Studying is not always smooth sailing. There may be times where you face challenges which make it hard for you to keep up with your academic requirements and you may need additional support.
Higher education providers are required by legislation to have a Support for Students Policy which outlines the resources available to help their students succeed in their studies.
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What is a Support for Students Policy?
A higher education provider must have a Support for Students Policy that explains the support available to students to assist them to successfully complete their units of study.
The provider’s Support for Students Policy must include information on the provider’s processes for identifying students at risk of failing their units of study and the support available to assist students to successfully complete them.
What type of support is included in the Support for Students Policy?
The type of support offered will vary depending on your provider, but the policy should include academic and non-academic support such as:
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learning support (e.g literacy, numeracy, academic skills)
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academic adjustment (e.g extensions or special consideration)
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curriculum advice and career planning support
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inclusion and disability support
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financial support
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mental health, counselling and well-being services
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sexual assault and sexual harassment support
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domestic and family violence support
Where will I find my provider’s Support for Students Policy
The policy needs to be easily available to students and publicly available on your provider’s website. If you can’t find the policy, check with your provider’s student administration area.
Shared Responsibility
Your provider is required to have, comply with and report on their Support for Students Policy.
While your provider must have support mechanisms in place that you can access before the census date, students have responsibility for accepting and engaging with the support services and for their own success.
Concerns or complaints
If you have an issue with any aspect of your educational experience, including support services available to you, you should raise it with your provider to see if it can be resolved quickly and informally.
If this does not resolve the issue, providers must have a formal complaints policy and procedure to provide students with an appropriate avenue to have their concerns addressed.
You must receive a written response to a formal complaint from your provider, including instructions on how to request a review if you are not happy with the decision.
Useful links and resources
Learn more about making a complaint.
Other Resources
Your mental and physical health is an important part of your life as a student and many providers have medical and other resources on campus.
Many providers have medical centres and doctors on campus.
Your provider's counselling services and welfare officers can help you with issues such as bullying, advocacy, sexual health, financial assistance, legal advice and student conflicts.
There are also community support options, including online and phone-based mental health resources.
Your provider will be able to provide further information about campus security officers, passes for after-hours access, critical incident and emergency response procedures.