How modern, whole-person care beats traditional EAPs

It’s not a secret that modern teams have now become more wellbeing-aware and safety-oriented. Plus, with modern challenges like varied work setups, blurred work-life boundaries, and constant access to stressors online and offline, it’s become a must for organisations to respond with more holistic care.

Yet, many EAP providers in Australia still fall short of what employees actually need. Below, you can see how leading providers compare, which services deliver real value, and what practical next steps can help you bring better support to your team.

EAP features modern teams are looking for

How Talked compares to the names you know

If you’re currently reviewing EAP providers, it’s important to look beyond brand recognition and understand how different models actually support employees.

Below is a high-level comparison to show how Talked’s human-led, whole-person approach differs from traditional and hybrid providers:

Sonder

Sonder quickly connects you with a therapist based on suitability and availability. Talked also supports quick access, while giving employees the option to choose their own AHPRA-registered psychologist or PACFA/ACA-registered counsellor based on their preferences.

Converge

Converge follows a traditional EAP model, which can limit choice and continuity of care. Talked supports broader clinician access and easier ongoing bookings.

Uprise

Using Uprise starts with an automated wellbeing check that gives users a wellbeing score and risk level to guide recommendations. On the contrary, Talked places more emphasis on human-led triage and support.

TELUS Health

TELUS Health is typically structured around short-term support. Talked is built to support ongoing or longer-term care beyond employees’ EAP credits.

Access EAP

Access EAP operates within a traditional EAP framework, which may involve fixed pathways and session limits. Talked provides more flexible booking and options for ongoing support.

Talked features that workplaces love

• Clinical triage - While most EAP providers like Uprise and TELUS rely on automated forms, Talked starts every journey with a human nurse to ensure your team is matched to the right clinical care immediately.

• No “therapist roulette" - While providers like Sonder and Acacia assign practitioners based on availability, Talked gives employees the power to browse profiles and book a free, no-obligation 15-minute chat to ensure a perfect fit before a full session.

• Beyond just counselling - Talked integrates GP access, medical advice, and psychosocial and personal safety tools, helping organisations offer more holistic wellbeing support, not just a tick-box EAP.

• Continuity of care - Talked allows employees to seamlessly transition to using Medicare or private health once they've used up their EAP credits. This is one of Talked's advantages over competitors (e.g., Converge, Access EAP) which typically stop support once employer credits are used.

• Real-time transparency for HR teams - While many providers rely on monthly or quarterly reports, Talked offers a real-time dashboard to help you track engagement and identify risks as they emerge.

Beyond "ticking a box"

Most EAPs see utilisation rates below 5%. Talked sees engagement up to 4x higher because we provide support employees actually want to use.

Ready to modernise your workplace wellbeing services?

Join the hundreds of Australian companies moving away from "off-the-shelf" EAPs to a clinically-backed, human-first solution.