At the Australian Trauma Support Centre we provide a holistic approach to trauma healing and support.
Recovery from complex trauma is a specialised field and all of our therapists are trained to support survivors recover through effective trauma therapy, empowering them to gain back control of their identity.
We would like our service to be a supportive therapeutic relationship and be available to provide as much or as little ongoing support as required. Even if there’s periods of no contact, when things are travelling well, there will always be the option to re-engage with your therapist.
We understand the difficulty that rural and remote Australians face in accessing the same support that those people in cities have access to and we are committed to providing the same holistic and long-term healing support through our phone and video counselling services, online videos and resources page.
Our clients will also have access to their therapist if they were to move interstate, overseas, or even if they require support while on holidays.
There is an abundance of research to suggest that a combination of physiological and somatic (body-based), affective (emotions) and cognitive (mind) approaches are best practice to foster re-establishment of these connections for trauma victims.
We are passionate about the practice of trauma-informed-yoga and meditation to bring connection back to body and mind. Trauma-informed-yoga and meditation can be practised to calm the mind, bring your body back in tune with physical sensations and help to understand your body and regain a sense of safety within yourself.
It has been shown that practising staying in the moment with your body and its physical sensations can help regulate the dissociative effects trauma can leave
About Us
We reconnect the fragmented parts that have been lost over time to become and feel whole again.
We tailor our 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.
Team Members
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.
Tracey McCurdy
Director
Facilitator – Women’s Self Defence + Occupational Violence Prevention Training
Tracey graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work in 2003 and is a registered member with the Australian Association of Social Workers. She has spent the last 20 years employed in various roles in the welfare sector, including in juvenile justice, child protection, financial counselling and therapeutic counselling.
Over the last decade she has been employed as a Senior Manager and then Business Development Manager with Anglicare Victoria where she managed a range of programs including victims assistance, family violence, men’s behavioural change, family services, disability, mental health, financial counselling and gambler’s help.
Tracey also supports new entrants into the sector, working for a Registered Training Organisation teaching Diploma level qualifications in Welfare and Financial Counselling.
She also has a passion for martial arts and have been studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for the last 6 years. She has seen in herself the benefits any kind of self-defence and situational awareness training can have and now wants to share this with others.Mc
Tim O’Donnell
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Tim O’Donnell is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker in private practice based in Horsham, Western Victoria. Tim is also a lived experience worker. Tim has been credited for 10 years and has been working in the health, disability and social work field for 20 years. Tim has a genuine passion for improving the mental health of people in rural and remote areas.
His motto is everyone that has courage to seek therapy deserves the support.
Outside of work, Tim is involved in musical theatre, creating music, playing sport and raising a 10 yr old.
Tim has a keen interest in narrative and strength based approaches as well as completing specialist training around cognitive process and cognitive behaviour therapy.
Eddie Dunstan
Counsellor
Edward is currently completing his Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy. He predominantly uses a Person-Centred approach which asserts that people, the issues they face, and potential solutions are best understood in their own words and on their own terms. Edward provides a space for people to be themselves and offers support and guidance as people heal and recover from life’s emotional wounds. Other approaches that inform Edward’s counselling include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Relational Therapy, mindfulness, as well as a focus on client strengths, cultural safety, and being trauma informed.
Areas of which Edward has worked with people include:
- Grief, trauma and loss
- Depression and anxiety
- Youth and adolescent issues
- Unemployment and career transitions
- Thoughts of suicide
In his spare time Edward plays music and is an avid runner.
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