You can call our 24 hour phone service, see a private counsellor or talk to one of our QAS counsellors or psychologists at any time. Some of our counsellors will also see you over a video call.
Benefits of counselling
Counselling can help you:
- understand your thoughts and feelings
- work through any issues and stresses at work or home
- learn ways to cope and develop your skills
- improve your mental health and wellbeing.
All counselling is free and confidential.
What is counselling?
Within Priority One, there are a variety of different counselling services. It can be accessed internally, externally, and through a 24 hour telephone service.
Counselling provides the process and space for the individual to work through any professional or personal issues that they might be struggling with. It also provides a space for them to work through any occupational challenges and through any stresses that are happening at work.
Counselling also utilises specialised interpersonal skills to help empower and facilitate change for the individual. It provides an opportunity for them to learn different approaches and strategies to help them learn how to cope with different things.
Counselling is a collaborative process which helps promote the individual's mental health and wellbeing, enhance self-understanding, and resolve identified concerns.
Much like many health professionals, the counsellors have to be registered. Professionals that practice counselling, whether that be psychologists, registered counsellors, or social workers must all be registered. As part of this registration, they must uphold the Counselling Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards and within this means that all counselling provided is confidential.
Throughout the state, there are over 70 external counsellors which have all been selectively picked for their individual skills for the role. Some of these counsellors also have the ability to perform video sessions. The internal counsellors within Priority One are a mix of psychologists, registered counsellors, and some that have on-road experience either as paramedics or patient transport officers.
Phone counselling
You can call our counselling service 24 hours a day on 1800 805 980. You don’t need to tell us who you are, and you can talk to us about anything. Leave your name and phone number with our team and a counsellor will call you back as soon as they can.
Face to face counselling
We have mental health professionals who work for us in every region across Queensland. They understand our staff and their role in the Queensland Ambulance Service. You can arrange to talk to them for advice, support, counselling or if you need a referral to more services.
You can also see an external counsellor, psychologist or social worker at any time. We offer up to 6 free sessions a year, with the counsellors listed below. We also can arrange more visits if you need them. You don't need to tell us that you want to see one of these counsellors. You can contact them directly and they'll arrange your free sessions.
Find an external counsellor
| Region | Name | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Leanne Casey | Kirra | 0403 158 535 |
| Gold Coast | Samantha Waters | Mudgeeraba | 1300 811 499 |
| Gold Coast | Lisa Pederzolli | Bundall | 0433 814 731 |
| Gold Coast | Simon Santosha | Robina | 0411 144 519 |
| Metro South | Eleanor Barlow | Beenleigh | 3287 5585 |
| Metro South | Chris Barlow | Beenleigh | 3287 5585 |
| Metro South | Korey Pagura | Carindale, Morningside, Springwood | 0412 692 868 |
| Metro South | Terri-ann Spence | Annerley | 0408 785 613 |
| Metro South | Emily Plate | Carina | 0414 723 642 |
| Metro South | Heather Menzies | Hamilton | 0416 747 277 |
| Metro South | Geoff Fitzgerald | Annerley | 0432 075 088 |
| Metro South | Jayne Crawley | Spring Hill | 1300 087 286 |
| Metro South | Frances Taylor | Redland Bay | 0415 959 267 |
| Metro South | Denise Britton | Brisbane City | 0407 659 061 |
| Metro North | Beth Keane | Alderley | 3356 2626 |
| Metro North | Greg Dean | Alderley | 0412 844 681 |
| Metro North | Heather Menzies | Hamilton | 0416 747 277 |
| Metro North | Geoff Fitzgerald | Annerley | 0432 075 088 |
| Metro North | Hannah Faveere | Fig Tree Pocket | 0498 288 438 |
| Metro North | Kerri Sweetman | Draper | 0422 776 326 |
| Metro North | Trisha Cabrero | Ashgrove | 3510 2152 |
| Metro North | Jayne Crawley | Spring Hill | 1300 087 286 |
| Metro North | Ruth Morgan | Chermside | 0408 707 729 |
| Metro North | Marianne Dyer | Red Hill | 0416 125 610 |
| Metro North | Wade Jacklin | New Farm | 3252 7919 |
| Metro North | Ross Brandli | Margate | 0432 520 165 |
| Metro North | Sandra Bond | Sandgate | 0419 834 819 |
| Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay | Barb Gonda | Gympie | 0417 002 071 |
| Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay | Sonia Muller | Point Vernon | 0402 400 393 |
| Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay | Carissa Rodgers | Bargara | 0401 174 953 |
| Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay | Daniel Rodgers | Bundaberg | 0490 460 100 |
| Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay | Alanda Thompson | Peregian Beach | 0411 956 885 |
| Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay | Connie Reed | Caloundra | 0481 345 650 |
| Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay | Angela Barnes | Palmwoods | 0405 751 145 |
| Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay | Noel Walker | Yandina | 0421 061 257 |
| Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay | Deborah Walker | Yandina | 0402 142 933 |
| Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay | Lee Baker | Mooloolaba | 0457 988 986 |
| Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay | Mel Zimmerman | Mt Creek & Wurtulla | 0421 205 449 |
| Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay | Angela Britton | Coolum | 0491 209 295 |
| Darling Downs South West | David Cluff | Darling Downs | 0478 215 349 |
| Darling Downs South West | Sharon Foreman | Toowoomba, Dalby, Gatton | 4632 0351 |
| Darling Downs South West | Rohan Watson | Toowoomba | 0400 854 553 |
| Darling Downs South West | Deborah Duncan | Toowoomba | 4632 2216 |
| Darling Downs South West | Natalia Sadykova | Toowoomba | 0422 214 110 |
| Darling Downs South West | Maria Katsarou | Toowoomba | 4646 4239 |
| Darling Downs South West | Kieran Martin | Toowoomba | 0418 209 755 |
| Darling Downs South West | Katherine Johnston | Goondiwindi | 0475 391 260 |
| Darling Downs South West | Suzie Collins | Goondiwindi, Inglewood | 0438 711 500 |
| Darling Downs South West | Alexandra Donoghue | St George, Dirranbandi, Bollon | 07 4519 0761 |
| Darling Downs South West | Lainie Nicholson | Murgon, Kingaroy, Blackbutt | 0411 024 834 |
| Darling Downs South West | Anthony Cipa | Warwick | 0416 133 329 |
| Darling Downs South West | Nicole Faulkner | Toowoomba | 0456 149 569 |
| Darling Downs South West | Michael John | Dalby | 0429 444 338 |
| Central | Sally Jack | Bowen | 0458 831 080 |
| Central | Norm Feeney | Mackay | 4942 3744 |
| Central | Samara Mill | Mackay | 0423 245 808 |
| Central | Nathan Harriot | Cannonvale | 4946 4021 |
| Central | Anne Haines | Rockhampton | 0417 714 104 |
| Central | Joanne Bell | Rockhampton | 0402 041 139 |
| Central | Keera Ross | Rockhampton | 0460 962 917 |
| Central | Helen Maddell | Rockhampton | 4921 1224 |
| Central | Megan Olive | Rockhampton | 0439 598 664 |
| Central | Iain Wheatley | Gladstone | 0403 430 128 |
| Central | Katrina Anderson | Yeppoon | 0425 545 675 |
| Central | Daniel Joubert | Gladstone | 4972 8715 |
| Central | Elizabeth Norris | Gladstone | 0409 102 033 |
| Central | Joy Smith | Yeppoon | 0413 277 435 |
| Northern | Zahne Castley | Townsville | 0437 440 577 |
| Northern | Susan Calmer | Townsville | 4724 5619 |
| Northern | Carol Mitchell | Townsville | 0474 750 907 |
| Far Northern | Lex Peters | Atherton | 4091 7555 |
| Far Northern | Jenell Wilkie | Atherton | 0439 967 951 |
| Far Northern | Brooke Fisher | Innisfail | 0435 200 508 |
| Far Northern | Max MacKenzie | Cairns | 0408 634 295 |
| Far Northern | Robyn Moore | Cairns | 0407 968 870 |
| Far Northern | Caroline Swinton | Cairns | 0418 652 532 |