Not-for-Profit Mental Health Organisations in Melbourne — Where to Get Low-Cost Support and Education
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 1 in 5 Australians aged 16 to 85 has experienced a mental disorder. 1 in 7 children and adolescents aged 4 to 17 has experienced a mental illness. Behind every one of those statistics is a real person who needs support — and in many cases, the biggest barrier is not willingness to seek help. It is cost.
Not-for-profit mental health organisations play a critical role in closing that gap. They exist to make professional support and education accessible to people who might otherwise go without. In Melbourne, one of the longest-standing organisations doing this work is Cairnmillar Institute — a registered not-for-profit and health promotion charity that has been operating since 1961.
This guide explains what Cairnmillar offers, who can access it, and how to get started.
What Is Cairnmillar Institute?
Cairnmillar Institute is one of Australia’s leading centres for psychology and counselling services and an industry leader in psychology education and training. Established in 1961, it has been delivering mental health services and education in Melbourne for 65 years.
As a not-for-profit organisation and registered health promotion charity, one hundred per cent of all donations and tuition fees are directed back into the community. That includes funding free counselling services for children, adults and families who are facing difficult situations and cannot afford private care.
Cairnmillar operates four psychology clinic locations across Melbourne — Hawthorn East, Melbourne CBD, North Melbourne and Dandenong.
Free Counselling in Melbourne — The Community Clinic
One of Cairnmillar’s most important community services is its Community Clinic. This service exists to uphold Cairnmillar’s commitment to helping people access quality counselling and psychological support regardless of their financial situation.
Key facts at a glance:
| Feature | Details |
| Cost | Completely free |
| Referral required | No |
| Ages served | 4 years and over |
| Session limit | No limit on sessions |
| Locations | Hawthorn East, Melbourne CBD, North Melbourne, Dandenong |
| Telehealth | Available |
| Assessment services | Low-cost cognitive, career and vocational assessments |
| Medicare bulk billing | Available in some cases |
Sessions are delivered by student clinicians who are completing postgraduate programs in psychology, counselling and psychotherapy at Cairnmillar. Before being placed in the clinic, every student clinician goes through an application and interview process. While on placement, they work under close supervision from Psychology Board of Australia-approved supervisors.
No GP referral or Mental Health Care Plan is needed to access the Community Clinic. You can self-refer by contacting the clinic directly.
In some cases, sessions may be bulk billed through Medicare if you already have an active GP referral and Mental Health Care Plan in place. Either way, the session costs you nothing.
Low-Cost Assessment Services
In addition to free counselling, the Community Clinic also offers low-cost psychological assessment services including cognitive assessments, career assessments and vocational assessments. These are carried out by student clinicians and are available at a significantly lower cost than private assessment services.
For more complex or diagnostic assessments, Cairnmillar’s registered clinicians offer comprehensive assessment services across all four Melbourne clinic locations. Full details are available on the Assessments page of the Cairnmillar website.
Psychology and Counselling Courses in Melbourne
Cairnmillar’s not-for-profit status means that every dollar you pay in tuition goes back into supporting the community. By choosing to study at Cairnmillar, you are directly contributing to the funding of free and low-cost services for people who need them.
Courses available in Melbourne include:
Short workshops — no prior study required
The Core Counselling Skills workshop runs for three days at the Hawthorn East campus and is open to anyone with no prior qualifications. It costs between $165* and $770* depending on enrolment type and provides a practical introduction to counselling skills.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a two-day internationally recognised course that teaches participants how to support someone experiencing a mental health problem. It is available face-to-face at Hawthorn East or online and costs between $125* and $335*.
The Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) workshop is a two-day internationally recognised program delivered by Accredited Master Trainers. It is suitable for anyone aged 16 and over and costs between $85* and $425*.
Longer programs — for those pursuing a career in mental health
 The Diploma of Counselling takes 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time and is delivered fully online. It costs $6,990* and is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). VET Student Loans are available for eligible students. Intakes are available in July 2026 and February 2027.
The Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling is a TEQSA, APAC and ACA accredited double major undergraduate degree available online or on-campus at Hawthorn East. It takes three years full-time and costs $43,221* for domestic students, with FEE-HELP available.
Postgraduate programs include the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science, the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Trauma-Informed Care, and the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy — all available online or on-campus, with FEE-HELP available for eligible students.
Psychological Services Across Melbourne
Cairnmillar’s four clinic locations offer a full range of professional psychological and counselling services to the Melbourne community. Services available include individual counselling, couples counselling, family therapy, psychological assessments and employee assistance programs (EAP).
