Congratulations to Charlene and Samantha

A big congratulations to our dynamo duo on their graduation last week. 

We look forward to watching you grow as psychologists within the significant space we work in.

Angela Damianopoulos, Excecutive Director

Board Member Vanessa Field, Corporate Citizen of the Year Award

On behalf of the Board of Management, we will like to send our congratulations to our dedicated Board Member, Vanessa Field, for receiving the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award, in the City of Greater Dandenong.

Her work, as the Director of Springvale Service for Children, is beyond commendable. She is truely an inspirational person.

Congratulations!

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

Festive Season Office Closure

During the holiday period, RelateWell will be closed from Friday 22 December 2023; reponening on Monday 8 January 2024.

If you wish to change an appointment and/or make an appointment or course booking, please leave a voice message on 03 9354 8854 which will be responded to on Monday 8 January 2024 from 9.00am. Or alternatively, forward an email to relate@relatewell.org.au.

Other services available during the holiday period are: 

Additional support for Community Sector Organisations

RelateWell welcomes the additional Commonwealth funding it will receive in going towards increased indexation and supplementation payments. 

This additional funding ensures that we can continue providing essential community supports within the family and relationship services space.

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director 

World Suicide Prevention Day, 10 September 2023

For more information, visit

Out Of The Shadows : Home (outoftheshadowswalk.org.au)

Successful Award Notification from the Commonwealth Department of Social Services for the 2022-23 Volunteer Grants

The organisation will like to thank the Commonwealth Department of Social Services for its successful award of funding under the 2022-23 Volunteer Grants. 

The grant recognises the Australian Governments commitment to the vital contribution of volunteers in strengthening and enriching the social services sector. And the grant will go towards supporting its volunteers in carrying out the significant work of the organisation. 

Further, the organisation will like to thank its Federal Member for Wills, Peter Khalil MP, for nominating the organisation to submit an application for the grant. The Honourable member is a strong advocate for the social services sector, and understands the crucial work not-for-profit charitable organisations do to respond and support some of our most disadvantaged people.

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

Successful Award Notification to continue providing CAREinMIND mental health services 

RelateWell is pleased to announce that following an annual review process, we have been invited to extend our CAREinMIND Service Agreement with the North Western Melbourne PHN, which we have proudly accepted.

Enabling all members of the community to access affordable mental health services is the key to our mission and service provision values,  and we will continue to work hard in increasing accessibility, particularly to onsite services.

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

RelateWell welcomes additional funding support for the essential family and relationship services sector

It was with great pleasure we received notification from the Federal Department of Social Services, that as a contracted Family and Relationship Services provider, we will receive additional supplementary funding for 2022-23. The funding increase promised by the Federal Government comes from the implementation of the 2022-23 October Budget measure Support for Community Sector Organisations. Wherein we can now put the money towards maintaining our skilled family and relationship services workforce whom deliver essential services to vulnerable children and families in our communities.

Our vital family and relationship services helps increase accessibility to affordable counselling and psychoeducational services. 

Further, we will like to thank our peak body, Famy Relationship Services Australia (FRSA), for lobbying the Federal Government on our behalf at a crucial time where we are facing skilled shortages, increased costs, and a landscape of increased demand for our services without any additional funding.

We are grateful that our sectors concerns have been heard by the Federal Government. 

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

Designation as a family counselling organisation

Following a stringent review of our confidentiality and inadmissibility protections in accordance with the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) (the Act), RelateWell is recognised by the Commonwealth Attorney-General as appropriately advising clients and potential clients of their responsibilities and obligations encompassing the confidentiality (s10D) and inadmissibility (s10E) of communications under the Act. Ensuring that clients and potential clients fully comprehend the nature of the service for consent purposes. 

We look forward to continuing to support families within this significant space.

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

Festive Season Office Closure

During the holiday period, RelateWell will be closed from Friday 23 December 2022; reponening on Monday 9 January 2023.

If you wish to change an appointment and/or make an appointment or course booking, please leave a voice message on 03 9354 8854 which will be responded to on Monday 9 January. Or alternatively, forward an email to relate@relatewell.org.au

Other services available during the holiday period are: 

 Commonwealth Volunteer Grants Nomination

The organisation will like to thank the Federal Member for Wills, the Hon Peter Khalil MP, for nominating RelateWell to receive a grant under the 2022-23 Volunteer Grants funding round.

Given our nomination, we have formerly applied for the grant which will support our volunteers in the social services space.   

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

 RelateWell Successful in CAREinMIND 22-23 Financial Year Contracts  

I am proud to announce that RelateWell has been successful in its Expression of Interest (EOI) to continue providing CAREinMIND mental health services from 1 July 2022.

