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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
  • absolute internal link

Content for family support

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22 Sep 2021

Quest for Life Foundation

Located at Bundanoon in the Southern Highlands of NSW, the Quest for Life Centre conducts monthly 5 day residential moving beyond trauma programs as an alternative for police living with trauma to hospital inpatient care. Programs provide educational person-centered education via a holistic approach based on the neuroscience of the brain and the latest evidenced based holistic health and healing modalities. An immersive 4 week Healing Trauma program is due to commence in late 2022. Programs such as the Healing your Life, living with cancer, loss after the suicide of a loved one, living with a brain injury or aging related illness are suitable for family members. Outreach programs are also conducted throughout NSW.

Visit the Quest for Life Foundation website
11 Aug 2020

R U OK?

RUOK provides the resources and people to assist our community to connect with one another by learning how to support people around us who may be struggling with mental health issues and thoughts of suicide. Resources are available both in the physical and digital format along with program ambassadors who are often the voice of lived experience, events, and ongoing research.

Visit the R U OK? website
Reachout logo 03 Apr 2022

Reachout Australia

An online mental health service for young people and parents providing peer to peer support, pathways to professional help, resources and forums to assist teenagers and under 25’s to stay safe. For parents services include digital information and resources on parenting teenagers, a confidential supportive online forum to discuss issues, coaching with a parental expert, building confidence and skills.

Visit the Reachout Australia website
15 Nov 2022

Relationships

Financial Concerns

Visit the Relationships website
17 Nov 2021

Relationships Australia

Relationships Australia provide a number of national services Australia wide to families, individuals and communities requiring support with relationships which may include, counselling, family support, domestic violence where they require assistance with safety and trauma, services for children and young people as well as services for older Australians looking for assistance with health, safety and wellbeing.

Visit the Relationships Australia website
03 Apr 2022

Retired and Former Police Association of NSW

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 Retired and Former Police Association of NSW website
03 Apr 2022

Retired Police Association of Tasmania

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 Retired Police Association of Tasmania website
03 Apr 2022

Retired Police Officers Association South Australia

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 Retired Police Officers Association South Australia website
03 Apr 2022

Retired Police Officers Association Western Australia

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 Retired Police Officers Association Western Australia website
20 Mar 2022

SANE - Talking about suicide

A selection of factsheets, articles, personal stories and video's to help you talk to and support someone thinking about suicide from Sane Australia.

Visit the SANE - Talking about suicide website
17 Nov 2021

Sane Australia

Sane Australia provides a national freecall and online counselling service for people concerned about complex mental health issues as well as peer to peer support services, information, resources, and blogs.

Visit the Sane Australia website
23 Jan 2025

Soulful Equine Wellness

Visit the Soulful Equine Wellness website
03 Apr 2022

South Australia Police

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 South Australia Police website
03 Apr 2022

South Australia 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 South Australia Police Legacy website
21 Oct 2021

Standby – Support after suicide

24-hour telephone and counselling support and resources for individuals, families, friends, witnesses, first responders and service providers who have been impacted by suicide.

Visit the Standby – Support after suicide website
15 Nov 2022

Suicidal thoughts

Suicidal Thoughts

Visit the Suicidal thoughts website
17 Nov 2021

Suicide Callback Service

The suicide callback service provides national 24/7 online and phone counselling, advice, support and resources for anyone experiencing emotional or mental health issues who are at risk of suicide. Support services and resources are also available for family and friends of those living with emotional or mental health challenges or who are bereaved by suicide.

Visit the Suicide Callback Service website
Closeup of person talking in a group with other members of the group in the background YOUTUBE

Talking about suicide

Anxiety or Depression

Visit the Talking about suicide 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.

AFPA
Northern Territory Police Assoc
Queensland Police Union- Unity is Strength
Police Association of NSW
The Police Association Victoria
Police Association of Tasmania
Police Association of South Australia
WA Police Union- Strength in Unity
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