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The annual Emergency Services Blood Drive sees personnel from all over Australia help save lives together through blood donation from 1 June to 31 August 2025. Register a blood donor account at Lifeblood & join a team. Please call 1300 886 524.

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Family Support

Leaving the police or considering transitioning can be a difficult time, it often involves feelings of identity loss, fear, isolation and overwhelm. For those struggling with mental and physical health issues as well as career transition distress, it’s a time to reach out for support as doing it alone can be isolating and unhelpful. There are many opportunities for former police, it’s just a matter of finding the best support, programs, care and resources to assist you to navigate this challenging time. Blue Hub is here to assist you to find beneficial information, support, strategies, and resources to assist with moving into the next phase of your life whether it be into a new and exciting career or enjoying a happy and healthy retirement.

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Grief and Loss

What is grief?

Grief is a profound and complex series of mixed emotions that follow the loss of a loved one in your life. It can be someone you loved very deeply, your absolute everything, or someone you knew in your community. It can be expected or unexpected. Either way, it can affect you and your family members, friends, colleagues and the extended community in a range of ways.

2

Domestic and Family Violence

Women and men frequently conceal the consequences of physical violence by hiding injuries or making excuses for bruises – or worse. It’s a strange kind of loyalty that stops people from telling parents, siblings or anyone about what’s happening "behind closed doors".

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Carers Support and Wellbeing, Quest for Life resources

Are you an exhausted career?

KEEP HEALTHY AND ACTIVE
Exercise regularly – 20 minutes daily will help you sustain the physical demands of caring and provide a break from your daily activities
Eat regular, healthy meals to fuel the strength and stamina you need for caring
Get enough sleep – tiredness and exhaustion increase the stress of caring
Look after your back – if you need to lift the person you’re caring for, get professional advice on the safest way to do so. Is there equipment that can help?
Talk to your GP about your caring role and the demands it makes on you.

Helpful Links

  • Fortem Australia
  • Current police only helpful link
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Content for family support

1-3 of 18
06 May 2024

Maurice J Kerrigan and Associates

Visit the Maurice J Kerrigan and Associates website
View of doctor's and patient's hands. Doctor is writing. YOUTUBE

Medical Model vs Person Centred Care

Anxiety or Depression

Visit the Medical Model vs Person Centred Care website
17 Nov 2021

Mensline Australia

Mensline Australia offers 24/7 counselling support via telephone and online to men across Australia. Resources and information is also available to enhance relationships, help with addictions, understanding anxiety, separation and divorce and dealing with general stress.

Visit the Mensline Australia website
15 Nov 2022

Mental health and wellbeing strategy for first responders

This strategy sets out the commitment of NSW first responder agencies to promote and protect the mental health and wellbeing of their staff and members. It represents a consensus among the agencies about what is required to meet this obligation.

Visit the Mental health and wellbeing strategy for first responders website
27 Sep 2023

Mentality Plus

Mentality plus is run by Craig Semple who is a former police officer with lived experience of PTSD and associated mental health conditions.  He is fully accredited and culturally sensitive to police and provides mental health first aid training and programs to create mentally healthy and resilient workplaces, mental health motivational presentations, workplace health and wellbeing programs and mental health and resilience for students. 

Visit the Mentality Plus website
17 Nov 2021

Mind Health Connect

Mind Health Service Connect Line provides free telephone counselling and resources for people residing in the Hunter New England and Central Coast areas specifically covering mental and physical health as well as social support services.

Visit the Mind Health Connect website
30 Mar 2022

My Aged Care

My Aged Care, established by the Australian Government, can help you find and access the right government-funded aged care services.

Visit the My Aged Care website
17 Nov 2021

National Centre for Childhood Grief

The National Centre for Childhood Grief provides unlimited free counselling for children aged 3 to 18 years and pay for service counselling for adults living with grief and bereavement. Services are available at ‘A Friends Place’, located in Denistone East, Sydney NSW.

