Mental health and wellbeing in the performing arts and entertainment communities is particularly susceptible to stressors such as financial uncertainty, crazy work hours, the ups and downs of freelancing, creative pressure and competing personal and professional commitments.

Listed below is a range of specialist support services that address some of the pressures and life events associated with mental and emotional distress.

Your peers, while non-professional, can also provide you with a lot of support and ideas for change.

Head to Health

Head to Health is an Australian Department of Health resource. Wherever you are on your mental health journey, Head to Health can help you find the information, resources, and services that most suit your needs. Whether you want to improve your overall sense of wellbeing, or you need help with something that is concerning you, or you are helping someone you care about—Head to Health can point you to great online mental health resources.

FIND THE RIGHT RESOURCE FOR YOUR CONCERNS

+ Anxiety & Depression

+ Carers

+ Drug & Alcohol

+ Eating Disorders

+ Financial Stress

Many of the organisations listed below can support emergency financial needs.

  • Financial Counselling Australia offers connections to free counselling on 1800 007 007
  • Actors Benevolent Fund Of NSW Inc The Fund's function is to provide assistance to professional performers, both young and old, who, due to injury, illness or disability are unable to work. Assistance is offered in many forms, both financial and practical.
  • Actors and Entertainers Benevolent Fund QLD Since 1975 as Queensland's leading performing arts charity, the Actors' and Entertainers' Benevolent Fund has provided emergency assistance to hundreds of their members.
  • Good Shepherd No Interest Loan Scheme The No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) is run by Good Shepherd Microfinance and provides individuals and families on low incomes safe, fair and affordable credit.
  • CENTRELINK Community Engagement Officers provide services to people of all ages who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Employment Services call 132850, Youth and Student Services call 132490, Disability, Sickness and Carers call 132717, Family Assistance Office call 136150, Seniors call 132300
  • CIBF, Cinema Industry Benevolent Fund Of Victoria For more than 70 years, the Cinema Industry Benevolent Fund of Victoria, CIBF, has assisted present and past members of the industry - and/or their immediate families - who incur financial stress through ill health, loss of employment, accident, death or other misfortune.
  • Department Of Human Service Crisis And Special Help There are payments and services available to you if you are experiencing severe financial hardship, recovering from a disaster, or in need of special assistance.
  • Media Super has a team of Relationship Manager to deliver service right across the nation. Relationship Managers are available for workplace visits, individual consultations and workshop presentations. Contact Media Super to arrange an appointment.
  • Motion Picture Industry Benevolent Society For more than 75 years, the M.P.I.B.S. has provided financial and emotional support to hundreds of past and present members of the Motion Picture Cinema Industry (and their families) who have fallen on difficult times.
  • Opera Australia Benevolent Fund The Fund helps past and present employees of the company and their dependents in times of hardship by providing financial gifts, interest-free loans and counseling services to individuals who are in need.
  • Oz Showbiz Cares/Equity Fights Aids OSC/EFA is dedicated to mobilising the unique talents within the media, entertainment and arts industries to mitigate the suffering of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.
  • Support Act Limited assists music industry members who are in need or suffering hardship by covering expenditure such as utilities. Support Act does not pay money direct to an individual.
  • The Equity Benevolent Guild Of WA Any financial Actors Equity member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance in WA is automatically considered an Equity Benevolent Guild member unless the Guild is otherwise notified.
  • The Salvation Army Financial Assistance offers a range of support options to help with financial difficulties, depending on the nature of your problems.
  • Victorian Actors Benevolent Trust VABT is the charity for those working in all areas of film, theatre and television; on and off the stage, in front of and behind the camera.

+ Grief

+ LGBTI

+ Relationships

+ Young People

Young people (12-25) and/or concerned family members can call