Health and Wellbeing

Health crisis help service on 9650 5540

An independently-run counselling service funded by the Victorian Bar is available for the benefit of its members and their families.
    T 03 9650 5540

Trained consultants are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to deal with any crisis situation.

Mission Statement

The Committee’s primary goal is to promote the good health and wellbeing of barristers.

The Committee’s objective is to:    

• educate, inspire and support barristers to achieve and maintain good physical and mental health as they pursue a high standard of legal practice; and
• give barristers information, support and access to health care services, focusing on the special requirements of barristers.

The Committee is responsible for:

• the administration and review of the Bar Care facility provided to barristers by the Bar’s psychological and other service providers (but without seeking or being entitled to know any information provided to the Bar’s service providers by barristers); and
• the review and formulation of recommendations to the Bar Council as to what services should be provided to barristers under the Bar Care facility.

The Committee is also responsible for:

• providing information to barristers about particular aspects of health and wellbeing
• organising events and seminars to promote the physical and mental health of barristers; and 
• considering and organizing training programs for barristers to promote good health and well-being. The Committee will report to Bar Council at least annually and as often as Bar Council requires

The Health and Wellbeing Committee recommend that barristers who are in any way concerned about their psychological well being should seek professional help.

Wellbeing at the Victorian Bar survey report

The Wellbeing of the Victorian Bar survey report covers the findings of a survey undertaken in June 2018 by 856 Victorian barristers.

The survey covered two key areas:

• Quality of Working Life, Workplace Wellbeing and Personal Wellbeing; and
• Conduct including discrimination, sexual harassment and workplace bullying

It used two benchmarks:

• the 2017 Barrister Wellbeing Survey of 1,088 (non-Victorian) Australian barristers; and
• a sample of just under 6,000 academics from 10 UK universities

Headline results were mostly encouraging and were in line with or exceeded the benchmark samples. Three in four respondents agreed or strongly agreed they were satisfied with the overall quality of their working lives. More than four in five respondents agreed or strongly agreed they enjoy their work. Four in five reported overall satisfaction with their jobs. Two-thirds agreed or strongly agreed they felt good or content with life as a whole.

The full report and Wellbeing at the Victorian Bar presentation slides may be accessed via the below links: