Support available during the holiday period

Employee Assistance Programme providers have changed. Please refer to the Seek Safety, Health and Wellbeing support  page for current support services.

After a long year, the holiday period is a welcomed break for many of us, bringing time to catch up with family and friends, and to relax. This time can also be stressful, with some personnel continuing to work, as well as both personal and work stressors that come with the holiday period.

If you or your family need support over the busy holiday period, remember Fire and Emergency provide all our people and their families with free and confidential support services. 

Peer Support

Peer support provides confidential assistance, support or practical help, from a colleague who volunteers to support others. They draw upon their own lived experience and understanding of the unique challenges our work provides. You can find out more about Peer Support via the Portal.

Over December and January, if you want to talk confidentially to someone from the Peer Support Team, ring your local ComCen, and they will put you in contact with the peer supporters available over the Christmas and New Year period.

EAP

Alternatively, you can contact one of the following services for confidential counselling services.

• Vitae Services on 0508 664 981, www.vitae.co.nz(external link)

• EAP Services on 0800 327 669, www.eapservices.co.nz

Remember, your immediate family can get advice and support through these services. Please tell them you are from Fire and Emergency, so we can cover the cost. It’s still completely confidential – we are only advised of the number of people seeking help.

Additional support options

Critical support 

If you need urgent psychological support, please contact your GP on call, Ambulance Service, or local hospital emergency department who can refer you to the Crisis Assessment and Treatment Teams (CATT) services in your area as needed.

More information on available support services and Safety, Health and Wellbeing resources including contact details for peer support people in your region, can be found on the Critical incident and personal stress support page on the Portal.

Unions and associations 

You can also access available support information on the following Union and Association websites:

UFBA - https://www.ufba.org.nz/about/contact(external link)

NZPFU - http://www.nzpfu.org.nz/contact(external link)

FRFANZ - http://frfanz.org.nz/about-us/(external link)

FECA - https://www.fireemergencycommanders.org.nz/contact-us/(external link)

Firefighters Welfare Society - http://www.firefighters.org.nz/contact-us/ (external link)

PSA - https://www.psa.org.nz/contact/contact-us(external link)

Safe@Work

Safe@Work events will continue to be monitored over the holiday period, for urgent safety concerns contact ComCen.

Resources

Download and print this Stay Well A3 poster [PDF, 136 KB] and put it up at your station to remind you and your crew or workmates of the support services that are available.