We offer counselling for enrolled VU students and provide assistance to staff when dealing with a student in crisis.
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).
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:
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:
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:
The student can be offered information on how to contact the service or it may be appropriate to assist with making an appointment by phone.
If the matter is urgent, please indicate this when contacting the service and be ready to provide some background on your specific concerns to assist in the referral process.
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.
Counsellors consult with staff on a range of matters related to student welfare. Student support staff provide confidential information and advice through face-to-face appointments or over the phone.
Academic/teaching staff and general staff can also contact the counselling service to assist with student referrals for counselling.
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, VU has a Student Support and Safety Referral Procedure to help you respond to the situation.
Members of the University should follow the steps outlined in the Student Safety Flowchart to seek further assistance.
Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm
Staff members can contact Student Counselling Services to consult about non-immediate student mental health concerns.
Phone: +61 3 9919 5400
Safer Community provides advice, assistance and support to anyone who has experienced concerning, threatening or inappropriate behaviour.
Phone: +61 3 9919 5707
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.
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.
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:
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 1300 EAP AT VU or 1300 327 288. More information about the EAP is available on the EAP intranet (login required if offsite).
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)
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.
