What is Counselling

Counselling assists students to understand and assess their issues in the broadest possible ways to enable the best possible outcomes. Counselling sessions provide students with an opportunity to discuss any issues of concern within a supportive relationship. This experience can often lead to insight and clarity that usually ease anxiety and pain.

Someone to talk to about………..?

Personal

• Relationship issues
• Sexuality
• Domestic violence
• Family conflict
• Loneliness
• Addictive behaviours
• Illness, grief and loss
• Sexual harassment, assault and abuse
• Mental health issues e.g. stress, anxiety and depression
• Self-esteem, confidence and self image issues
• Crises/trauma support and referral
• Anxiety about returning to study, presentations and exams
• Conflict resolution and communication skills
• Life transition and adjustment issues

Referral and Advocacy
The Counselling Service can assist students with the personal dimensions of the following:

• Appeals, reviews, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer

The Service will also provide:

• Referral to and information about welfare and various community services
• Brochures and resources on a wide range of student issues.

Confidentiality

The professional staff of the Counselling Service adhere to the code of ethics of the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian Association of Social Workers. This means that information revealed in counselling sessions remains confidential  and will only be disclosed to another person with your permission.
Disclosure of information without consent can only occur when:

• There is a clear risk to your own safety or others
• Required by law e.g. Court ordered, mandatory reporting of child abuse

Support of ACU students participating in ACU research

• The Counselling Service provides counselling support to all students of ACU National. In the case of ethics clearance for research proposals, the Service can be identified on such proposals as the source of counselling support for research participants providing:
• The participants are students of ACU National
• The research proposal is authored by an ACU National student or staff member
• The proposal has been submitted to the Manager of Counselling to enable consideration of potential issues for the Service. The Service may need to refer participating students to external sources of support.

Email Policy

• Due to the inability to ensure confidentiality and timely responses to student issues, the Service does not offer counselling via email.
• However, the Service will respond to appointment requests and general enquiries by email within a reasonable timeframe.

Service Evaluation

• The Counselling Service offers a consultative service to staff with regard student support issues.
• The Counselling Service regularly seeks feedback from the students who access the service in order to better inform our practice and service delivery.
• This evaluation will normally be requested via email and only if students consent to being contacted for this purpose.

• Student Centre Contacts