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OLive Staff Well-being

FAQs

Get answers to common questions about iCARE counselling. Learn how it can help you manage personal and work concerns in a safe, confidential space.

Last updated 11 August 2026

1. What is counselling?

Counselling may be defined as a growth process through which individuals are helped to define goals, make decisions, and solve problems related to personal, social and work-related concerns. It denotes a professional relationship between a trained counsellor and a client.

iCARE counsellors journey with their clients, in one-to-one sessions, to clarify their issues and to develop insight, skills and strategies to manage professional and personal matters.

Counselling offers a safe and confidential environment for you to speak and explore your own thoughts and feelings with a professional for an objective viewpoint. Counsellors will help you uncover your own insight, gain understanding of your problems and help you find your own solutions to problems or develop better ways to manage issues.

Counselling helps you think through your situation from new perspectives, clarify your thoughts and develop ways to cope with/manage your concerns and problems.

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2. Is seeking counselling a sign of weakness?

On the contrary, seeking counselling is indicative of an individual's strength of resolve and determination to work on the identified specific issue(s). By seeking counselling, you are taking action to improve your situation and that shows courage and taking responsibility for self-improvement.

It takes inner strength to acknowledge a problem and seek to proactively and responsibly deal with the matter before it negatively impacts on the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.

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3. As a Principal or RO, can I refer my officer to iCARE for counselling?

iCARE does not accept referral. iCARE works on the principles of personal choice and respect. Hence, the decision to seek counselling is entirely up to the individual.

Issues that are not under the purview of iCARE

  • HR- related matters such as

    • - Request for a transfer to another school/HQ division

    • - Clarification on the terms of employment

    • -Appeal against a performance grade

For all these HR matters, you may submit an e-Enquiry via HR Online (Intranet) (opens in new tab) or email  MOE_HSCD_HRC_HUB@moe.gov.sg (opens in new tab). You may also submit in writing in accordance to the Air Grievance and Work-Related Appeals procedure (opens in new tab) and template found on HR Online.