Individual and family counselling that supports people impacted by alcohol or drug (AOD) use.
Need to speak to someone now? Victoria: Call Directline 1800 888 236 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Tasmania: Call Alcohol Drug Information Service (ADIS) 1800 250 015 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
If you’re ready to seek support, our counsellors are available to work with you towards your goals. Some people choose to attend one initial counselling session before they commit to longer term support, others choose to have multiple sessions over a number of weeks or months. You can decide what you need when you speak to us, and it’s ok to change your mind and change your goals.
If you’d like to seek support alongside a family member or loved one, we will work with the people you choose to have in your support network. Or if you’re a family member or loved one of someone with a substance use dependency, and you are feeling the impacts, we can work with you and other family members to understand and address the impacts.
Call Uniting in Victoria on 1800 700 514, or 03 6244 1144 in Tasmania (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).
For 24/7 support, call Directline in Victoria on 1800 888 236, or 1800 250 015 in Tasmania.
If you’re looking for support for your own substance use, a clinician will take you through an assessment to understand your goals and needs. The clinician can provide a personalised treatment plan if you’re ready to take the next step.
Using your personalised plan, you’ll be referred to a program that is the best support for your goals. This might be counselling, or another program that is a better fit for your situation, and where you live.
Anyone who is impacted by substance use can access alcohol or other drug counselling, including family members or loved ones. If you notice you’re feeling anxious, or experiencing relationship stress, physical or emotional strain, or financial insecurity due to your own or someone else’s alcohol
or drug use, our counsellors can work with you to understand your situation and move towards your goals.
Alcohol and other drug counselling accessed through Uniting is free.
In your first session you’ll speak with a trained professional either online or in person, and may begin to discuss personal issues and challenges you may be facing in your life related to your substance use. You may wish to discuss your treatment goals in this session, or sessions you attend later. The goal of counselling is to gain new perspectives, develop coping mechanisms, and work towards solutions to improve your wellbeing, all within a safe and confidential environment.
Yes, you can bring a loved one or family member of your choosing to any session. This might include a partner, friend, housemate, sibling, parent, carer, or grandparent. Each person’s situation is unique, and our counsellors will be flexible and adaptable to your support needs.
Yes, if someone else’s substance use is impacting you and you’d like to talk about it, our counsellors can provide support that works with your needs.
Yes, counselling sessions are available online. Call us on 1800 700 514 to find out more.
Counselling is available in-person at Uniting Coburg, Preston, Horsham, and Ballarat locations. If you live outside these areas, we can connect you with another organisation that delivers in-person counselling in your area. Call us on 1800 700 514.
Our models of program delivery include brief intervention, StepThru Care Case-Management, Care and Recovery Coordination, and support for people involved in the justice system. For more information about our full range of alcohol and other drug programs, view our brochure.
AOD Counselling
We’re here for you
To speak to someone about AOD counselling, use the contact details below for your area.
Melbourne (North and West metropolitan): 1800 700 514 (Uniting and partner organisations), Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
Wimmera Uniting: 03 5362 4000, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
Melbourne (all areas): 1800 888 236 Directline, 24/7
Tasmania: 1800 250 015 Alcohol Drug Information Service (ADIS), 24/7
