Using our service FAQ - Peer support

Our peer support clinicians are all nurses and midwives. They have a wide range of experience and are all trained to provide peer support. You can speak to a clinician in your state or territory, or you may prefer to speak with a clinician based in another state for increased anonymity, particularly if you live and work in a smaller community.   

No. This service is free if you are a nurse, midwife or student of either profession. We are funded by the Commonwealth Government.    

No referral is needed - you can contact us directly. There are two easy ways to get in touch:

• Call us on 1800 001 060, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm (local time), excluding public holidays
• Submit an online enquiry and we'll call you back

After your initial enquiry, our team will be in touch within a few business days to gather some information and get you started. From there, a peer support clinician will contact you to arrange your first appointment. Once a time is confirmed, we'll send you a calendar invitation and email with all the details. 

No. Like your GP or other health professionals, we collect personal information to provide you with the best possible support. However, you can call us anonymously for an initial conversation to see if we're the right fit before you register. If you'd prefer to remain anonymous, Nurse & Midwife Support offers a 24/7 support line where you can talk without providing your details. 

We are not a 24/7 service. We work 9am to 5pm local time Monday to Friday, and not on public holidays. Choose a day that you are not at work and can clear a time and space to speak freely with us. Think about how you’d like to meet – in person at one of our locations, via telehealth (MS Teams) or by telephone.  

No, we do not offer support via online chat or email. We find that peer support is more effective when delivered more personally – in person, via telehealth (MS Teams) or on the phone. This human dimension helps build trust and connection. 

There is no fixed limit - we work with you to figure out what's right for your situation. Everyone is different, though on average participants have around six to eight sessions. 

You decide with your clinician how often you will meet. Each session is usually 50 to 60 minutes. We find that this is the upper limit of time most people can focus on working through their challenges and talking about next steps.   

Your first session is a confidential, one-on-one conversation with your peer support clinician. They'll invite you to share what's been going on and listen without judgement. Together you'll begin to understand what matters most to you and start to shape a plan at a pace that feels right for you. You set the direction. Your clinician is there alongside you, not leading the way. 

Yes. Everything you share with us is held in confidence and we are independent from your workplace. The only exceptions are when there is a legal requirement to do so, or a serious and imminent risk to you or others.