• Confidential Counselling – Short-term professional support available by phone, video, or face-to-face for issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, or workplace conflict.
• Crisis Support – 24/7 assistance during acute personal or workplace emergencies (e.g., grief, trauma, critical incidents).
• Financial and Legal Advice – Guidance on budgeting, debt management, superannuation, tenancy rights, and basic legal queries.
• Work-Life Balance Resources – Support for personal challenges such as parenting, relationship strain, or managing caring responsibilities.
• Referral Services – Pathways to specialised healthcare providers or longer-term therapy if issues require more than short-term EAP support.

These core inclusions make even a basic EAP valuable, ensuring employees have a safe and accessible entry point to professional help.

• Wellbeing Workshops and Training – Group sessions on resilience, stress management, and mental health awareness tailored to workplace needs.
• Manager Support Programs – Training and coaching for leaders on recognising early warning signs, managing sensitive conversations, and referring employees effectively.
• Digital Self-Help Tools – Mobile apps, webinars, and online resource hubs providing ongoing, on-demand wellbeing support.
• Health and Lifestyle Coaching – Programs focusing on fitness, nutrition, sleep, and other physical health factors that contribute to overall wellbeing.
• Multi-Language Support – Counselling in multiple languages to reflect Australia’s culturally diverse workforce.

These extras can transform an EAP from a reactive support mechanism into a proactive wellbeing strategy.

• Inclusions: Counselling sessions, crisis support, referrals.
• Best for: Small businesses, startups, or nonprofits on tight budgets.
• Limitations: Fewer sessions included, limited reporting, minimal proactive services.

• Inclusions: Core services plus digital self-help tools, manager support resources, and extended counselling hours.
• Best for: Medium-sized companies wanting a balance of affordability and breadth.
• Limitations: May lack tailored workshops or dedicated account management.

• Inclusions: Everything in Basic + Mid-tier, plus wellbeing workshops, health coaching, multi-language services, account management, and robust reporting.
• Best for: Large organisations, or businesses in high-stress industries (healthcare, education, emergency services).
• Limitations: Higher per-employee cost.

• Workforce size and demographics: Smaller teams may be well-served by basic plans, while larger or diverse workforces may need broader inclusions.
• Industry challenges: High-stress sectors (e.g., healthcare, social services) may benefit from crisis support and resilience training.
• Budget and value: Balance cost with features that will actually be used by staff.
• Flexibility of delivery: Ensure the EAP supports multiple formats (phone, video, face-to-face) to maximise accessibility.
• Provider reputation: Seek out client testimonials, case studies, or industry experience in similar workplaces.

• Basic plans: ~$40–$60 per employee annually (limited to core services).
• Mid-tier plans: ~$70–$90 per employee annually (added tools, training, or expanded support).
• Premium plans: $100+ per employee annually (includes workshops, lifestyle programs, and dedicated account support).

When calculating ROI, employers should also weigh the cost of absenteeism, presenteeism, and turnover. Research shows that for every $1 invested in EAPs, organisations can recover between $3 and $8 in improved productivity and reduced absenteeism.