Support4Change is a brief intervention program that will focus on helping you make that first step in creating positive and meaningful change in your life. The program focuses on key areas designed to explore the impacts of your behaviour on others and build practical skills for positive change.
Download our Support4Change brochure here.
Prior to your appointment
At your first appointment, the practitioner will request your verbal consent for these documents. We kindly ask that you take a moment to review them beforehand. While you are not required to print, sign, or return these documents, we encourage you to read them prior to your appointment. Below are links to the documents that need to be reviewed before your visit.
Client Consent Form
Group Participant Consent & Agreement – Zoom only
Support4Change Online Groups – Final Participant Guide
Family Life Client Information Brochure
What happens next?
After your first appointment, your practitioner will let you know what your requirements are. Most people are required to attend four group sessions and two individual sessions plus the initial appointment. The four group sessions will run once a week and to complete the program you must attend all appointments. The group sessions are run by two practitioners and will cover different topics.
Post Program
After your final group session, your practitioner will organise a final session to discuss learnings, future goals and to offer you a referral pathway into another program. You may find through the sessions that you have areas of your life where you would like additional support, and we are committed to supporting your options once the program ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect from the program?
Support4Change is a brief intervention program that will focus on helping you make that first step in creating positive and meaningful change in your life. The program focuses on key areas designed to explore the impacts of your behaviour on others and build practical skills for positive change.
Do I have to talk about my personal life?
The Support4Change program is designed to help you take the first step toward creating positive change in your life. Each week, your practitioners will guide and support you and others in the group through various discussion topics.
While we encourage you to reflect on how these discussions relate to your personal experiences, the program does not require you to share specific details about your personal life unless you choose to.
However, as part of the program, you will be asked to reflect on the incident that led to the intervention order (IVO) and consider how your actions have impacted others. This reflection is an essential component of the program, aimed at fostering personal responsibility and facilitating meaningful change.
The focus of the program is not on individual situations such as future court hearings or outcomes but rather on understanding behaviours and developing strategies for positive change. Your participation and openness can contribute significantly to your growth and the collective learning within the group.
I am having technical issues logging on, what do I do?
Please ensure you have the correct Zoom link, which will have been sent to you via SMS 48 hours before your group session and also provided in your welcome email. The link remains the same over the four weeks, so we recommend saving it in a convenient location.
We encourage you to test the link prior to your first group session. Our practitioners typically open the Zoom meeting slightly early to address any potential issues on our end. If you encounter difficulties, please contact the after-hours manager. However, be aware that they can offer limited technical support. For the best experience, we highly recommend using a laptop or computer to connect to Zoom rather than a phone or tablet. Please note that technical issues preventing you from logging on will be considered an absence from the group.
For additional support, please refer to the Support4Change Online Groups – Final Participant Guide, available through the links provided.
What happens if I am running late?
We offer a 15-minute cut-off window to allow participants the best chance to attend group, which means you must be in the zoom call by 5:45. If you attempt to join after this time, you will not be able to join, and this will be considered a missed session. Please be aware that we can see the time that you have first attempted to log in.
What if I have work or other commitments?
While we understand that it can be stressful or difficult to manage, as the courts have mandated and require you to attend this program, we would ask that you make alternative arrangements for the four-week group work period to ensure that you are able to prioritise the counselling order. Our groups run to a schedule, and we are unable to move them from this schedule, however we are committed to ensuring that you will have the option to chose from the majority of the weekdays to offer as much flexibility as we can. Additionally, our groups run after hours 5:30-7:30PM to minimise work impacts as much as possible.
What happens if I miss a session?
If you anticipate missing a group session, you are required to provide evidence supporting your absence. This documentation should be emailed to cmcop@familylife.com.au as soon as possible.
Please note: While submitting evidence of your absence (e.g. medical certificate) does not automatically excuse the absence, it assists us in informing the court about your personal circumstances.
