Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Services for Sunshine Coast & Brisbane Businesses
Confidential. Compassionate. Tailored for Your Team.
What Is an EAP?
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential, employer-funded counselling service that gives your staff access to professional mental health support – at no cost to them. EAP services are designed to help employees work through personal and work-related challenges early, before they escalate into something more serious: burnout, extended sick leave, or a resignation you didn’t see coming.
At Simplifying Life, Marc de Bruin delivers EAP counselling with over 20 years of experience in mental health and a background as a practising barrister and solicitor. Sessions are available in person at our Maroochydore practice on the Sunshine Coast, by phone, or online via Teams or Zoom – making it straightforward for your team to access support, wherever they are in Australia.
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Who Is Simplifying Life’s EAP Designed For?
Our EAP program supports employers across the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, and nationally, including:
- Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) looking for a practical, affordable wellbeing solution
- Corporate and professional services organisations with duty-of-care obligations
- Community service organisations, NFPs, and healthcare providers
- Construction and trades businesses where workplace stress and critical incidents are common
- Any employer who recognises that investing in their team’s mental health is good business
Whether you employ 5 or 500 people, a structured EAP demonstrates a genuine commitment to the people who make your business run. It also puts a proactive support system in place long before a mental health issue becomes a crisis.
How EAP How Does an Employee Assistance Program Work?
Setting up an EAP with Simplifying Life is straightforward. Here’s the process:
Contact Marc to discuss your organisation’s size, needs, and goals
Receive a tailored EAP agreement with clear session inclusions and pricing
Your staff receive access details – they contact Marc’s practice directly and in complete confidence
Employees book their own sessions (in-person, phone, or online) without employer involvement
Sessions are billed to the employer at the agreed rate – zero cost to the employee
Where your team is spread across multiple locations or interstate, Marc’s national network of qualified counsellors ensures coverage isn’t limited to the Sunshine Coast or Brisbane.
Delivery Options
In-person
Available at the Sippy Downs practice, Sunshine Coast
Online (Telehealth)
via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, any location in Australia
Phone sessions
for clients who prefer audio-only or in low-connectivity areas
National counsellor network
Marc’s vetted practitioners for multi-location coverage
What Does the Simplifying Life EAP Include?
Our EAP packages are flexible and built around your organisation’s specific needs. Core inclusions are:
Optional add-ons – financial counselling and legal referral via professional network
Confidential short-term counselling – individual sessions covering personal and work-related challenges, using evidence-based modalities including CBT, ACT, MiCBT, and EMDR
Manager referral support – guidance for team leaders on navigating sensitive staff situations and how to approach a referral conversation
Critical incident debriefing – rapid on-site or virtual support after traumatic workplace events, available for individuals or groups
Mental health education workshops – lunch-and-learns, presentations, and staff training on stress management, burnout prevention, and resilience
National counsellor network – vetted practitioners across Australia for multi-location EAP delivery
Why Your Business Needs an Employee Assistance Program
Workplace mental health is no longer just an HR concern – it’s a business performance issue. Here’s what the research and real-world results consistently show:
Reduced Absenteeism and Presenteeism
Early mental health intervention keeps employees present and effective. Unaddressed stress, anxiety, or burnout doesn’t disappear – it shows up as sick days, errors, and disengagement. An EAP catches problems early.
Improved Focus and Productivity
Employees who feel genuinely supported by their employer perform better. The psychological safety that comes from knowing help is available – even if they never use it – has a measurable effect on engagement and output.
Reduced Staff Turnover
The cost of replacing a team member is estimated at 50–200% of their annual salary when you factor in recruitment, onboarding, and lost productivity. An EAP is a fraction of that cost and a proven retention tool.
A Stronger Workplace Culture
An EAP sends a clear, credible message to your team: “We see you. We care about you.” That shifts morale, trust, and loyalty in ways that a pizza Friday cannot.
Duty of Care Compliance
While EAPs are not mandated by Australian law, employers have obligations under Work Health and Safety legislation to manage psychosocial hazards. An EAP is one of the most effective, evidence-backed ways to meet that obligation proactively.
Why Choose Marc de Bruin for Your Organisation’s EAP?
Marc de Bruin brings a rare combination of credentials to EAP delivery – one that few independent practitioners in Australia can match:
- ACA Level 4 Registered Counsellor – the highest level of professional registration with the Australian Counselling Association
- Over 20 years working as a counsellor, coach, and supervisor with individuals and organisations
- Nearly 10 years as a barrister and solicitor – meaning Marc genuinely understands corporate culture, workplace pressure, and professional environments
- Sessional tutor and counselling marker at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), with a Master of Counselling from USC
- Trained EMDR practitioner – endorsed by the World Health Organisation for trauma treatment
- A vetted national network of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists for multi-location EAP delivery
Marc has already partnered with several small to medium-sized organisations across the Sunshine Coast to deliver practical, tailored EAP options. His approach is direct, evidence-based, and shaped by real-world experience – in both the counselling room and the boardroom.
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Frequently Asked Questions About EAP Services
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential, employer-funded support service that gives your staff access to professional counselling – at no cost to them. Employees can use the service for personal or work-related challenges for a set number of sessions per year. It’s one of the most cost-effective wellbeing investments an employer can make.
Yes – completely. Employees contact Marc’s practice directly and independently, and the content of their sessions is never disclosed to the employer. This confidentiality is foundational: staff will only engage with the service if they trust it is genuinely private. Marc adheres to the Australian Counselling Association’s strict Code of Ethics.
Once your organisation has an EAP agreement in place, employees can contact Marc’s practice directly at any time to book a session. Sessions run in person at Maroochydore, by phone, or online via Zoom or Teams. The employer is billed at the agreed rate and receives no details about individual sessions or which employees have accessed the service.
EAP services typically include short-term individual counselling, manager referral support, critical incident debriefing, and workplace wellbeing workshops. Simplifying Life’s EAP also includes access to Marc’s national counsellor network and optional add-ons such as financial counselling and legal referral – covering more ground than many standard EAP packages.
EAPs are not mandated by Australian law. However, employers have legal obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act to identify and manage psychosocial hazards in the workplace. An EAP is widely regarded as one of the most practical and effective ways to meet that duty of care and demonstrate proactive psychosocial risk management.
Contact Marc de Bruin directly using the enquiry form on this page or by phone. After a brief conversation about your organisation’s size, industry, and needs, Marc can outline a tailored EAP package and pricing within 24–48 hours. There’s no complex onboarding – most businesses can have their EAP active within a week.
Ready to Support Your Team?
Investing in your team’s mental health is one of the most impactful decisions a business leader can make. An EAP gives your people a confidential place to turn when life gets hard – and gives your organisation the resilience to keep performing through it.
Contact Marc de Bruin today for a confidential, no-obligation conversation about what an EAP would look like for your organisation.
Confidential enquiries welcome. No obligation. Response within 24–48 hours.