A dedicated telephone service is available 24 hours a day on

(02) 9437 6552

We take calls from practitioners or students themselves, from their families, or from their staff or professional colleagues concerned about their health or well-being.

Calls for help are often associated with:

• Mental health problems, including stress
• Alcohol & other substance abuse (eg narcotics)
• Relationship difficulties
• Financial difficulties
• Legal & ethical issues
• Physical impairment
• Clinical competence
• Help in finding a GP

No problem is too serious or too trivial!

What happens when you call:

Incoming callers are put in contact with one of a panel of senior medical practitioners experienced in handling such problems. The caller is then offered advice over the phone, and if necessary, recommended to consult a GP, a specialist, or other health professional.

During office hours, our receptionist obtains the caller's phone number and advises that an experienced general practitioner will return the call as soon as possible - usually within a few hours. No other questions are asked. Unless offered, the name of the caller is not noted. If the call seems urgent, our staff will use their discretion in determining the need for immediate help.

Once our GP adviser has phoned the caller, the caller might be assisted by that GP or might be recommended to consult a GP, a specialist or another source of professional help. Extreme care is taken to maintain confidentiality.

After-hours, callers receive a recorded message which provides the number of a senior member of the DHAS, who will deal with the problem as outlined above.