RelateWell has been providing CAREinMIND mental health services since November 2016 and look forward to continuing to support communities in north western Melbourne. 

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

Don Burnard

The Family Relationships Institute Inc. trading as RelateWell was founded in 1978 by Don Burnard, a Senior Psychologist who specialised in relationship development courses; and Dr Ron Fitzgerald who was a Commissioner for the Education Section of the Henderson Poverty Report. 

Since its inception, RelateWell has been a leader in the prevention and early intervention services space particularly in the areas of relationship psycho-education and counselling; by engaging people at key transition points in the lifecycle. 

On behalf of the Board of Management, I sadly announce that Don Burnard, the organisations first Executive Director and honorary member of the organisation has passed away.

The organisation will continue to grow and share his vision that healthy relationships are a crucial component of health and well-being.

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

Christmas Closure

RelateWell will be closed from Friday 24 December 2021; returning on Monday 10 February 2022.

In the meantime, if you need to speak to someone urgently, phone Lifeline (24/7) on 13 11 14.

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season, and a safe and happy new year. 

We look forward to seeing you all in 2022.

RelateWell Team

Permanent telehealth to strengthen universal Medicare 

The Minister for Health has just announced that telehealth will remain permanent and the additional 10 sessions via a Mental Health Care Plan will remain in place until December 2022.

To read the full press release, follow the link:

Permanent telehealth to strengthen universal Medicare | Health Portfolio Ministers

Returning to onsite services November 2021 onwards

As of Monday 8 November 2021, all current and new clients will be able to return to onsite services adhering to COVID-19 requirements.

If you have a fever or any cold and flu symptoms, please do not attend the onsite appointment. Phone 9354 8854 to reschedule your appointment. 

In conjunction with the return to face-to-face sessions, there will be a continuance of tele-practice services, namely video-call or telephone, for clients whom do not want to attend onsite. 

We look forward to welcoming you back onsite.

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

Seven day Statewide lockdown

Following the Victorian Government's recent announcements of a seven day statewide lockdown effective from midnight tonight, all RelateWell services will be delivered via telehealth. Clients will have the option to proceed with a telephone session or a video-conferencing session (coviu). 

We look forward to welcoming you all to onsite services from Friday 4 June.

Keep safe and well.

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

Stronger Communities Programme, Electorate of Wills 

On behalf of the Board and all members of RelateWell, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Honourable Peter Khalil MP, Federal Member for Wills, for supporting our Stronger Communities Programme Application  for the expansion of our targeted psychological support services - "RelateWell Psychology & Perinatal Health" - in the significant mental health space. The Stronger Communities Programme Round 6 is funded via the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. 

The funds received for the project activity will go towards purchasing furniture for our new office located at Suite 202, 398 Sydney Road Coburg, which will subsequently expand our capacity to support an increased number of clients in Moreland, particularly vulnerable clients. Breaking down barriers to accessibility of specialist mental health services underpins our service model and the expansion will support this outcome. 

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

RelateWell Psychology & Perinatal Health

RelateWell will be expanding its psychology practice in 2021.

The new practice will be located within the same building, at

Suite 202, 398 Sydney Road Coburg

Psychologist required, permanent part-time position 

If you are a psychologist (generalist or clinical) wishing to join our supportive team, on a permanent part-time basis, we welcome your interest. 

RelateWell works collaboratively with GPs, maternal and child health nurses, allied health providers and mental health services to provide effective, safe and quality mental health care services in North Western Melbourne.

The Role:

We are looking for a suitable psychologist to join our team, on a part-time basis, 2 days a week with scope for additional days. The successful candidate will work with referring GP's, maternal and child health nurses and other related health care practitioners in the management of adult mental health needs as well as self-referrals. 

If you are interested in working with perinatal specific mental health referrals, this position is for you.

If interested in joining our team, please forward your interest and resume to relate@relatewell.org.au

For further information about the position, please contact us on 9354 8854.

We look forward to expanding our significant services in the mental health space where people are treated with respect; leaving our services with improved family and community functioning; and a satisfaction with the service they have received.

Angela Damianopoulos

Executive Director

Service Provision from 1 November 2020

Following the Victorian Government's recent announcements, RelateWell will be returning to a combination of onsite and telehealth counselling and psychoeducational services from 1 November 2020. 

More information to follow in the coming days.

Regards

Angela Damianopoulos

Executive Director

 Moving Forward in service provision

14 September 2020

All counselling services will proceed to be delivered via telephone and telehealth. From the end of October, it is envisaged that clients will have the option to attend onsite services as well as telephone and telehealth. 

Counselling services will be delivered Monday to Saturday; day and evening appointments available. As announced by the Minister of Health, people are able to access an extra 10 sessions via Better Access Mental Health Treatment Items for mental health support.

