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At the University Counselling Service a free and confidential service is provided 5 days per week from 9.00am until 6.00 pm to assist post-graduate and under-graduate students with personal, work or study related difficulties. Through the Employee Assistance Program the same service is also provided for both general and academic staff. If you are experiencing a problem you are welcome to come and have a chat about it with one of our Counsellors. The number of consultations needed depends on the problem but many difficulties require only one or a few sessions. Consultations typically last 50 minutes and are by appointment. Although appointments are usually made a week or more ahead, some emergency time-slots are available every day for crisis situations where someone needs to be seen immediately. To make an appointment call our receptionist on 4221 3445 or drop into the Counselling Service on Level 3, Building 11. Feel free to ask for a male or female counsellor if you have a preference.
The Counselling Services provides Assessments for Special Consideration. These assessments are conducted at the request of students when adverse circumstances have impacted negatively on their studies. They are not counselling sessions but the psychologist conducting the Assessment may recommend that the student return for counselling. Assessments usually take around 50 minutes. If you are attending for a Special Consideration Assessment please bring with you any medical, legal or other documentation/evidence of your situation. Where a case which satisfies the criteria for establishing 'special consideration' can be identified, a Statement of Special Consideration will be provided if appropriate. As with Counselling, appointments for Special Consideration Assessments are arranged by calling the Counselling Service receptionist on 4221 3445 during working hours or by calling into the office in person.
The University Counsellors are experienced registered psychologists who practice in accord with the professional and ethical requirements of the N.S.W. Psychologists Registration Board. They are full members of the Australian Psychological Society, the premier professional association for psychologists in Australia. They regularly engage in peer supervision and undertake professional development activities to update their skills and knowledge base.
Some examples of the problems and issues that people bring to the Counselling Service are:
- couple and family issues
- communication problems
- relationship break-up
- coping with and adjusting to medical conditions and health problems
- sexual preference and sexual identity issues
- sexual problems
- pregnancy, abortion
- loneliness
- low self-esteem and lack of confidence
- stress
- anxiety and depression
- bereavement and grief
- eating problems and body image issues
- drugs and alcohol
- coping with physical or mental illness
- adjustment to life changes
- adjustment to study
- adjusting when you are the first family member to attend uni
- adjusting when you have come from another culture
- difficulty concentrating
- time management and juggling priorities
- conflict with fellow students or staff
- coping with failure
- life-planning and values
The counsellors encourage you to access the diverse collection of information on mental health, life skills, and tips on 'how to do it' that can be found at:
The counsellors also encourage you to take the ‘University Student’s Money Quiz and be aware of the useful information on this link.
The counsellors at UOW recommend to visit 6 ACT Conversations to anyone who wants to do life better, regardless of whether or not you are experiencing everyday hassles or bigger emotional difficulties. If you would like to speak with a counsellor about the ideas on this link, call the UOW Counselling Service (4221 3445) and make an appointment with Audrey.
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