Student counselling service
Your campus provides free and confidential counselling to all face-to-face and online students enrolled in Australia. This non-judgmental service does not diagnose; we only listen and help you explore areas of concern and work on strategies that can assist you.
Attending counselling does not mean there is anything wrong with you; it simply provides a confidential and neutral place to freely express your needs and concerns. Counselling sessions are not registered on your academic record.
Counselling is simply a place to get some support and assistance that will help you get through your studies.
Common reasons for seeking counselling
- Feeling isolated, stressed, or unmotivated
- Cultural issues and adjusting to change
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Handling loneliness or lack of support
- Loss and grief
- Sexual identity
- Home sickness; missing your family and friends
- Concerns with work or study
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Discover and strive toward full potential
- Low mood
- Violence and abuse in a relationship
- Feeling lost or stuck?
- Lack of confidence, self-esteem, or body image
- Coping with a crisis
- Procrastination and study issues
- Balancing commitments
- Dealing with family and relationship issues
- Just needing someone neutral and independent to talk to
Further information
FAQ
Q. Do I need a referral?
A. No, you do not need a referral. Contact student services to make an appointment.
Q. How often do I need to come to counselling?
A. This is an individual decision and is worked out with your counsellor.Together you will work out the most appropriate type of counselling and sessions required.
Q. How much will counselling cost me?
A. Counselling on campus is free for all students enrolled in Australia.
Q. How do I know if I need counselling?
You can often tell if someone close to you isn't coping with a situation. At the same time, it's easy to tell yourself you're coping just fine even if you're not. Counselling can help you if you:
- Are unsure how to deal with an issue
- You have tried to deal with the problem on your own but haven’t succeeded
- Are feeling confused and want some help making a difficult decision
- Feel you have no one else to talk to
Counselling can help you see the problem from a different point of view. It is easy to get caught up in a problem and believe there is no way out. Counselling will help you see a problem objectively and find solutions that you may not have thought of.
Q, What are the benefits of counselling?
- Gain a clearer understanding of the problem
- Better manage your workload
- Learn new coping strategies to work through problems
- Break through negative behaviour patterns
- Have a life which you can more fully enjoy
- Develop self-awareness and understandingof yourself and others
Tools and resources
- Headspace
National youth mental health foundation dedicated to improving the wellbeing of young Australians. - Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind offers a unique web and app-based tool to help bring balance to people's lives. - beyondblue
beyondblue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.
7 ways to ease an anxious mind
We've all experienced anxious thoughts at some point. But, we rarely take time to actually stop and do something to ease our anxieties. Here are some tips:
Mood Mission
This iPhone app is designed to assist you with managing anxiety, stress and low moods.
In case of emergency
For after hours assistance contact:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14;
- your doctor; or
- the emergency department at your local hospital; or
- emergency 000.
Your counsellors
Permanent campus counsellor
Vanessa Bryden-Jones
Counselling days: Mondays and Tuesdays
Previously graduated:
Master in Psychotherapy, Diploma in Welfare and Community Development.
What motivates me:
Spending time to support people to gain an understanding into their own world, help devise creative solutions and seeing them more at ease within their present moment. I also try to be mindful during my days - not always successful, but it's definitely a motivation.
How do I unwind:
Spend time with mates, eat good food, lazy days reading and watching a favourite crime/comedy series, meditate, the moments after leaving the gym and all of the above as much as I possibly can = very relaxed!
Robert Kocovski
Counselling day: Wednesday
Previously graduated:
Bachelor of Business – Human Resource Management .
Currently studying:
Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
What motivates me:
Being of service to the community by collaborating, supporting and guiding others to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their world. I’m also motivated by my daily practices of yoga and meditation which help me see, experience and appreciate the simple things in life.
How do I unwind:
By spending time in nature, whether it be by the ocean or in the mountains, having a post-yoga-practice cup of coffee with friends and staying indoors on a cold and wet Melbourne weekend with a good book, my guitar and the cat.
Rosa Medina Barron
Counselling day: Thursday
Previously graduated:
Graduate Diploma in Psychology and Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced.
Currently studying:
Master of Professional Psychology Practice
What motivates me:
Everyday opportunity to make a positive impact in the world, even at a micro-level.
How do I unwind:
Listening to good music from classical to rock, going through opera, jazz, pop, romantic, and Latin. Chatting with friends. Doing exercise to activate my body and focus my mind.
Brittany Keeler
Counselling day: Friday
Previously graduated:
Post-Graduate Diploma of Psychology, Graduate Diploma of Counselling, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
Currently studying:
Master of Professional Psychology.
What motivates me:
The feeling of connectivity that comes from listening and understanding. Watching small changes become big changes in someone's life. Providing support to disadvantaged groups. .
How do I unwind:
Creating art and crafts, playing board games and video games, watching movies, going for walks to dog parks, and eating at cafes with friends.