Individual counselling at the registered clinician level is available for adults aged 16 and over, face-to-face or via telehealth. Sessions run for 50 minutes. Registered clinicians at Cairnmillar are either psychologists or psychotherapists and are matched to clients based on their areas of interest and experience.
Family therapy is available for families of up to six people, with no referral required. Child and adolescent services are available for young people aged 4 to 18, with both registered clinicians and supervised student clinicians on the team.
Employee Assistance Programs are also available for organisations across Melbourne. Cairnmillar is currently accepting new EAP agreements and can tailor a program to suit the size and needs of your organisation.
Counselling Courses in Hawthorn East
Cairnmillar’s main campus is located at 391–393 Tooronga Road, Hawthorn East, VIC 3123 — just 400 metres from Tooronga train station, with free on-site parking and full wheelchair accessibility.
All short workshops including Core Counselling Skills, MHFA and ASIST are delivered in-person at this campus. The Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling and many postgraduate programs are also available on-campus at Hawthorn East, as well as online for students across Australia.
What Students Say About Cairnmillar
Cairnmillar publishes its student outcome data. Here is what the data shows:
- 82.6% had a positive overall experience — 7.8 percentage points above the national average
- 94.4% found employment after graduating — 1.6 points above the national average
- 84.5% rated support services positively — 10.1 percentage points above the national average
Source: compared.edu.au/institution/the-cairnmillar-institute/postgraduate
How to Get Started
To access free counselling through the Community Clinic or to enquire about courses and clinical services, contact Cairnmillar directly:
Phone: 1800 391 393 Address: 391–393 Tooronga Road, Hawthorn East VIC 3123 Website: cairnmillar.org.au
No referral is needed for the Community Clinic. For course enquiries, you can also book a one-on-one consultation with the Student Services team via the Cairnmillar website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where can I find low-cost mental health clinics in Melbourne?
Cairnmillar Institute’s Community Clinic offers completely free individual counselling across four Melbourne locations — Hawthorn East, Melbourne CBD, North Melbourne and Dandenong. No referral is required and the service is available to anyone aged 4 and over.
Q: Is Cairnmillar Institute a not-for-profit or charity organisation?
Yes. Cairnmillar Institute is a registered not-for-profit organisation and a registered health promotion charity. One hundred per cent of all donations and tuition fees are directed back into the community, including funding free counselling services for those who cannot afford private care.
Q: Do I need a referral to access the Cairnmillar Community Clinic?
No. You can self-refer by calling 1800 391 393 or submitting an appointment request online. No GP referral or Mental Health Care Plan is needed.
Q: Which clinics offer psychological services in Melbourne CBD?
Cairnmillar Institute operates a psychology clinic in Melbourne CBD, as well as at Hawthorn East, North Melbourne and Dandenong. Services include individual counselling, family therapy, psychological assessments and employee assistance programs.
Q: Where can I find counselling courses in Hawthorn East?
Cairnmillar Institute at 391–393 Tooronga Road, Hawthorn East offers counselling courses including the Core Counselling Skills workshop, Diploma of Counselling, Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling, and postgraduate programs in counselling and psychotherapy. Many courses are also available online.
Q: Are there postgraduate psychology courses available in Melbourne?
Yes. Cairnmillar Institute offers postgraduate psychology programs in Melbourne including the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science, Master of Professional Psychology, Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology), and Doctor of Psychology. Many programs are available online and face-to-face.
Q: Are Cairnmillar’s counselling and psychology courses accredited?
Yes. Cairnmillar’s courses are accredited by TEQSA, APAC and the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) at various levels. The Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling and postgraduate psychology programs carry APAC accreditation, which is required for the pathway to registration as a psychologist in Australia.
Q: Is financial assistance available for Cairnmillar courses?
Yes. FEE-HELP is available for eligible domestic students in higher education courses. VET Student Loans are available for the Diploma of Counselling. Contact the team on 1800 391 393 to confirm which financial support applies to your chosen course.
Crisis Support
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact one of the following services:
| Service | Number | Hours |
| Emergency Services | 000 | 24/7 |
| Lifeline | 13 11 14 | 24/7 |
| SuicideLine Victoria | 1300 651 251 | 24/7 |
| BeyondBlue | 1300 224 636 | 24/7 |
| Kids Helpline | 1800 551 800 | 24/7 |
| MensLine Australia | 1300 789 978 | 24/7 |
| Safe Steps | 1800 015 188 | 24/7 |
| 13YARN (First Nations) | 13 92 76 | 24/7 |
*The information contained in this material was correct at the time of publication, May 2026. The Cairnmillar Institute reserves the right to alter or amend the information in this material. Please visit our website for the latest updates. All fees are subject to change.