Visit the National Centre for Childhood Grief website
29 Jul 2022

National Police Memorial

Established in 2001 the Memorial pays tribute to Australian Police Officers who have been killed on duty or have died as a result of their duties

Visit the National Police Memorial website
14 Nov 2022

National State Police Insurance and Workers Compensation Providers

Serving police in each state pay into individual state insurance, workers compensation, superannuation and income protection schemes. Assistance during times of injury, Illness, death, or career transition are available by contacting your appropriate state provider.

Visit the National State Police Insurance and Workers Compensation Providers website
14 Nov 2022

National State Police Legacy

Police Legacy provide professional and compassionate support to families who have suffered a loss through the provision of benefits and services. Children who have lost a parent may benefit from camps, scholarships, trust funds and regular social engagement which is also extended to partners and parents. Each jurisdiction has independent services which may differ from state to state.

Visit the National State Police Legacy website
14 Nov 2022

National State Police Retired Associations and Support Networks

Staying connected to the police family by joining your local retired and former police association may be helpful in maintaining social connection and positive mental health outcomes. Each state jurisdiction has a retired and former police association where regular monthly meetings and social events assist with staying in touch with former colleagues.

Visit the National State Police Retired Associations and Support Networks website
03 Apr 2022

New South Wales Police Force

Each individual state police jurisdictions will have mental health services for serving police which should include an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) along with other specific services. This may include EAP for transitioning police, former police up to 12 months and services for families. Career Transition services may also be included in some jurisdictions as moving into a new career after serving in the police force impacts mental health outcomes.

Visit the New South Wales Police Force website
03 Apr 2022

Northern Territory Police Force

Each individual state police jurisdictions will have mental health services for serving police which should include an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) along with other specific services. This may include EAP for transitioning police, former police up to 12 months and services for families. Career Transition services may also be included in some jurisdictions as moving into a new career after serving in the police force impacts mental health outcomes.

Visit the Northern Territory Police Force website
03 Apr 2022

Northern Territory Police Legacy

Police Legacy provide professional and compassionate support to families who have suffered a loss through the provision of benefits and services. Children who have lost a parent may benefit from camps, scholarships, trust funds and regular social engagement which is also extended to partners and parents. Each jurisdiction has independent services which may differ from state to state.

Visit the Northern Territory Police Legacy website
03 Apr 2022

NSW Government Medicare mental health treatment plans

The first step to take when feeling overwhelmed or experiencing those niggling feelings of something isn’t quite right is to visit your GP. A general chat about your overall physical and mental health may indicate further investigation is warranted. This may include a series of tests to rule out physical issues and/or completing a mental health assessment. If your GP feels it would be helpful, you will be given a mental health plan and a referral to see a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Visit the NSW Government Medicare mental health treatment plans website
17 Nov 2021

NSW Mental Health Commission

The Mental Health Commission provides Australia wide comprehensive services and resources for anyone seeking support and information about helplines, live chat, forums, GP’s, psychologists and psychiatrists, mental health plans, community support, treatment services, residential mental health services including alcohol and drugs, diversion support programs and information regarding peak bodies and advocacy services.
Leisa Doherty’s story assists partners of serving and former police who are struggling to understand the impact of policing on their partner and family.

Visit the NSW Mental Health Commission website
03 Apr 2022

NSW Police income protection - TAL

Serving police in each state pay into individual state insurance, workers compensation, superannuation and income protection schemes. Assistance during times of injury, Illness, death, or career transition are available by contacting your appropriate state provider.

Visit the NSW Police income protection - TAL website
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Content related to family support

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Anxiety or Depression

anxiety excerpt

Pathways to help

Five introductory videos with Ernst Meyer – Psychotherapist and former officer and one introductory video with Det Inspector Gary Raymond Retired on the work of Chaplains.

Transitioning and former officers

For police considering a career transition who want to learn more about supporting themselves through the process.

For crisis care attend your closest hospital emergency department or contact 000 000

© 2025 Police Care Privacy Policy Site by Osky

This website has been established to provide information to serving and former police along with their families and friends on health and wellbeing, mental health, career transition, and community engagement.

This website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and when making decisions about personal circumstances always seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional nor should professional medical advice be disregarded or delayed due to any information contained on this website.

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Northern Territory Police Assoc
Queensland Police Union- Unity is Strength
Police Association of NSW
The Police Association Victoria
Police Association of Tasmania
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