or a relationship breakup, loss of a loved one, conflict at work or change of job, loneliness, family problems and so on. Or you may be experiencing a mental health condition like depression, anxiety, addiction or trauma. Perhaps you’re just trying to understand yourself, your thoughts, emotions, sexuality or relationships, or perhaps to understand and find purpose in your life. A skilled Melbourne psychologist expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other scientifically supported therapies, will work with you, putting your strengths and new insights in the service of a more fulfilling life. Phone today to chat with one of our friendly psychologists, or complete this form and we’ll call you back.

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If you have any questions, please call our Intake Staff on (03) 9939 9437 or complete the form below and we can call you back.

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Commonly Asked Questions