Help Is Never Far Away

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday December 20, 2006

Selina Gordevich

Support services provide advice to students. By Selina Gordevich.

For some, the move from high school to university is something to look forward to. For others, it's a daunting prospect.

Adding to their angst at entering the university environment, many students face emotional, financial and study-related problems. But there is help at hand.

University support services provide expert help and advice to new students. Whether it's for counselling, career support, obtaining a student loan or learning study skills, there is someone there to help.

Cathy Stone of the Student Support Services unit at the University of Newcastle says: "Students who seek appropriate assistance are more likely to settle into university quicker and feel more confident in themselves."

The unit's staff help students with personal, health and financial issues, learning skills, accommodation, jobs and careers.

For emotional support, the counselling service has free sessions to talk over personal issues and the chaplaincy gives non-denominational help and guidance. "Whatever the issue, the services are there to help," Stone says.

For more information see www.newcastle.edu.au/study/student

support or phone the Ourimbah campus (4348 4060) or Callaghan campus (4921 5000).

The University of Western Sydney's Learning Skills Unit holds free workshops to help students develop their study skills. Conducted by academic staff, the workshops provide training in areas such as essay writing, assignment preparation, referencing and critical thinking.

In February and March each year, the Learning Skills Unit also provides a free bridging program called UniStep for students who have been accepted into the university. Students can choose to do the whole program or select one or more courses, such as academic writing, basic algebra, advanced algebra, calculus and statistics or maths bridging for engineering students. For more information, see www.uws.edu.au/students/ods/lsu/uniprep programs or phone 4620 3190.

Student mentor programs give peer support and provide first-hand knowledge of campus and university services to help new students settle in.

The University of NSW has peer mentoring programs that link experienced students to first-year students to provide support and encouragement to them in making the transition from high school to university.

Zarni Jaugietis, student development program manager in the faculty of arts and social sciences, says: "By participating in a peer mentoring program, students can make new friends quickly and it isn't long before they know their way around." For more information, see www.counselling.unsw.edu.au/coming_to_unsw/peer_

mentoring or call 9385 5418.

Elizabeth Smith (pictured), 19, signed up for the peer mentoring program in her first year at the university. "You don't realise how different uni is from high school till you're there," she says. "To have an older student sharing all their little secrets makes the whole university experience not so daunting after all." Now in her second year, Smith is training to become a mentor with the university's counselling service

At Macquarie University, the Macquarie Transition Program includes an academic orientation program at the beginning of each semester. The program includes information on using the library, time management, online learning and making notes in lectures.

As part of the program, student mentors advise new students about the things they need to know about university life and take them on a tour of the campus. For more information, see www.mq.edu.au/transition or phone 9850 8636.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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