Counselling

How We Can Help

Our qualified and professional staff and volunteers are here to offer no-judgement support whenever you need

Waratah provides free, specialised and therapeutic intervention, counselling and support services for people who experience or have experienced sexual assault, sexual abuse, and family domestic violence. We use trauma-informed principles and practices.

Waratah offers services throughout the South West Region in Bunbury, Busselton and Collie. We also offer telehealth appointments in these localities.

People may be referred to our service by organisations or professionals. People may also contact Waratah directly by phone.

Sexual Assault Service

Waratah Sexual Assault Service (SA) is designed to offer services to help children, young people and their families heal from the harmful psychological, emotional and social effects of sexual assault and abuse.

All clinicians are professionals with psychology, social work or counselling tertiary qualifications and receive specialised training in providing services to those who have been affected by sexual assault and abuse.

The service provides free, specialised counselling, support and therapeutic intervention services for;

Males and females, aged thirteen years and over from Bunbury and the South West Region who have been sexually abused and or sexually assaulted.

The service includes 24/7 crisis response intervention as well as individual counselling, telephone counselling, group therapy support sessions, community education sessions, training for professionals, service networking and organisational development

Family Abuse Service

Waratah Family Abuse Intervention Service is designed to offer services to help women aged sixteen years and over and their families heal from the harmful psychological, emotional and social effects of domestic violence and abuse.

The service provides free, specialised counselling, support, advocacy and therapeutic intervention for women aged sixteen years and over who are in circumstances where violence has occurred or is likely to occur in an intimate or familial relationship.

All clinicians are professionals with psychology, social work or counselling tertiary qualifications and have received specialised training in providing services to women aged 16 or over who have been affected by violence and abuse.

Women can access the service by either self-referring, by having another agency refer them, or by being referred by Department for Child Protection and Family Support.

Child-specific Services

Waratah Child Sexual Abuse Therapeutic Services (CSATS) is designed to offer services to help children, young people and their families heal from the harmful psychological, emotional and social effects of child sexual abuse.

All clinicians are professionals with psychology, social work or counselling tertiary qualifications and have received specialised training in providing services to children, young people and adults who have been affected by child sexual abuse.

This service provides free, specialised counselling, support and therapeutic intervention services for:

Children and young people and their families; who have experienced and/or been impacted by child sexual abuse;
Children and young people who are responsible for or who are at risk of sexually abusing other children.

Families can access the service by self-referring, by having another agency refer them or by being referred by Department for Child Protection and Family Support.

Waratah Children’s Domestic Violence Service (CDV) is designed to offer services to help children, young people and their families heal from the harmful psychological, emotional and social effects of domestic violence and abuse.

The service provides free, specialised counselling, support and therapeutic intervention services for:

Children, young people and their families, who have witnessed or experienced family and domestic violence;
Children, young people and their families who are in circumstances where violence has occurred, or is likely to occur, in an intimate familial relationship.

Families can access the service by either self-referring, or having another agency refer, or being referred by Department for Child Protection and Family Support.

Our qualified staff and volunteers are here to support you

Waratah supports people who have experienced trauma, abuse, assault and violence through the provision of a therapeutic environment that utilises a range of professional and specialised services.
There is an emphasis on individualised safety and care plans designed to meet the needs of individuals and their circumstances.
We strive to make a positive difference to the lives of all those who come for therapeutic intervention.

Collaborative Response Services

Family and Domestic Violence Coordinated Response Service is a Co-Location Response Model which includes the Department for Child Protection and Family Support and the WA Police.

Together, they form the Family and Domestic Violence Response Team.

The partnership jointly reviews and responds to Domestic Violence Incident Reports from the WA Police. The team uses a brief Intervention Model to undertake risk assessments, facilitates multi-agency case management and works alongside families and individuals where incidences of family and domestic violence have occurred.

Education, Training and Community Development Service

Waratah plays an important role by increasing community knowledge and skills and challenge the myths surrounding sexual assault and sexual abuse and domestic violence.

Training Programs include:

Respectful Relationships – which provides interactive sessions to young people on developing healthy relationships
Healthy Responses to Children – which provides interactive sessions to enable parents develop skills and assist their children who have experienced trauma
Trauma Informed Practice and Care Delivery – for professionals
Dealing with Disclosures of Sexual Abuse and Assault – for professionals
Protective Behaviours for Children
Community Education and Development
Clinical Supervision for Professionals Working with Clients who are Victims of Abuse and Violence

Waratah welcomes the opportunity to undertake training and development for organisations in relation to consent, healthy behaviours and respectful relationships. We have provided training and support in schools, general practice settings, private organisations and in other human services. Please phone our staff if you are interested in training for your staff.