The New South Wales Bar Association
Servants of all yet of none

PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE

Barristers' Benevolent Association

Every year there are barristers who encounter personal misfortune or require some form of assistance from the Benevolent Association in order to overcome a major problem. Sudden deaths, serious illness and accidents are all problems which have been addressed over the years.

Every aspect of the operation of the Benevolent Association, from donations to providing assistance, is an expression of the collegiate nature of the life of the Bar.

Contributions to the Benevolent Associaton are listed each year in the Bar Association's annual report.

Coming soon

Make your donation online to the Benevolent Associaton

BarCare

BarCare is designed to guide barristers through emotional and stress related problems including family or marital problems, drug or alcohol dependency and practice pressures. All members, including regional members, should contact the city counsellors listed below for a referral.

 

BarCare offers you the opportunity to discuss with a specialist professional counsellor any personal problem that is interfering with your work or your family life.

 

The Bar Association will cover costs associated with the initial consultation with the BarCare counsellor. BarCare is available to all members of the Bar Association and their immediate family. Confidentiality is guaranteed.

How BarCare Works

BarCare is a professional counselling service run by qualified professionals as a service to members of the NSW Bar Association. The selected counsellors have a variety of specialist expertise to cover different needs of members and their families. Brief profiles about BarCare counsellors are outlined below.

Barristers and their families seeking assistance should initially contact a BarCare counsellor directly and make an appointment for a consultation. The consultation will take place at the counsellor's professional rooms or by telephone. Contact with Bar Care counsellors should not be made through the Association.

During the initial consultation the counsellor will seek to identify the nature and extent of the problem. With the client's permission, the counsellor may formally consult with a medical practitioner or other health professional of the members choice to assess the treatment options available - both therapeutic and medical - prior to discussing a treatment program.

The treatment program may involve further counselling sessions with the BarCare counsellor, and or a referral to a specialist in a particular discipline, or to a specific support program for appropriate treatment.

The BarCare counsellors will have access to a wide network of professionals from different disciplines for referral purposes or to discuss aspects of treatment. These will include both general and specialist medical practitioners, social workers, psychologists, stress management consultants, dependancy counsellors, as well as qualified people in other professional services.

Participation in any part of the BarCare service is voluntary.

If you answer 'yes' to any of the questions below, remember that a combination of symptoms can indicate a serious level of stress. You owe it to yourself and your family to contact BarCare.

1.

Do you feel that your life seems to revolve almost totally around your practice?

2.

Do you frequently blame others unjustly for things that go wrong or for missed deadlines?

3.

Do you often feel ill, nauseous or overwhelmed with tension in the mornings or evenings and feel like it's all "too much"?

4.

Have you been admitted to hospital more than once because of accidents ie, any type of accidents?

5.

Are you drinking or smoking against your doctor's advice?

6.

Is your spouse or partner commenting with concern about aspects of your lifestyle which concerns them?

7.

Have you ever had a "grey-out" of memory ie when you cannot remember what you did during the day or any part of the day?

8.

Is your family life suffering as a result of your moods and difficulties in life?

9.

Are you feeling overwhelmed or depressed regarding your life issues and pressures?

10.

Are you consistently irritated, unable to concentrate, feeling a loss of control?

11.

Do you increasingly wish you were doing something else other than practising at the Bar?
Confidentiality

Even though the Bar Association has established and promoted BarCare to members, the Association's only involvement is to administer operational costs and to ensure that members have access to an education program that will assist them to understand the nature and scope of the BarCare service.

Who Pays?

BarCare is offered as a service to members and the Association will cover costs associated with the initial consultation, assessment and (if applicable) referral by the BarCare counsellor. Cost of treatments thereafter, for example consultations with specialists, participation in specific programs etc, will be the responsibility of the individual barrister. Many of the costs, however, may be recovered through private or government health insurance schemes.

BarCare Counsellors

David Goldman BSc Hons, MA Hons (Clin), MAPS, AFAIM. David is a clinical and forensic psychologist. He has experience in many areas, including trauma and bereavement counselling, critical incident stress, preventative education, treatment for high risk individuals, pain, anxiety and depression management. He has personal knowledge of the legal profession and its associated pressures.

Helen Churven BSW, BA. Helen is a social worker / family therapist in private practice in Balmain. She has extensive experience with professionals from many fields dealing with depression, alcoholism, marriage breakdown and teenage related problems in families.

Doctor Alan Skapinker. A general practitioner practising in George St. He has acquired considerable experience in counselling, with a wide network of professionals to whom he refer patients on a needs basis. These include psychologists, psychiatrists and drug and alcohol advisers.

Susie Danos. Susie is a psychologist with specialised training and experience in loss and grief, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, drug, alcohol and gambling addiction, parenting/blended families, separation/divorce, and sex therapy. Over many years, her work with the Family Court of Australia has brought her into frequent contact with members of the legal profession.

Ross and Dawn Colquhoun. Ross is a clinical psychologist and the Clinical Director of Addiction Treatment & Psychology Services. Dawn is a psychotherapist. Both have extensive experience in the field of addictions and specialise in a number of areas including depression, anxiety disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, relationship, family and group counselling, psychological assessment and counselling for forensic, personal injury and occupational rehabilitation.

Contact details

Inquiries about BarCare may be addressed to the Legal Assistance Manager on (02) 92291733 or barcare@nswbar.asn.au

David Goldman

Suite 17 Edgecliff Mews
201 New South Head Road,
Edgecliff
ph: (02) 9328 1352

Helen Churven

Apartment 5 / 26
Grove Street, Birchgrove, 2041
Ph: (02) 9818 3300

Susie Danos

3/8 Bellevue Road
BELLEVUE HILL NSW 2023
Ph: 9389 5662

Psych n Soul, Addiction Treatment and Psychology Services

Broadway Healthcare
Broadway Shopping Centre
Level 1, 1 Bay Street
Broadway NSW 2007
Ph:  (02) 9280 2070
Fax: (02) 9280 3161

Dr Alan Skapinker, ph: (02) 9247 1162

Medical Centre,
Level 1 AAP Centre Cnr George & Jamieson Streets, Sydney

BarCare is a service to members and their families

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Inquiries about BarCare may be addressed to the Legal Assistance Manager on (02) 92291733 or barcare@nswbar.asn.au

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