Expression Of Interest

Offer Psychological Support To Whistleblowers

The Whistleblower House (TWBH) is a not-for-profit public benefit organisation established on 22 February 2022 to provide confidential, and multidisciplinary support to whistleblowers across South Africa.

While whistleblower protection is a statutory responsibility of the state, practical protection and integrated support mechanisms remain limited. TWBH addresses this gap by facilitating access to legal, financial, psychological, and safety support for individuals who have disclosed wrongdoing and are experiencing personal and professional consequences.

Since inception, TWBH has received more than 472 whistleblower applications nationally with an average of 10 new applications per month. The organisation operates virtually and maintains strict anonymity and confidentiality protocols.

WHO WE SUPPORT

TWBH assists individuals who report, in good faith, unlawful or unethical conduct within organisations, including corruption, financial misconduct, governance failures, environmental violations, and human rights abuses.

Whistleblowers frequently face retaliation, workplace victimisation, reputational harm, protracted legal proceedings, financial instability, and social isolation. The impact is invariably long-term; whistleblowing typically results in prolonged instability affecting both the individual and their family.

Many whistleblowers present with trauma-related symptoms, anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and sleep disorders. The likelihood of serious psychological decline, including thoughts of suicide, is greatly increased.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT MODEL

Psychological care is central to TWBH’s integrated support framework. We partner with experienced registered psychologists to deliver trauma-informed, context-sensitive therapy tailored to the whistleblower’s specific circumstances. Clinical decision-making remains solely with the treating psychologist.

Where clinically indicated, the psychologist facilitates psychiatric referral, with TWBH assuming responsibility for the cost of treatment, including hospitalisation when required.

PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK

TWBH is expanding its national referral panel of psychologists and invite suitably qualified psychologists to register. Participation typically involves:

  • Accepting referrals for a minimum of ten therapeutic sessions per whistleblower
  • Considering extensions based on clinical recommendation and organisational approval
  • Providing timely appointment availability

Referrals are allocated on a rotational basis. Virtual sessions can be considered, subject to safety considerations. Practitioners typically support between two and five whistleblowers annually. Professional fees are covered within TWBH’s funding framework (currently up to R 1,100 per hour session), with clear fee and invoicing arrangements agreed upfront.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Whistleblowers play a critical role in advancing transparency, accountability, and ethical governance in South Africa. Acting in the public interest often exposes them to sustained retaliation and instability, with significant psychological consequences.

Timely, specialised psychological intervention is essential not only for stabilisation but also for restoring functional capacity, and long-term resilience. Recovery is fundamental to economic reintegration, employability, and independence.

Expanding TWBH’s national panel of psychologists ensures faster access to care, continuity throughout complex disclosure processes, and appropriate clinical matching. This is both a clinical necessity and a meaningful contribution to protecting individuals who act with integrity in the public interest.

If you would like to partner with The Whistleblower House to help whistleblowers and their families in their recovery, please complete the Expression of Interest form below.

(Applications are open on an ongoing basis and may be submitted at any time.)

Application Form

(You can submit the form at any time.)

    ABOUT YOU

    MsMrOther

    Professional Registrations and Memberships*

    HPCSA Details

    Registration Category

    PsySSA Details

    ABOUT YOUR SERVICES

    Which channels do you use for your services?*

    Where is/are the site/s where you meet with clients?

    Province/s

    Which therapeutic approaches or modality/modalities do you use most of the time?
    Select up to three.

    Supporting Documents

    Please use the fields below to upload the required supporting documents. Alternatively please email these documents to info@whistleblowerhouse.org.

    Upload a copy of your CV (File Size Limit: 10mb)

    Upload a copy of your indemnity insurance certificate (File Size Limit: 10mb)

    Upload a copy of your qualifications (File Size Limit: 10mb)

    Note: Shortlisted applicants will be required to submit a short video explaining, for example, why they think psychological support for whistleblowers is important. Videos will be evaluated in terms of content quality, communication skill, and professional insight.

    ASSESSMENT

    On a scale from inexperienced or unskilled (1), to expert (5) (i.e., highly skilled and experienced), rate your level of experience in working with:

    Working with Trauma

    1

     

    Working with Families

    1

     

    Working with Whistleblowers

    Lack of direct experience working with whistleblowers will not negatively impact your application. Relevant expertise and alignment with this work will be considered.

    1

     

    In the first few sessions, how do you support clients who have experienced high levels of stress, trauma or fear related to their environment?*

    How do you create psychological safety and build trust with a client who may feel anxious, unsafe or hesitant to open up?*

    How do you approach confidentiality when working with clients in sensitive or high-risk situations?*

    How have you handled an ethical dilemma in the past?*

    How would you assess and manage clients experiencing intense anxiety, fear, or paranoia in a therapeutic setting?*

    How do you adapt your communication style when working with clients from diverse cultural or professional backgrounds in sensitive situations?*

    Do you currently work with or refer to a specific psychiatrist?*

    YesNo

    Would you be willing to refer The Whistleblower House to the psychiatrist for the purpose of creating a national referral database?

    YesNo

    How many hours per month do you estimate would you be willing to allocate to sessions with whistleblowers?*

    What would be your rate per hour (Rand value) for sessions with whistleblowers?*

    How much notice would you require to schedule an initial appointment for a newly referred whistleblower?*

    How much notice would you require for a whistleblower in crisis?*

    Would you be willing to attend induction to prepare you for working with whistleblowers?*

    YesMaybeNo

    Please explain your answer*

    CONSENT

    By submitting this application, I acknowledge and agree that:

    DECLARATION AND CERTIFICATION

    Signed
    (Please provide your Electronic Signature below.)

    Date