If you miss a group session, you will be placed into a scheduled make-up session. These sessions cannot be moved or rescheduled to ensure all participants have equal opportunity to complete the program. If you miss another sessions, or the make-up session, you will not be considered to have completed the program. This will result in a breach of your counselling order, which, if proven, is a criminal offence. For this reason, it’s important you prioritise attending all sessions.
If you miss an individual session, your practitioner will offer you one chance to make it up, provided you haven’t missed any other sessions. These are arranged directly between you and your practitioner.
What if I am sick?
If you’re unwell and unable to attend a session, it will be treated as a missed session, and you’ll be scheduled for a make-up session as outlined above. Due to the short length of the program, the court expects all sessions to be attended. If you experience a significant illness or injury (e.g., something requiring hospitalisation), please contact your practitioner to discuss your situation and any support that may be available.
To support your absence, please provide evidence (such as a medical certificate) and email it to cmcop@familylife.com.au. While submitting evidence does not automatically excuse the absence, it assists us in informing the court about your personal circumstances.
What if I think I don’t need to attend/want to attend?
Support4Change is a court-mandated program. If you choose not to attend, this will result in a breach of your counselling order. If the breach is proven, it is considered a criminal offence, so it is important to prioritise your sessions.
If you’re feeling unsure about attending or have questions about the program, we encourage you to speak with your practitioner. We’re here to support your engagement and help you make the most of this opportunity for change.
If you wish to have your counselling order removed or changed, you are required to take the matter back to court. As this is a legal process between yourself and the court, we strongly recommend seeking legal advice before doing so.
What if my Intervention Order (IVO) has expired or been removed?
A counselling order is a separate order to an IVO, even if the original IVO has been removed or expired, unless you have attended court and been excused from completing the counselling order, the counselling order does not expire. The only way to remove a counselling order is to have to removed by the court or to complete the program.
Need support now?
If at any time you need to access support services should you be feeling unsafe, these contact numbers may be able to assist you.
Or download our Crisis and After Hours Support Numbers Contact Sheet.
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Nationwide service that provides professional 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people who are affected by suicide or are having thoughts of suicide.
Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
Provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Crisis support and suicide prevention, professional 24/7 telephone counselling.
Men’s Referral Service – 1300 766 491
Free, confidential telephone helpline that offers counselling, advice and support to men who have anger, relationship or parenting issues. The service also provides help to women (or other family members) who are experiencing violence or controlling behaviour by men.
MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978
Available 24/7. Professional Counsellors. Services: men’s mental health, relationship & divorce, emotional well being, social connection.
Salvo Care Eastern – 9784 5000
Salvo Care may be able to assist with crisis accommodation. Their office hours are 9:30-4:30 Monday-Friday.
Ermha
Is a lifeline for people who are challenged with complex mental health and disability issues.
Frankston and Mornington Drug and Alcohol Service – 1300 655 781
Headspace (for 12-25yrs) – 1800 650 890
Should there be an emergency or immediate mental health concerns or crisis: Call 000 Emergency or Police
CATT (Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team) 000 A CATT responds to urgent requests to help people in mental health crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A mental health crisis can include: a psychotic episode, self-harm, feeling suicidal and feeling out of control.
Psychiatric Triage Southern Health 1300 369 012 (they refer to CATT team if needed)
For ongoing mental health supports contact your general practitioner (GP) for a mental health care plan, you can be eligible for up to 10 sessions with a mental health care professional that has a Medicare rebate.
Self Care
Self-care and mindfulness can be helpful tools in managing stress and frustration. Engaging in self-care activities such as exercise and mindfulness not only promotes emotional resilience, but it can also help you better cope with stress and maintain a sense of calm.
The below links may be able to assist you:
- Headspace Self Care Ideas
- Headspace Meditation Body Scan
- Headspace Calming Meditation
- Black Dog Institute Digital Tools
- Lifeline Self Care for Mental Health and Wellbeing
- MensLine Mindfulness
Need to contact us?
Please call 03 8599 5433 If calls are past 5pm, please reach out via the After Hours number which is 03 97840678.
Email cmcop@familylife.com.au (for Support4Change enquiries only, please contact info@familylife.com.au for all other matters)
