Student Support And Welfare
Students who are facing difficulties with study or other personal issues can seek short term counseling through Student Support Services. Longer term counselling will be referred to an external counseling service which may come at a charge.
The Student Support Services staff are available to discuss physical, mental, or emotional issues that may arise for students during their studies
Some of the issues which can be supported include:
- Understanding and adapting to Australian culture
- Coping without student’s friends and family – homesickness
- Worries about accommodation
- Concerns about attendance or keeping up with studies
- Language problems
- Relationship problems at school, at home, or with flat mates
- Coping with pregnancy and support available
- Becoming the victim of a crime or having an accident
- Violence at home or in a relationship
- Childcare or concerns about children
- Drugs and alcohol issues.
- Students who face any difficulties are encouraged to see a Student Services Officer for assistance and guidance. Contact studentservices@tr4inright.edu.auor go to Reception.
Support Services Provided By Study Melbourne
The Study Melbourne Hub is a study space in the centre of Melbourne for tertiary international students living in Victoria. The Hub is a welcoming place to network, attend events, meet other students and access support and advice.
You may access free support services, attend free student events, access student work spaces and make friends.
Seeing a GP
Every city and town in Australia has local general practitioners (GPs). A GP is a doctor who has a broad knowledge of health issues. They should be the first person you see for non-emergency health care, including physical and mental health issues.
You should consider seeing a GP in the case of:
- Treatment for common illnesses
- Vaccinations
- Mental Health
- Sexual Health
- Screening and preventive care
- Referrals to specialists
Search for a doctor in your area and find out what questions to ask.
Tr4inRight can also refer you to our medical and mental health support services provided by MYASTMEDICAL where you can get access to GP and mental health services online. If you need a referral, please speak to our student support staff at Tr4inRight.
Mental Health Support Services
In some cultures, getting help for your mental health might be seen as strange. But in Australia, it is encouraged and very common, and there are many services available.
There are also several online mental health support services that you can turn to in your time of need. Many of Australia’s major mental wellness organisations have their own online chat rooms where you can speak to trained professionals.
Some of these providers are listed below:
If you’re not ready to discuss your mental wellbeing with someone else, that’s okay. There are other resources you can use on your own. For example:
- ReachOut has a list of tools and apps to help you regulate your thoughts and emotions.
- If you’re struggling with thoughts of self-harm, consider Calm Harm. This app gives you ideas of tasks that help you resist the urge to hurt yourself. It is free, private and password protected, it is available for use in several countries.
- If you’re going through a difficult end to a relationship, you may want to check out Breakup Shakeup. This app gives you ideas of fun things to do to cope with your emotions, such as visiting a park or going camping. It is designed to help you find the value in social activities so you can heal faster.
- There are also many online articles and resources available through the Australian Government’s Head to Health. You can consult these to find tips and strategies for managing your mental wellness.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully engaged in the present moment. It is the ability to be aware of ourselves, what we’re doing and what we’re feeling, without any distraction or judgement.
You can practice mindfulness in many ways. You can try meditation or take short breaks throughout your day to just stretch and be present with how your body feels. You can take a walk and notice what you smell, feel, hear and see. You can also add mindfulness exercises to physical activities like yoga, pilates or sport.
You can also check out some apps to guide you on the path to mindfulness. These apps offer helpful tips and tricks for mindfulness exercises to improve your mental wellbeing.
Some of these apps include:
Homesickness
Homesickness is a common emotional experience characterized by feelings of longing and nostalgia for one’s home country, culture, and familiar social environment.
As students from diverse backgrounds face challenges adjusting to new social norms, language barriers, and educational expectations, which can exacerbate feelings of isolation and disconnection. This feeling often manifests as sadness, anxiety, and sometimes withdrawal from social activities, affecting their academic performance and overall well-being.
In the link below you can find some strategies to overcome a feeling of homesickness:
Disability Support
International students with a disability have the same legal rights and support services as local students in Australia.
A disability is any condition affecting a person’s body or mind. This can include:
- Physical disability, such as, a loss of a body part or a failing part of the body
- Learning disability that affects the ability to take in, process and hold information
- Mental illness that may affect thought processes
- Sensory disability, such as hearing or vision loss
- Neurological disability that can affect the brain and central nervous system, or
- Disease or illness.
If you are affected by a disability, the laws in Australia protect you:
Below disability support services are available to support you;
- Disability services at universities
- Disability services at TAFE
- Disability Support Services Australia
- Hearing impaired: Deaf Connect and Deaf Australia
- Vision impaired: Vision Australia
- Mental health: Beyond Blue
- Employment: Australian Network on disability
You can search also online for social groups for people with similar disabilities in your area.
Check out the page from Study Australia for more information: STUDY AUSTRALIA
