Two “specialist LGBTI counsellors” will be on hand for the bureaucrats as the winning vote is revealed on Wednesday morning.

A Department of Premier and Cabinet spokeswoman said the announcement would be “particularly challenging” for some public service staff. 

They were offered counselling in an email sent last week.

“The marriage equality debate has been held over a prolonged period and is having a substantial impact on some VPS staff,” the spokeswoman said. 

“On the day of the survey results announcement, arrangements have been made for two existing specialist LGBTI counsellors to be on site at a supported space for all VPS staff.” 

The Herald Sun understands that the counsellors work for the government’s “employee assistance program” — a full-time service to help staff deal with stress, anxiety, depression or trauma. 

The program also has counsellors trained on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex issues. 

It comes after the Department of Premier and Cabinet released its LGBTI inclusion plan earlier this year.

The plan revealed that the department had an LGBTI Network, “ally” events and “LGBTI 101” as part of its diversity training. 

“Attitudes and ideas that might be adverse to LGBTI inclusion can be the result of conscious and unconscious behaviours,” the plan said. 

“It is our responsibility to challenge these ideas and work towards promoting inclusion

for all employees. Simple actions can result in meaningful change.”

But opposition spokesman Tim Smith hit out at the government for funding the LGBTI counsellors to be on standby as the result of the vote is released.