Our Services
CARES4Me Program
(Coordinated Anxiety Recovery and Emotional Support for Me)
What is the CARES4Me program?
The CARES4Me program provides a free emotional support and referral service where our callers are matched to trained, empathetic, and non-judgmental volunteers who can provide them with a safe, listening space. CARES4Me Program is for callers who need weekly phone calls.
The volunteers are not mental health specialists or therapists so we cannot provide any therapeutic interventions but can provide consistent emotional support to callers. Please note, CARES4Me is not a crisis service.
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday from 9:30 am – 6:30 pm (AEST)
What can I expect from calls:
The CARES4Me coordinators will first complete an intake call with you. This call provides us with an opportunity to:
- Learn about you and your situation.
- Establish whether the program is the right fit for you.
- Discuss and set goals for your time in the program.
The CARES4Me coordinator will then match you with a carefully trained volunteer. Many of our volunteers have a lived experience of anxiety, are supporting a loved one, or are currently studying in the mental/allied health space.
A volunteer will call you once a week for up to an hour and help you work towards the goals you have decided on. You can be in the program for up to 12 months as long as you able to engage in weekly phone calls and are continuing to work towards your goals. Calls can be made via the telephone or over internet-based platform (Zoom Calls).
Your CARES4Me volunteer can:
- Provide you with regular emotional support, facilitating a safe and consistent space to help manage life’s challenges and struggles that can be triggered by anxiety.
- Provide practical evidence-based strategies to assist in improving and managing your emotional health and overall sense of wellbeing.
- Speak with you about appropriate referral options to additional services.
Who is eligible for the CARES4Me program?
- Individuals who are over the age of 18 years old and are struggling with anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (e.g., OCD, skin picking, hair pulling)
- Individuals who live in Australia
- You may have a diagnosed mental illness (but this is not a requirement to access the CARES4Me Program).
- You are not exempt if you are already receiving support from other mental/allied health services
- You may be a carer, parent, or partner caring for a loved one affected by anxiety.
*If this is the case it is important to note that you will be our caller so our focus would be providing support to you, not to the person you are caring for.
How can I access the CARES4Me program?
- You can refer yourself – contact ARCVic with expression of interest in CARES4Me.
- A GP or service provider can make a referral on your behalf.
- A friend, family member or partner can contact us on your behalf, but we will require your direct consent for us to contact you.
How do I contact ARCVic to find out more?
For further information you can contact the Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria directly through:
- Calling the ARCVic Helpline (1300 269 438 or 03 9830 0533)
- Contacting the CARES4Me coordinators: cares4meinfo@arcvic.connexionpoint.com.au