If you're a VU student with a disability or medical condition that impacts your studies, Accessibility Services can support you. Please call +61 3 9919 5400 if you would like further advice.

By working with one of our Accessibility Liaison Officers (ALOs), you can access the following help:

  • support services and resources
  • adjustments for study and assessment.
Accessibility at VU - Transcript

What is an Access Plan?

An Access Plan is a document that is produced by an Accessibility Liaison Officer with you as a registered student. It summarises the following:

  • recommendations for teaching adjustments
  • assessment and examination adjustments
  • placement support (if required)
  • the impacts of your health condition or disability on your learning
  • your responsibilities
  • referrals for learning support and other factors for independent learning.

Further information about registering is in the section ‘Eligibility for accessibility support’ on this page.

Accessibility services we can provide

We can recommend adjustments to the way your course is taught and assessed.

Adjustments are made on a case-by-case basis, and may include:

  • alternative exam arrangements
  • academic support worker assistance
  • equipment loans
  • assistive technology
  • accessible formatting
  • extensions to assignments
  • flexibility in attendance requirements
  • accessible teaching spaces and ergonomic furniture.

Our Accessibility Liaison Officers can help to minimise impacts of a disability or a health condition on your study and enable you to participate in all aspects of university life.

We will meet with you to:

  • identify options to reduce the impact of your illness or disability on your current study program
  • provide information on a range of supports and access to relevant VU services and study adjustments
  • create an Access Plan to summarise recommended teaching adjustments, assessment and examination adjustments and other factors needed to support independent learning
  • communicate and assist relevant VU staff and external agencies to arrange specific services outlined in your (learning) Access Plan.

We can recommend a range of inclusive teaching practices, including:

  • flexible assessment options, eg. an essay or an oral presentation on a particular topic
  • providing copies of notes and presentations early in the semester and well before class
  • audio recording classes (where appropriate)
  • alternative assessment arrangements (more time) for in-class tests
  • recommendations to help you meet placement requirements.

Accessible course materials can be provided. We have alternative formats available such as:

  • enlarged print
  • Braille
  • electronic files.

We can arrange for academic support workers to assist you in class, such as:

  • Auslan interpreters
  • note-takers
  • participation assistants
  • lab assistants.

You must register for accessibility support to receive assistance from an academic support worker.

Download the student agreement for students receiving support through the Academic Support Worker service.

It outlines information about your rights and responsibilities using the service.

We can arrange exam assistance such as:

  • special seating arrangements
  • extra writing time
  • adjusted or alternative assessments tasks
  • Auslan interpreters or scribes in exams
  • rest breaks
  • specialised equipment.

VU has a range of library support services for students with health conditions or a disability.

If you are using a screen reader, screen magnifier or prefer an alternative version of a map, text alternative maps for all our campuses are available.

Access and mobility maps are also available, showing accessible exits, entrances and lifts for the buildings on each of our campuses.

Student Amy Marks has benefited from VU's accessibility support services.

Eligibility for accessibility support

To be eligible for accessibility support, you must:

  • be currently enrolled as a student at VU
  • have a disability or health condition that impacts your studies
  • provide a Health Practitioner Report from a qualified professional.

Your health practitioner report should include:

  • the nature of the specific impairment or condition
  • the duration of the disability as permanent, ongoing or temporary
  • details of the impact the condition is likely to have on your learning
  • recommended support services and/or reasonable adjustments to minimise impact on your study
  • medical professional's title, credentials and stamp
  • legible hand-writing, dated and signed by your practitioner.

Your health practitioner report is valid for:

  • one month for temporary conditions
  • twelve months for ongoing conditions
  • the duration of your enrolment for permanent conditions.

Registration process

  1. Download and print the Health Practitioner Report.
  2. Arrange for your Health Practitioner to complete the report, or use your diagnostic report (eg Educational Psychologist Assessment)
  3. Fill in the online form to contact accessibility support, and we'll contact you to make an appointment
  4. Meet with an Accessibility Liaison Officer. They will assess the support services best suited to you. Please bring the following documents:
  5. Negotiate a learning Access Plan with your Accessibility Liaison Officer.
  6. Keep in touch with us and give us feedback.

Accessibility Action Plan

Victoria University aims to be a leader in inclusivity for people with a disability. We’ve committed to this goal by establishing a Student Accessibility Action Plan (AAP) 2021–2023 which spells out our equity and diversity values for students with a disability.

The AAP 2021–2023 is the fifth of its kind. The first was lodged in 2001 with the now-named Australian Human Rights Commission. The AAP is designed remove the barriers to access and participation for students with a health condition or disability and develop new strategies to provide a supportive and inclusive educational experience for them.

Read the full Student Accessibility Action Plan 2021–2023.

For further information or assistance, please call +61 3 9919 5400 or email [email protected].

Contact us

VU Accessibility Services

Phone: +61 3 9919 5400
Email: [email protected]

We also welcome feedback from students to help us improve our services. If you have any suggestions, feel free to email [email protected] with your ideas.

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