Real stories and practical tips to help you through uni life ❤️
Before we look at the section of the wellbeing plan that asks you about your professional support networks, let’s explore a few of them. A big part of helping us to feel safe, supported and validated is by knowing there is always support available to us, beyond just our friends and family.
‘Formal’ support services are professional services designed to help people navigate life’s challenges, including mental health, physical health, and wellbeing concerns. These supports can look like social workers, counsellors, psychologists, general practitioners (GPs), or psychiatrists.
At USYD, you have access to a range of free or low-cost formal support services both on campus and in the broader community.
However, it’s important to acknowledge that accessing formal support can look and feel different depending on your situation. For instance, international students may encounter different processes, costs, or visa requirements, while students living regionally or interstate might face location-based barriers. It’s completely normal to feel frustrated or uncertain about where to start.
While we can’t change every systemic barrier overnight, we can empower ourselves with knowledge about the options available and how to access them. Being aware of your choices can make a big difference when you or someone you care about needs support
Click on the buttons in each headings to find some examples of the support available through USYD!
The University of Sydney offers free, confidential counselling for enrolled students. Professional counsellors can support you with:
Appointments are available in person, by phone or online.
Explore USYD CounsellingInclusion and Disability Services helps students with disability, medical conditions or carer responsibilities gain equitable access to learning and assessment through tailored academic plans and reasonable adjustments.
Registered students can receive supports such as exam modifications, assistive technology, timetable changes and lecture or library assistance. Book a consultation in person, by phone or online to discuss your needs and make arrangements before key academic deadlines.
The University of Sydney Health Service provides medical care exclusively for students and staff. Doctors and nurses can help with:
A clinical psychologist is available, and emotional or personal concerns can be discussed.
Explore University Health Service
This is just a very small list of some of the other professional support services out there and available to you.
24/7 crisis support
13 11 14
Mental health support
1300 22 4636
For those under 25
1800 55 1800
For Indigenous Australians
13 92 76
LGBTQIA+ support
1800 184 527
Youth mental health
headspace.org.au
Online and phone support
Vocational support
As we said earlier, every community will have different levels of access to different services - which is why it can be very worthwhile for you to create a resource of your own that is specific to your community! These services can act as a starting point for your personalised list.
There are other organisations that have valuable mental health resources. You could check outReachOut,Black Dog Institute, and Orygen.
You can call these services, and most of them have online chat rooms or SMS hotlines as well.
Let’s dive back into our wellbeing plan! The section titled ‘My Professional and Crisis Supports' is where you can note down professional support you trust or might want to try in the future.
Crisis support contacts, like Lifeline (13 11 14) and 13Yarn (13 92 76)
Names and contact details for professionals you can access if you need (like a GP, psychologist, counsellor from uni, or online services like eheadspace)
Having these written down means you won’t have to go searching for them in a stressful moment.They’ll already be there if you need them.
