Overview
It’s important for police families to stay engaged and seek support via peer to peer groups or through services and resources. Partners of police can often find friendship and understanding from each other especially in difficult times or when partners are away or working extended hours. Children of police will also benefit from social activities with other police families where they can enjoy friendships and activities.
Your local area command may have information about family days and events or groups operating in your local area. There are also a number of links via this site to guide you to groups or resources.
If there are no relevant services in your area perhaps think about starting a police family social group where you can catch up with partners or with the extended family. Closed Facebook groups or pages are easy to administer and can be a great way to find police families in your area. Locating at least two to three interested parties to assist with administration is often a great way to develop a Facebook page or group which facilitates a conversation, provides helpful links and suggestions as well as advertise social events.
For former officers joining your local retired and former police association will open up social engagement for both the former officer and their partner as most associations hold regular monthly meetings, social outings, welfare services and fund raisers.
Step-By-Step
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.
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".
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
Content for family support
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.
NSW Police Family Support Officers
Information and coordination of support services for family members of employees of the NSW police force who are injured or unwell. The Family Support Officers may assist with access to the employee assistance program, police chaplains, peer support, police association and police legacy programs, workers compensation information and referrals to appropriate support networks.
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.
NSW 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.
NSW Police Pre 1 April 88 - Allianz State Superannuation Scheme
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.
NTPA: Northern Territory Police Association
All Australian Police jurisdictions have Police Unions who provide Industrial Relations, Financial and in some state’s welfare and mental health support and services. Assistance for issues relating to workers compensation, legal matters, necessitous circumstances, and career transition may also be available through your state union. Associate membership for former officers is another way to stay connected to support and services post policing.
PANSW: Police Association of New South Wales
All Australian Police jurisdictions have Police Unions who provide Industrial Relations, Financial and in some state’s welfare and mental health support and services. Assistance for issues relating to workers compensation, legal matters, necessitous circumstances, and career transition may also be available through your state union. Associate membership for former officers is another way to stay connected to support and services post policing.
PASA: Police Association of South Australia
All Australian Police jurisdictions have Police Unions who provide Industrial Relations, Financial and in some state’s welfare and mental health support and services. Assistance for issues relating to workers compensation, legal matters, necessitous circumstances, and career transition may also be available through your state union. Associate membership for former officers is another way to stay connected to support and services post policing.
PAT: Police Association of Tasmania
All Australian Police jurisdictions have Police Unions who provide Industrial Relations, Financial and in some state’s welfare and mental health support and services. Assistance for issues relating to workers compensation, legal matters, necessitous circumstances, and career transition may also be available through your state union. Associate membership for former officers is another way to stay connected to support and services post policing.
Police Bank
The Police Bank is run by members for members and understands the unique requirements of police financial needs.
Police Credit Union
We’re proud of our police heritage and the award-winning credit union we’ve become...
Police Family Support Western Australia
Inclusive and holistic mental health literacy for W.A police families with information and resources to support and understand when they or their loved one may need extra assistance including a free counselling service.
Police Health
Private health insurance run by police for police including mental health, physical health, financial health, relationship and family health and career health
Police Legacy Tasmania
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.
Police Post Trauma Support Group Inc (NSW)
Peer to Peer trauma support and referrals for NSW serving and former police and their families, monthly face to face meetings, crises intervention, chaplaincy, and spouse support services via an independent non for profit charity. Financial support is also available for necessitous circumstances and to attend mental health programs for those police and families without insurance cover.
Police Veterans Victoria
Police Veterans Victoria is a dedicated service focused on improving mental health amongst police veterans and their families via peer to peer support.
Police Wife Chronicles
Police Wife Chronicles based in NSW reaches out to female partners of police via regular blogs and information about living with a loved one who works in policing.
QBank
Our Members are Everyday Heroes in our community. We are proud to be their partner in banking.