At the Australian Trauma Support Centre we provide a holistic approach to your healing and support
The Australian Trauma Support Centre (ATSC) has been supporting the Bendigo and surrounding community since 2021.
At ATSC we provide a holistic approach to mental health healing and support by taking into account each of our clients emotional, physical, spiritual and environmental health. We offer our clients a warm, open style of support in a friendly, non-judgemental space, as we support their healing journey.
We have a multidisciplinary team at ATSC, including Counsellors who specialise in areas such as trauma, children and adolescent counselling, and neurodiversity.
While all of our team have expertise and experience in providing support across a wide range of areas, each offer their therapy based practices and tools to support healing, including:
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Art therapy
- Mindfulness
How we work
Together, we reconnect the fragmented parts that have been lost over time, to help you to become & feel whole again
We tailor our support approach to suit your support needs and long-term healing journey, not just your current symptoms
We offer a supportive therapeutic relationship that provides as much or as little ongoing support as you need
Our team
Jess Mildren
Managing Director (Accredited Mental Health Social Worker)
Jess graduated with a Bachelor of Human Services and Master of Social Work degree in 2013 and has recently gained accreditation with the Australian Association of Social Workers. Her education and career have always focussed on her passion for working with children and families and comes from a background working with vulnerable and trauma-impacted children, youth and adults in education and disability.
Jess uses a whole person, strengths based and trauma informed approach that is tailored to the individual needs of each person. Jess provides an environment of compassion and support to help individuals draw on their own strengths to move forward and thrive.
Jess is passionate about supporting people to rediscover and connect back to themselves, find new ways of coping and rebuild their confidence and self-esteem. Jess uses trauma informed, evidence based therapies and practices such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with a blend of mindfulness to support clients.
Jess provides a warm and non-judgemental space to support clients to explore and make sense of themselves and life challenges and find new ways of coping. Jess values collaborative work with parents, carers and healthcare providers to support a clients overall wellbeing.
Bronwen Taylor
Counsellor
Since completing a Master of Creative Arts Therapy in 2006, Bronwen has worked across hospital and community-based mental health settings in Melbourne. Following a career break to raise her family, she completed a Master of Counselling and returned to practice in Bendigo in 2022. With over ten years of experience supporting people impacted by trauma, Bronwen is dedicated to helping her clients navigate challenges and discover meaning and fulfilment in their lives.
Bronwen draws on a range of evidence-based approaches, including Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, and Art Therapy. She tailors her therapeutic approach to suit each individual, working collaboratively, respectfully, and always at the client’s pace and with their consent.
Her practice is grounded in a person-centred philosophy, recognising each client as the expert in their own experiences, needs and goals.
Bronwen strives to create a safe, supportive space where people feel genuinely heard. She brings warmth, openness, and a touch of humour and creativity to her counselling sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
During your first appointment you will spend some time getting to know your counsellor and them you. Your counsellor will cover some ‘housekeeping’ about our policies and how we keep your information confidential. They will ask you a number of questions about what has bought you in, what you hope to achieve, what has and what hasn’t worked in the past and gather some background information. Your first appointment is also a great time to ask your counsellor questions about themselves, their experience and their style to ensure they are a good fit for you.
We aim to keep our fees affordable and our service accessible. Payment must be made in full on the day of service and an invoice will be provided to you. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please contact us.
We do not bulk bill.
We are also unable to accept Mental Health Treatment plans or Private Health Insurance claims at this stage.
Please see our fees schedule for more information about the cost of sessions.
Yes, if you don’t provide 48 hours’ notice, please see our fees, cancellation and missed appointment policy for more information. Your appointment is a dedicated one-on-one session with your counsellor. We recognise that everyone’s time is valuable, and we prepare for each individual session in advance so we can best support you.
We understand that sometimes things can change, so please contact us and provide at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel or change your appointment.
Yes, you are able to access the service without a referral. Click on contact us to make an appointment.
Yes, we aim to make our service accessible for all. We can provide our services via telehealth/video conferencing as requested.
An appointment with one of your counsellors generally goes for 60 minutes, however initial appointments are approximately 90 minutes.
You are welcome to stay either in the appointment room or the waiting room. This will be up to what you and your child feel most comfortable with and what will be most valuable for your child or young person.
That’s Ok – it is quite common to not always find your perfect fit the first time, in fact one of the biggest indicators of successful therapy is the relationship between you and your counsellor. We want you to feel comfortable with your counsellor. You can speak with us and we can book you in with another counsellor. Your counsellor understands their style or personality won’t work for everyone and will be more than happy to assist.
Yes, click on contact us to make an appointment time that works best for you.
Unfortunately, no. Our office is located on the second floor with two flights of stairs to access. We aim to make our services accessible for all and we can provide our services via telehealth/video conferencing as required.
ATSC works within the Social Work Code of Ethics, Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics and the Victorian Health Records Act (2001) to manage information we obtain about you as part of our service. You can find more information about how we manage your information in our Privacy Policy.
ATSC is committed to all clients, and we endeavour to meet your needs with flexible appointment times. If you need support outside of a scheduled appointment time you can seek support from any of the below listed helplines:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
SuicideLine Vic 1300 651 251
DirectLine 1800 888 236
Last updated: Aug 9 2021
Counselling Services
Standard Individual Consultation (60mins) $160
NDIS Participant (60mins)
*as per the NDIS Price Guide
Reports
Support Letters $100
*this may include support letters for NDIS, Centrelink, TAC
Cancellations and Missed Appointments
The scheduling of an appointment with the Australian Trauma Support Centre involves the reservation of time for you with a qualified therapist, therefore a minimum of 48 hours notice is required to change or cancel an appointment. If for any reason you are unable to provide the 48 hours notice, the full fee will be charged. There is an option to meet virtually if you’re unable to attend an in-person session.
The following fees apply for cancellations with 48 hours prior to your appointment:
- 0 – 24 hours notice: full fee charged
- 24 – 48 hours notice: 50% fee charged
- More than 48 hours notice: no fee charged