Melaleuca provides is a not for profit organisation that provides a range of services and supports to the refugee and migrant community living in the Northern Territory.
As a small organisation, our capacity to service our clients is underpinned by our long standing collaborative partnerships.
The sharing of information, experience and expertise with individuals, professionals, organisations, communities and other government agencies, ensures our services and programs are of the highest quality, relevant to our clients’ needs and result in enduring positive outcomes.
Many people from refugee and humanitarian backgrounds have witnessed and/or experienced torture and trauma. Surviving to tell the tale or often not wanting to speak of the tragedies they’ve seen or physically endured can have long lasting, profound consequences on their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing if left untreated. Melaleuca provides counselling and support to these people through the Program of Assistance for Survivors of Torture and Trauma.
This program was developed by the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma, to support survivors of torture and trauma by providing specialised services to improve their emotional and mental wellbeing.
The Program is open to permanently resettled refugees and humanitarian entrants and those on temporary substantive visas living in the community, who are experiencing psychological or psychosocial difficulties related to their experience before coming to Australia. It offers a safe, professional and nurturing environment for clients to discuss their pain, deal with their grief and address their fears.
Ultimately, the Program’s goal is to help clients to heal, with a focus on counselling.
Melaleuca Australia is one of the eight member organisations of the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma qualified to deliver the Program.
Consistently run throughout the year, the services we provide to individuals, families and groups consist of: -direct specialist counselling, including therapeutic intervention tools and related support services -case by case advocacy (eg offering client intervention to obtain necessary medical services) -referrals to mainstream health and related services -education and training to mainstream health and related service providers -community development and capacity building activities and programs
As Melaleuca is also a provider of Complex Care services, this program benefits clients from humanitarian backgrounds who are referred by other service providers as requiring complex support.  While each individual’s circumstances and recovery experience is different, our clients comment that the Program has been extremely helpful in offering: -Individualised counselling -Support with settling in at an emotional and mental health level Settling in support Creative group work, exploring diverse ways to share experiences (eg talk therapy, art therapy, dance groups) Specialised referrals
Fees and Payment
Counselling and support services are free.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Faith-Based LGBTQ
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
Online Counseling: Yes
Were You Able To Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
