Hey Mate vs Other EAP Providers

27 Mar

We’re not like the others (on purpose).

Australia has no shortage of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Many are large, clinical, and built for the corporate world. Which is great — if you're a bank or a law firm.

But what if you're a theatre company? A music label? A social enterprise? A grassroots org trying to build a better world?

That’s where Hey Mate comes in.

We’re built for creatives, changemakers, and the community sector — the people who often fall through the cracks of traditional EAPs.

Here’s how we compare to the big names:

The Big EAP Comparison

(It’s like a spreadsheet, but with better vibes.)

💛 Hey Mate

Built for: Creatives, arts orgs, social enterprises, and purpose-driven teams
Vibe: Human-first. Culturally safe. Built for people, not paperwork
Counselling Style: Trauma-informed, sector-aware, LGBTQIA+ inclusive, neuro-affirming
Session Access: Book via portal, phone, email, or DM (yes, even memes)
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA): Yes — accredited and tailored for creatives and peer-to-peer teams
Peer Support Training: Yes — we train creatives and orgs in how to support each other
Workshops: Built from lived experience: burnout, vicarious trauma, resilience, neurodiversity
Cultural Safety: Co-designed with First Nations, LGBTQIA+, CALD and neurodivergent creatives
Digital Tools: Purpose-built tools in development — designed by creatives, for creatives
Response Time: Fast. Flexible. Friendly. No bots, no bureaucracy
Critical Incident Support: Yes — trauma-informed and community-aware
Pricing: Transparent, flexible, values-led. We scale with your needs
Ownership: Australian-owned, female-led social enterprise. Profits reinvested into community mental health

🏢 Benestar / TELUS Health

Built for: Large corporations, government, and enterprise clients
Vibe: Clinical, broad, highly structured
Counselling Style: Generalist counselling across sectors
Session Access: 24/7 hotline and app
Mental Health First Aid: Not offered in-house — may refer externally
Peer Support Training: Not offered
Workshops: Corporate wellbeing modules (e.g. stress, resilience, leadership)
Cultural Safety: Diversity acknowledged but not deeply embedded
Digital Tools: TELUS app + global wellbeing content
Response Time: Varies. Queue-based via hotline or app
Critical Incident Support: Yes — included in standard packages
Pricing: Higher-end retainers. Pricing can be complex or packaged
Ownership: Owned by Canadian-based TELUS Health

🧑‍💼 AccessEAP

Built for: Mid-to-large orgs, HR and compliance-focused sectors
Vibe: Traditional, structured, formal
Counselling Style: Clinical and generalised
Session Access: Phone line and web portal
Mental Health First Aid: Occasionally offered — not core
Peer Support Training: Not offered
Workshops: Standard presentations focused on HR compliance
Cultural Safety: Limited public info. Some awareness
Digital Tools: Web-based library of wellbeing content
Response Time: Typically 24–48 hours
Critical Incident Support: Yes — included
Pricing: Standard contract-based model
Ownership: Australian-owned not-for-profit

📱 Uprise

Built for: Digital-first teams, startups, and innovation-focused orgs
Vibe: Preventative mental health meets tech startup
Counselling Style: Short coaching sessions, triaged via app
Session Access: App-first, with coaching or referral pathways
Mental Health First Aid: Not offered
Peer Support Training: Not offered
Workshops: Limited — focus is on digital self-help and learning
Cultural Safety: Minimal public info
Digital Tools: Mood tracking, wellbeing app, self-guided tools
Response Time: Fast — typically immediate via app
Critical Incident Support: Available, but not core to their model
Pricing: Tiered pricing based on usage and features
Ownership: Privately owned Australian startup

🌐 Converge International

Built for: Cross-sector clients including corporate, education, and faith-based orgs
Vibe: Corporate-traditional with Christian roots
Counselling Style: Generalist, clinically informed
Session Access: Phone, web portal, and internal referrals
Mental Health First Aid: Offered via external partners (not core)
Peer Support Training: Limited. Focuses more on coaching
Workshops: Leadership, wellbeing, and resilience content
Cultural Safety: Limited transparency around inclusion frameworks
Digital Tools: Web portal access with resources and courses
Response Time: Typically 24–48 hours
Critical Incident Support: Yes — available nationally and structured
Pricing: Custom pricing, often geared toward large organisations
Ownership: Australian-owned, founded in Christian values

So… who’s Hey Mate for?

🎭 Arts organisations
🎧 Music festivals & labels
💡 Social enterprises
🎨 Creative freelancers
📣 Advocacy groups
🌱 Purpose-driven teams who give a damn

We’re not trying to be everything to everyone. We’re here for the people often overlooked by mainstream systems. And we’re doing it our way — with lived experience, humour, community, and actual care.