Dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis is a stressful experience, with lots of emotions to process, multiple professionals to deal with, appointments to arrange and physically challenging procedures.
It also brings with it some extra ‘personal admin’. Filling in forms to claim benefits, allowances and subsidies from health and community service providers can just add to the burden and seem overwhelming. Many report that interacting with health insurance companies can be particularly challenging.
Health Improvement Coaches and Health Improvement Practitioners can help with all this. They are professionals based in GP clinics who provide free, tailored support to help patients, offering practical, non-judgmental guidance for physical or mental health. Their services include system navigation, helping you to connect with community resources, NGOs, and other services. They can also provide support for anxiety, stress, and depression.
Health Coaches are trained, non-registered professionals who provide coaching to support behaviour change, lifestyle improvements and system navigation. Health Improvement Practitioners are registered health professionals (e.g., psychologist, social worker, nurse) focused on behavioural changes and mental wellness.
The primary way to access this service is to ask your GP for a referral. The services are often free and sometimes available on the same day as your appointment.
You can read more about health improvement coaches and practitioners here.
In addition to the public health system, private, accredited, and holistic health coaches are also available. The Health Coaches Australia and New Zealand Association (HCANZA) lists accredited coaches.
12 February 2026
