Mental Health Support for Emergency Services Workers
Tender ID: 593793
Tender Details
Tender Description
The Mental Health Support for Emergency Services Workers grant opportunity is part of the Supporting Local Emergency Management Capability program. The program was announced as a measure in the 2024-25 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook.
The purpose of the program is to deliver best practice mental health services (including clinical services, referrals, awareness raising, prevention and wellbeing activities) directed towards the prevention, treatment and control of recognised mental health conditions, targeting current and former, paid and voluntary emergency services workers that have been involved in disaster response and their families.
The objectives of the program are to provide emergency services workers and their families with free support through an inclusive and accessible, national program of appropriate psychological and relevant wellbeing services aligned with the stepped care model. These services will support the prevention, treatment and control of recognised mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as suicidal ideation (where it is linked to a recognised mental health condition).
The intended outcome of the program is to:
- prevent, treat and reduce the severity of symptoms of recognised mental health conditions, including psychological distress and PTSD
- improve suicide prevention outcomes, and
- improve future resilience to mental health conditions
for emergency services workers who have been involved in disaster response and have accessed the service, and their families.
The program will fund one eligible applicant up to a maximum of $3 million.
The program will run over 12 months from 1 January 2026.
Eligibility:
You can apply if you:
- have an Australian business number (ABN)
And are one of the following entities:
- an entity, incorporated in Australia
- a company limited by guarantee
- an incorporated association
- an incorporated not for profit organisation or registered charity
- a publicly funded research organisation (PFRO) as defined in section 14 of the guidelines.
We can only accept applications where you:
can confirm that:
- your organisation has experience in delivering mental health services targeted to emergency services workers
- your organisation can deliver these services nationally
- your organisation can complete the project and meet any additional costs of the project not covered by grant funding
- provide a letter/statement from your board (or chief executive officer or equivalent if there is no board) confirming that they support the project
- submit all attachments listed at section 7.1 of the guidelines.
You can’t apply if you are:
- an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme
- an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
- an individual
- an unincorporated association
- a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust)
- a Commonwealth, state, territory or local government body (including government business enterprises)
- a non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- a corporate Commonwealth entity, or state and territory business enterprise which does not undertake publicly funded research.
Find the full eligibility criteria in the grant opportunity guidelines.
Total Amount Available (AUD):
$3,000,000.00
Instructions for Application Submission:
Applications open at 10am, Wednesday 10 September 2025.
To apply, go to https://business.gov.au/mhsfesw
Other Instructions:
business.gov.au provides information and advice to customers via a range of channels including phone (13 28 46), email and web chat. Contact us for assistance.
Location
New South Wales : Central West : Far North Coast : Far West : Hunter : Illawarra : Mid North Coast : Murray : New England : Orana : Riverina : Southern Highlands : Sydney
Queensland : Cairns & Far North Queensland : Gladstone : Mackay Whitsunday Region : Mount Isa & North West Region : Rockhampton : South East Queensland : South West & Darling Downs : The Central West : Townsville : Wide Bay Burnett
Victoria : Barwon South West : Gippsland : Grampians : Hume : Loddon Mallee : Melbourne
South Australia : Adelaide : Eyre & Western : Far North : Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island : Limestone Coast : Murray & Mallee : York & Mid North
Northern Territory : Barkly : Big Rivers : Central Australia : East Arnhem : Greater Darwin : Top End
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania