RISE

Although we do not have the power to choose the events that affect us, we do have the ability to choose our response.

Research shows the sooner we begin to engage positive and supportive coping strategies, the more likely we are to have positive work and personal outcomes. RISE members can access support within minutes whether in the office or on the road (subject to line traffic and time of call).

Resilience Information Support Empowerment

Any individual can face a situation at work that causes them to experience strong emotional reactions to
individuals or events which have the potential to interfere with their abilities to function effectively. These reactions can seriously compromise an individual’s performance in the short and long term if not effectively dealt with.

Statistics on workplace stress show that most Australian states have experienced a rising number of stress related Workers’ Compensation claims each year (Caulfield et al., 2004), increasing nationally by 83
percent between 1996–97 and 2003–04 (The Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council, 2007).

We hear it all the time:
“That __________ really got to me but I still have a huge week ahead.”
“Why does __________ make me feel like a failure?”
“I have some personal stuff going on and it’s starting to affect my work.”
“I can’t talk to __________ about this problem because they are the problem.”
“I’m really under pressure because __________.”
“I’m just not coping well at the moment.”

Many Organisations have Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) in place to assist in dealing with
these and other issues. Although there is little doubt as to the benefits of having an EAP for occupational stress management and wellbeing in the Australian workplace (Kirk and Brown, 2003), there are still issues that continue to reduce their benefits to the individual and the organisation.

Some EAP issues

• The cost and long lead time for an appointment in many instances.
• Employees’ perception about any potentially negative views on them if their colleagues or managers became aware that they were using a counselling service.
• Negative connotations on the word “counsellor”.
• Misunderstandings and mistrust about how confidential the service may be, as research has confirmed that confidentiality can affect motivation to use an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

Lifeline has recognised these realities and has developed the RISE service in response.

What is RISE?

RISE is a telephone-based EAP developed to help workers recover from and deal with work stress in an
informative, supportive and empowering environment. RISE is one of the few EAPs with a training and internet component to ensure the maximum benefit to both the individual and the orgnisation.

• It operates as a first line positive support rather than a provider of long term counselling.
• It provides an opportunity to deal with unhelpful negative reactions to everyday events in a timely and
• confidential manner.
• Callers can freely explore options and coping strategies in relation to stressful work situations or issues.
• Callers can discuss strategies specific to them to help deal with burn out issues.
• Callers can discuss and obtain referrals to organisations and professional support regarding issues that are affecting their personal or work lives.

What are the benefits?

• Immediate access to support.
• Available to office and field staff.
• No appointment or prior booking.
• Dealing with a situation immediately rather than“sitting with it”, with obvious benefits to the individual, the organisation and their clients.
• Complete confidentiality.
• RISE is available via landline or mobile phone.
• Run by experienced counsellors.
• Can link into existing EAPs or operate as a standalone service.
• Anonymity. Participants are more likely to use anEAP if they believe that this would have no effect on their careers.
• Feedback to the client. Client organisations will be provided with relevant non identifying information.
• Available 5 days a week.
• Lower overall costs for organisations that use traditional EAPs.
• Reduced stress and burnout with their associated sick leave, recruitment and training costs.

More information

To find out more information about the RISE program, please contact:
Team Leader RISE 
P: 07 3250 1900