Best Employee Assistance Programs in Australia for Small Businesses (2026 Update)
Last Updated 28/1/26 By Vanessa Cortez
EAP Programs @ Mindway EAP
The next book that we are working on will be on Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) in Australia and how they might be able to help small businesses. We are currently working on this book. In the year 2026, the book is currently slated to be released to the public. This course will provide you with the opportunity to acquire information about employee assistance programs, which are usually referred to as EAPs. Additionally, you will develop an awareness of the relevance of these programs to this course. In addition to this, they will teach you how to select a company that is good for both your financial plan and the goals that you have set for your employees who are working for you. When we come to the next point, we are going to talk about which businesses are the most well-known, as well as the kinds of experiences that their customers have had with those respective organizations. As an additional point of interest, we will talk about some useful recommendations for the development of an employee assistance program (EAP) that aids workers in becoming healthier and more productive without making things too tough or going over budget. During the course of our talk, we cover a wide range of issues, including user stories, the services that have shown to be the most successful, and suggestions that are proven to be sensible.

What you'll learn:
  • What an Employee Assistance Program Is and How It Works
  • The Best EAP Providers in Australia for 2026
  • How to Choose the Right EAP for Your Business
  • Insights from Real Users
  • Tips for Successfully Implementing an EAP
  • The Legal and Cultural Context in Australia

Understanding Employee Assistance Programs

These forms of benefits, which are a kind of private and professional benefit as well, are referred to as "EAPs" by the majority of people. Employees who are having personal or work-related concerns that may be affecting their health or how efficiently they do their job obligations may be eligible for these types of benefits. A significant number of companies have been offering employee assistance programs, which are more often referred to as EAPs, for a considerable amount of time from now. Nevertheless, a growing number of small businesses are beginning to recognize the benefits that these programs offer, particularly with regard to the avoidance of stress and burnout as well as the retention of employed workers. This is a positive development. As a general rule, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer mental health counselling in person, over the phone, or through video chat; wellness resources like stress relief, mindfulness training, and financial or legal advice; crisis support for things like traumatic events, deaths, or accidents at work; and support for managers to help them deal with staff issues sooner. It is not enough to say that employee assistance programs are only a "nice to have"; they have the ability to contribute to the formation of a working environment in which employees feel inspired and motivated to continue working for the organization. Furthermore, this has the ability to lessen the number of absences and turnovers that occur inside the organization.

Top EAP Providers for Small Businesses in 2026

Even if there are a great number of EAP firms in Australia, not all of them are beneficial to small businesses. There are a variety of standard systems that are designed for really large businesses that have thousands of employees. This indicates that the costs that are the lowest are the most expensive, and that you are unable to get out of the service agreement. On the other hand, in today's world, a multitude of service providers provide open and inexpensive services to small and medium-sized firms. One of the primary objectives of Leapwell is to provide each individual with a tailored health plan that has an emphasis on resistance and security. Additionally, they provide options that may be utilized by smaller groups. The corporation makes extensive use of cutting-edge technology, which is beneficial to the employees who are employed from that organization. Within a period of twelve hours, employees have the ability to select their own counsellors and schedule a session with them. Counsellors are always accessible. In addition, the organization has a fantastic plan to transition to digital first. Numerous small enterprises do not have their own human resources department. BetterHR may be of assistance to them by providing them with the resources necessary to comply with the regulations and the services necessary to maintain the health of their employees. EAP Assist is a popular choice among corporations and extremely tiny enterprises due to the fact that it provides health and treatment solutions mostly through email, which is an inexpensive method of getting things done. The most suitable firm to assist their employees may be selected by small businesses by taking into consideration the many services that are provided by the company as well as the fees that are charged (per employee, per session, or membership).

Employee:
How can I’ve been feeling overwhelmed balancing work and home pressures. Can the EAP help me?discusss burnout?
You:
Absolutely. We’ve partnered with an EAP company, which offers confidential counselling and digital resources anytime. Let’s get you scheduled

How to Choose the Right EAP

When it comes to selecting an employee assistance program (EAP), small businesses need take into consideration a variety of additional factors in addition to the money involved. There is a possibility that a low-cost plan would have some characteristics that make it more difficult for employees to communicate with one another. There are a number of important things to take into consideration, including the following: ensuring that counsellors are licensed psychologists or other qualified professionals who meet accreditation standards; selecting a provider with a diverse staff that is sensitive to different cultures and languages; searching for flexible pricing that does not require strict minimum employee requirements or long contracts; ensuring that support is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, in person, over the phone, or online; and determining the amount of support that is provided to the manager, given that effective training and advice can make the workplace a better place to work. There is a common understanding among those who are employed by a firm that the most effective employee assistance program (EAP) is one that caters to the requirements of the workers as well as those of the organization.

