EAPs With 24-Hour Counselling in Australia – Best EAP Services & Providers
Last Updated 9/1/26 By Vanessa Cortez
EAP Programs @ Mindway EAP
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services that are available in Australia, including those that offer counselling around the clock, will be discussed in this article. The article will also discuss how these services operate and the reasons why they have the potential to significantly improve the health and happiness of individuals while they are at work. This article provides a description of what an employee assistance program (EAP) is and how it functions, as well as an evaluation of the providers identified as being the most successful. You will be able to make a decision that is well-informed for your company if you make use of this information.

What you'll learn:
  • What 24-Hour Counselling in EAP Services Means
  • Leading EAP Providers in Australia With 24-Hour Support
  • How 24-Hour EAP Services Operate
  • Benefits for Employers and Employees
  • How to Choose the Right EAP Provider

What 24-Hour Counselling in EAP Services Involves

People who work for a company that has an EAP can get professional help with their mental health and well-being at any time, day or night. Access that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is different from services that are only open during normal business hours because accidents, stress, and worry don't happen at set times. Calling someone outside of normal business hours can be very helpful for many workers, especially those who work shifts, live in rural areas, or have duties in more than one time zone. It can mean the difference between getting help right away and letting a problem get worse. There is an easy way that 24-hour EAP programs work that works well. When an employee calls or texts, they are connected to trained people who sort the call or message by how important it is. Help is given right away if the issue needs to be solved quickly. If it's not too big of a deal, the worker may be able to meet with a counsellor again during work hours. People who use the service don't have to worry about being judged or getting a bad name at work because of strict privacy rules. A big part of getting staff to ask for help when they need it is making them feel safe.

Recognised EAP Providers in Australia Offering 24/7 Support

Several big EAP providers in Australia offer professional counsellors to workers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An extremely well-known company is Converge International, which helps managers and offers counselling services over the phone and online to people all over the United States. Another way that AccessEAP helps people is through talks, the phone, and the internet, seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. On account of this, they are a great choice for a wide range of businesses. There are a lot of people who know about TELUS Health, which used to be called LifeWorks. Because the company puts digital first, they offer chat on the phone, through video chat, and through apps. Also, Benestar has been around for a long time and is known for its bilingual counselling and customised programs that help companies with a lot of people from different cultures. All of these companies say that customers can get in at any time, day or night, seven days a week, but they do it in different ways. Other people are more interested in digital options that can be used together, like live chat, apps, and online tools. Some people are more interested in phone hotlines. Firms might need to know these differences in order to choose a service that meets both their employees' needs and their communication preferences.their workers and how they like to communicate with each other.
Employee:
It’s midnight and I can’t sleep because of what happened at work today. I’m not sure what to do.
You:
I’m here to listen. Let’s talk through what’s going on and how you’re feeling right now. You’ve taken the right first step.

How 24-Hour EAP Services Are Structured

It's easy and quick to get help when the EAP service is open 24 hours a day. When a trained worker calls after hours, the first thing that trained workers do is discover how important the call is. When a person is in trouble or in danger, they get therapy right away to help them. The worker may be told to set up a follow-up meeting at a time that works for them if it's not a big deal. This way, they can still get help when they need it. What if the person needs long-term or more skilled care? They might be able to get more help from other health care workers if the EAP therapist can suggest them. To keep the process going, you need to keep things secret. It is a secret between workers and their bosses what they talk about with counsellors. Their name is not included in usage reports that are sent to them instead. The trends that these reports show are things like the number of meetings that were watched or the types of problems that workers want help with. The program is useful for businesses and safe for workers because it is both open and private at the same time.

Benefits for Employers and Employees

An EAP program is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so if you need help, you can get it quickly and easily. When an employee calls after hours, the first thing that happens is that trained professionals figure out how important the call is. Most of the time, this is true. When an employee is seen to be in a dangerous or risky position, they are given counselling right away. People who work there might be told to set up a follow-up meeting at a time that works for them if the problem isn't very important. It will still be possible for them to get help whenever they need it. If the person needs more specialised care or care that lasts longer, the EAP counsellor might be able to send them to other healthcare workers who can continue to treat them. The most important part of the process is keeping information secret. The nature of the talks that workers have with counsellors is kept secret from the company's managers. Instead, users are given use reports that don't have any information that could be used to identify them. Patterns are shown in these reports, like the number of meetings that were watched or the kinds of problems that workers are asking for help with. By finding a mix between openness and privacy, the effort will continue to help businesses while also making sure that each employee feel safe.
“Mental health needs a great deal of attention. It’s the final taboo, and it needs to be faced and dealt with.” - Adam Ant

Choosing the Right EAP Provider for 24/7 Support

Because not every EAP company sets up their services the same way, managers need to carefully consider all of their options as they come up. To make sure the counsellors are prepared to give good care, it is important to make sure they are pros who are known in the area and have the right credentials. Response times need to be looked at too, to make sure that important calls are dealt with right away. Some businesses might prefer service providers that let them be reached in a number of ways, such as through live chat, mobile apps, or video calls, over those that can only be reached by phone. Support in multiple languages and understanding of different cultures can also have a big effect on how well and how quickly people from different cultures can work together in businesses. Last but not least, managers should pay attention to how rumours are spread. The best employee assistance programs (EAPs) give companies clear and private information about how their programs are being used. This lets companies see trends in how well their workers are doing without violating their privacy.
Key Takeaways
  • Around-the-Clock Support
    24-hour EAP Services ensure employees have help anytime they need it, including nights and weekends.
  • Crisis Intervention
    Immediate counselling can prevent mental health crises from worsening.
  • Business Benefits
    Reduces absenteeism, supports WHS compliance, and boosts employee trust.
  • Choosing the Right EAP Provider
    Look for local accreditation, multilingual options, and multiple access points (phone, video, chat).
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