In addition to this, RelateWell is a provider of CAREinMIND mental health and suicide prevention services in North Western Melbourne. A referral from your GP is required to access these free counselling sessions. 

All psychoeducational relationship and parenting programs will continue to be delivered via MS Teams, Zoom and skype. Sunday workshops will not return to onsite delivery until November.

RelateWell looks forward to welcoming you back "onsite" to all its service outlets throughout metropolitan Melbourne from late October onwards.

Keep safe and well

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

Moving Forward  during Stage 4 Restrictions

During the new restrictions, RelateWell will continue to care for your mental health and well-being through the continued delivery of telephone and secure Telehealth (coviu) counselling services; and the delivery of psychoeducational relationship and parenting services through MS Teams, Zoom and Skype. 

Our Sunday relationship workshops will not be running during the lockdowns but additional dates will be implemented to cater for the demand for our services when Stage 4 restrictions are lifted. Instead, our PREPARE Relationship Inventory will continue to be delivered via Skype to couples via appointment from Monday to Friday.

Importantly, the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced an expansion of the government's mental health program with Victorians to receive a further 10 sessions of psychology and psychiatry support through the Medicare system.

RelateWell welcomes the Health Minister's announcement to provide an additional 10 sessions to individuals presenting with Better Access Mental Health Treatment Items. This will provide much relief to those in need of additional targeted psychological care.

It will be business as normal for RelateWell. All services and programs will run at the same capacity but delivered via different mediums.

Supporting people and families to navigate these unprecedented times will underpin service provision.

To be supported by our experienced team of therapists, phone RelateWell on 9354 8854 or email relate@relatewell.org.au.

Stay safe and well,

Moving Forward 

Friday 15 May 2020

In light of the Premier’s announcements this week of a "limited phasing" of restrictions, as the organisation runs both a funded and private stream of service provision, there will be a gradual transitioning back to face-to-face services, dependent on the service stream in which an individual is categorised under. Therefore, given the return to school for all Victorian students on Tuesday 9 June (as many families access our services), as of Monday 15 June, clients and new referrals coming through our funded stream which encompasses counselling and psychoeducation services will be offered the option to attend onsite services.

When it comes to our premarital and relationship programs, it is envisaged that Sunday workshops and PREPARE Relationship Inventories will transition to onsite service delivery in July. No sooner. PREPARE inventories will continue to be supported via Skype.

Parenting education which encompasses New Parent Groups will continue to be delivered via MS Teams in the short-term along with other parenting and relationship programs aimed at supporting parent’s mental health. We will work with our significant collaborative partners – Moreland Maternal and Child Health Service, Springvale Service for Children and City of Greater Dandenong – in transitioning these significant programs back to onsite targeted psychological support.

As our private counselling stream receives referrals from General Practitioners and CAREinMIND Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Services, as of Monday 25 May, individual therapists will determine which individuals are best placed to return to face-to-face counselling; all dependent on their circumstance and level of vulnerability. 

It is NOT envisaged that onsite service delivery will return to full capacity until the second part of the year.

As noted in all my communications with the RelateWell team, I see a mixture of both forms of service delivery being provided – face-to-face, telephone and online platforms –given the communities anxiety about the pandemic. Therefore, this is merely an “option” as many clients will want to continue with telehealth and online services.

Therefore, in the preceding weeks, there will be a gradual return to onsite service delivery supported by social distancing and workplace hygiene requirements as to minimise physical contact and infection where possible; and ongoing updates regarding Government advice on best practice measures to avoid infection.

We look forward to welcoming our current clients, participants and new referrals back to our premises. But until then, we will continue to support you with service provision which is underpinned by sound governance and evidence-based clinical practice.

Stay safe and well

Angela Damianopoulos, Executive Director

Dear RelateWell clients and community partners

RelateWell will be running as usual with technological mediums introduced to facilitate the transition from face-to-face interaction to counselling via telephone (telehealth) and psychoeducational relationship services and programs via Teams, Zoom and Skype. 

Our experienced team of psychologists, counsellors and educators will continue to support current clients and new referrals and self-referrals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Referrals will continue to be accepted for bulk-billing items via Mental Health Care Plans (telehealth); and for CAREinMIND Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Services.

Our funded services and programs under the sub-activity Family and Relationship Services (FaRS), Government Department of Social Services (DSS), which encompasses counselling and psycho-education, will continue to play a critical role during these challenging times, with services being delivered via telephone and Skype.

It is important to remember that during these times where social distancing is a requirement, we need to check in on our loved ones through technological mediums such as telephone or skype, to let them know that they are valued and loved. Feelings of Isolation (physical and social) and loneliness impact on one’s mental health, so it is important to keep in contact.