Health and wellbeing
Counselling
Support over the break
Some health and wellbeing services, including our Student Counselling Service, will be unavailable during the University closedown period between 5pm on Friday 20 December 2024 and 9am on Tuesday 7 January 2025.
The primary wellbeing supports available over the period are:
Protective services: 02 9351 3333 (for on-campus emergencies)
Mental wellbeing support line: 1300 474 065 or text 0488 884 429
Sonder: All international students are eligible to access Sonder, a 24/7 on demand safety and wellbeing app
TalkCampus: Instant peer support for students all around the world.
1800 Respect: Available for free (24 hours a day and seven days a week) to support people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.
To connect with student wellbeing, please contact us when we return on Tuesday 7 January.
Did you know you can access wellbeing support online?
As a student at the University you have access to a number of platforms to help support your mental health. Find out more.
As a student, you can access specialist input on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological issues that may impact your life, through our Student Counselling Service.
Individual counselling
Individual therapy or counselling with a counsellor gives you the opportunity to talk confidentially about any concerns that may be impacting on your academic performance or mental health and wellbeing.
We offer short-term therapy sessions (between 1-6) with counsellors who provide evidence-based treatment and resources tailored to meet your individual needs.
We conduct our sessions in line with New South Wales Health guidelines, which are subject to change. This means we may not always able to offer face-to-face counselling. Telehealth appointments are always available by phone or through Zoom.
If you require longer term support, a team member will assist you to find an external provider. Where appropriate, you may be linked with internal support services such as Inclusion and Disability Services, the University Health Services, Financial Assistance, Student Affairs, Career Centre or other relevant support services.
Getting started
To connect with Student Wellbeing, complete the wellbeing form.
Once your form is received, a clinician from Student Wellbeing will call you to discuss your support needs.
Before your appointment
If it's your first appointment, you need to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early for your session to allow time to fill in any forms or questionnaires required by your counsellor.
Initial assessment
In your first session, you will talk to your counsellor about your concerns, they will assess your mental health needs and collaborate with you on the best way of moving forward. They may make recommendations or suggest you book further sessions.
Group counselling
Working towards your goals alongside fellow students has been shown to be a valuable and rewarding experience. Hearing shared experiences and overcoming challenges in a group format allows students to feel connected, accepted and seen. Using modern psychological frameworks, group members experience facilitated therapeutic discussion, new ways of interpreting their challenges and strategies to increase resilience. Group counselling promotes the growth while also fostering a sense of community and connection for the University of Sydney journey. We offer the following group options.
- Comeback Crew - a small and friendly group designed to help overcome the challenge of academic failure. Sessions start in Week 3 of semester on Tuesdays at 10am for 1 hour, and run for 6 teaching weeks.
- Thrive and Strive - a therapy group aimed at increasing your academic performance and resilience. Sessions start in Week 3 of semester on Mondays at 10am for 1 hour, and run for 6 teaching weeks.
If you would like to attend, please register your interest.
If you are below the age of 25, you may also join these weekly groups at headspace Camperdown.
- Active Group - Mondays 4pm
- Q Group – Tuesdays 4pm
- Autism Social Group – Tuesdays 4pm
- Artspace – Thursday 4pm
Please fill in the group referral form in PDF for external service and email to headspace.camperdown@sydney.edu.au.
Advice about other services
We may advise you of other services if:
- you request help with finding a specialist after discussion and assessment
- counselling is not the most suitable service for you
- there are other forms of professional support that may meet your needs.
We can advise you about other specialist services within or external to the University.
Support for students who have experienced sexual assault
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA) offers a confidential outreach clinic available to all current students who have experienced sexual assault. RPA counsellors experienced in supporting victims of sexual assault work closely with the University. Find out more about the clinic and other support available through our Safer Communities Office.
Cancellations
We understand that issues and emergencies arise. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, we ask that you try to notify us with as much notice as possible.
We offer a text reminder 24/48 hours prior to ensure you have enough time to notify us of any issues. In-person appointments can also be changed to telehealth if required on the day.
If you do not attend an appointment and don't contact us to cancel, this will count towards the six appointments that you are able to access in a calendar year. Unfortunately, non-attendance prevents other students in need from accessing this appointment time. Under exceptional circumstances you may be able to discuss this with your clinician.
Last updated: 11 December 2024
