The short answer
What is an EAP, and how do I use it?
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is free, confidential counselling paid for by your employer. You contact the EAP provider directly, with no GP referral and no need to tell your manager. Your employer only sees de-identified usage numbers, not who used it or why. Many EAPs also cover immediate family. MeHelp provides EAP services to Australian employers, and can continue your care when your EAP sessions end.
A look inside
From the guide
The basics
How an EAP works
Your employer pays an external provider so staff can get short-term, confidential support for work or personal concerns.
Who
Staff, often family
Usually all employees. Many EAPs also cover partners and immediate family members.
How many
Set by your employer
Commonly a few sessions per issue or per year, for example 3 to 6.
What for
Work or personal
Stress, relationships, grief, conflict at work, change, or anything weighing on you.
How to use it
Find the number
Check your intranet, staff handbook, payslip notes or the posters in the lunch room. You can also ask HR for the provider's details, without saying why.
Call or book online
Contact the provider directly. You don't need a GP referral or your manager's approval.
Have your sessions
Usually by phone, video or in person. Ask how many sessions you can access and whether family is covered.
Common questions
What people ask
Will my manager know I used the EAP?
Not from the EAP provider. Your employer gets de-identified statistics only, unless you give consent for something to be shared.
Can my family use my EAP?
Often, yes. Many programs cover partners and immediate family. Check with your provider.
What if I need more sessions than my EAP offers?
EAP is designed for short-term support. You can continue with a MeHelp psychologist under Medicare, with a Mental Health Treatment Plan, or privately. Call 1300 323 411 and we'll arrange it.
Does using EAP affect my Medicare sessions?
No. EAP is paid by your employer, so it doesn't come out of your Medicare allowance.
Evidence
Sources we checked
- Health and wellbeing support, Fair Work Ombudsman
- Employee Assistance Program literature review, SIRA NSW
- Employee Assistance Program policy, Department of Finance
Last reviewed 21 October 2026 by Phillipa Brown, registered psychologist and founder of MeHelp. This page is general information, not individual advice.