“Take care of your employees, and they’ll take care of your business.” - Richard Branson

Real-World Experiences and Feedback

You may learn about EAP providers by reading about them, but meeting with companies that have utilized their services is the most effective method to get a true understanding of what they are like. There are a number of small firms who utilize Mindway, and those businesses have reported that their staff are highly interested in the process there. Specifically, this is due to the fact that the platform makes it simple for employees to schedule meetings and select their own advisers. An other reason why individuals are so eager to make use of the service is because of this. The focus that Leapwell places on health measures that may be used to avoid health problems, such as courses and training for resilience, can assist businesses in dealing with stress in order to reduce the amount of time that employees need to take off from work with stress. The fact that BetterHR users can obtain assistance with both health and HR issues in a single location is something that they appreciate. On the other side, there are individuals who believe that the health services provided by BetterHR are not as excellent as those provided by businesses that are primarily concerned with employee assistance programs (100 percent). Given that EAP Assist is centered on email support, it is possible that employees who want assistance immediately or in person would not find it user-friendly. People, however, endorse the device because of how inexpensive it is. Because of this, small companies will be better equipped to select an EAP provider if they are aware of the benefits and drawbacks that are associated with the real world.

Implementation Tips for Maximum Impact

If employees are unaware of the existence of an employee support program or do not have faith in it, it does not matter how effectively the program is designed. Because of this, it is important for small firms to keep a careful eye on the rollout and inform themselves about it. To begin, provide a concise explanation of what the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is and make it very apparent that it is a private program. Because they are scared that their supervisor would find out, a significant number of employees do not make use of support services. In order to encourage workers to take part in initiatives, it is essential to get the support of top employees for projects that are supported by owners or management. When you want to remember the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), you can talk about it, put up signs, send yourself emails, or write notes on the internet. When most EAPs disclose private data that may be used to determine how many people are using the service and what the general patterns are, there is no need to infringe anyone's privacy. You can use this information to learn more about the service. This data ought to be examined on a regular basis in order to determine how effectively the service is functioning. You need to alter the way you communicate with them in order to get them to pay more attention if there are not many individuals who are interested. It is possible for small firms to be certain that their employee assistance program (EAP) will be beneficial to their employees in ways that are both straightforward and measurable if they continue to advertise their EAP and have strong support from management.

Key Takeaways
  • Supportive Safety Net
    EAPs offer confidential early intervention, promoting mental health and reducing workplace disruptions.
  • Tailored to You
    Australia has EAPs designed for SMBs, from low-hourly packages to comprehensive digital-plus-human services.
  • Employ subheBetter Engagement & Cultureadings
    Choosing a culturally-relevant, locally accredited provider increases trust and utilisation.
  • Measure & Adapt
    Use feedback, usage metrics, and WHS insights to refine and improve your EAP offering.
Looking for Help with an EAP?
We Customise Every Program to Fit Your Organisation
PAYG EAP
Flexible Support - Billed Per Session

Ideal for organisations that want to start small and scale as needed. Only pay when your team uses the service.


Included in PAYG:

✔️ Pay per session model

✔️ Tailored Mindfulness Program

✔️ Professional support within 12–36 hours

✔️ 24/7/365 booking number

✔️ Real-time analytics portal

+ see full benefits

Get Tailored Quote
Complete EAP
All-Inclusive Support

Best for teams seeking consistent, proactive support with built-in sessions and added value for managers and leaders.


Includes everything in PAYG, plus:

✔️ Set sessions included per employee, per year.

✔️ Dedicated program specialist

✔️ Priority critical incident support

✔️ Monthly live leadership/manager training (mental health, leadership, communication & more)

+ see full benefits

Get Tailored Quote
"We’re extremely satisfied with the services and counselling provided. It’s great to see our staff benefiting from it." 28% of staff use services
Priya, HR Director