Staff support & referring students

Counselling for enrolled VU students is a free and confidential service. We have services located at Footscray Park, Footscray Nicholson, St Albans, Sunshine, Werribee and City campuses.

Counselling services for staff are available through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Referring students

Academic or teaching staff are often in the best position to recognise problems that students may be experiencing.

Students may disclose problems to staff, present in a distressed state, or staff may identify signs indicating problems, including:

poor academic performance or attendance
excessive requests for extensions
changes in behaviour or appearance (e.g. increasing dependence on you, decline in personal hygiene)
changes in mood (e.g. withdrawn, 'down').

All staff play a vital and proactive role in helping students adjust to University life and succeeding in their course, by supporting students and referring them to appropriate services.

Students may be referred to the counselling service as well as other student support staff working in the areas of:

disability & accessibility services
welfare
housing & accommodation
financial advice
advocacy
health advice (drug education, health advice, medical centre)
chaplaincy.

How to refer

: If you feel a student may need counselling support, explain to the student that VU has a professional counselling service available to all students free of charge, and suggest that this may be a useful option.
When referring students the following points may encourage them to seek help:
inform students that the services are free and confidential
provide students with a brochure, telephone number or counselling web pages address
offer to accompany a student to the service location, especially if the student is distressed
give the student a name/s of counsellors available
point out that seeking help is a sign of courage or strength rather than weakness or failure, that things don't have to be 'really bad' to see a counsellor
inform students that many other students seek the help of counsellors and specialised staff may encourage them to access support.
: The student can be offered information on how to contact the service or it may be appropriate to assist with making an appointment.
: Not all students will take up your suggestion and often this is all you can do as the ultimate decision to seek help rests with the student. It may be helpful to revisit your concerns with the student at a later time.
However, if the matter is serious and you are concerned, consult your supervisor, Head of Department or student support staff. Consider telling the student of your intentions. Please remember you should not hold serious anxieties about someone else on your own.

Student support & safety referrals

In a situation where a student presents as distressed or at risk, and where there is a likelihood of self-harm or harm to others members of the university should follow the steps outlined in the Mental Health Crisis Flowchart to seek further assistance.

Mental health crisis flowchart (PDF, 840.59 KB)

Members of the University should follow the steps outlined in the Student Safety Flowchart to seek further assistance.

Student Safety Flowchart (PDF, 455.48 KB)

After Hours Victoria University Mental Health Support Line

Monday to Friday, 4.30pm–9am. Weekends, 24/7.

The University Crisis Line is available to all enrolled students. Students can use the line to speak with a trained professional for support through a mental health crisis.

Phone: 1300 511 971
Or text: 0485 908 389

Safer Community

Safer Community provides advice, assistance and support to anyone who has experienced concerning, threatening or inappropriate behaviour.

Phone: +61 3 9919 5707

Special consideration

Students can apply for special consideration if their studies or assessments have been adversely affected by a serious, unexpected circumstance.

Students need to be advised to use the most appropriate person or service to support their application, such as a treating medical practitioner, non-VU counsellor, police report or court summons/subpoena. A VU counsellor can be consulted when the reason is a problem affecting the student’s psychological wellbeing or mental health. The counsellor will work to assist the student with the difficulty and may be able to support the special consideration application.

Orientation & group programs

Counsellors are available to speak to new groups of students about our services. This is a valuable way to connect with students during the orientation period.

Counselling staff possess skills and expertise in a range of areas related to student wellbeing and are also available to run group programs for your students on topics such as stress and time management, returning to study and peer support skills.

Contact Student Counselling and Accessibility Services to book an orientation session.

Staff counselling

Confidential and independent counselling and other services are available to all staff of Victoria University through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

As an employee you can access short-term assistance for work-related or personal issues affecting your ability to function at work. Some of these issue include:

conflict and tension – work and personal
organisational change
work-related or emotional stress
personal and career direction
relationship or family problems
grief and bereavement
alcohol and drug problems
gambling and financial problems
legal matters.

EAP consultants are available to help you work through any concerns or issues you may be facing, as well as facilitate referral to external support agencies for longer-term assistance.

EAP services are private and confidential. Everything discussed in the sessions is kept between you and the consultant you speak with, and your details will not be passed on to anyone at Victoria University.

Staff can ring the EAP provider on 1800 818 728. More information about the EAP is available on the EAP Intranet (login required if offsite).

Other mental health counselling services - phone helpline & online chat services

Lifeline

131 114 (local call) - 24 hours, 7 days telephone counselling service
Crisis support chat available 7pm – 4am (AEST) 7 days.

Suicide Helpline 1300 651 251 (local call)
24 hours, 7 days confidential telephone counselling, support and referral available throughout Victoria.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 (local call)
24 hours, 7 days nationwide service that provides telephone and online counselling to people 15 years and over who are suicidal, caring for someone who is suicidal, bereaved by suicide, or are health professionals supporting people affected by suicide.

Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 (free call)

24 hours, 7 days free, confidential and anonymous, telephone counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.
Online counselling service available from 8am - midnight.

1800RESPECT: Call 1800 RESPECT or 1800 737 732 (free call)
24 hours, 7 days national sexual assault, domestic family violence phone and online counselling service offering information and support.

Sexual Assault Crisis Line (SACL) 1800 806 292 (free call)
A state-wide, after-hours, confidential, telephone crisis counselling service for victim/survivors of both past and recent sexual assault. SACL operates between 5pm weeknights through to 9am the next day and throughout weekends and public holidays.

Gambling Help Online 1800 858 858 (free call)
24 hours, 7 days confidential helpline with counsellors to provide support for gambling related issues.

DirectLine 1800 888 236 (free call)
24 hours, 7 days confidential alcohol and drug counselling and referral in Victoria for all ages and backgrounds.

QLife 1800 184 527 (free call)
Counselling and referral service for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex (LGBTI). Helps people of all ages across the full breadth of people’s bodies, genders, relationships, sexualities, and lived experiences. Phone support and online chat available from 3pm – 12am every day.