The University provides a free and confidential counselling service (up to 6 sessions per year) that is available to all undergraduate and postgraduate students, including students studying entirely online. Our qualified, experienced counsellors can help with:
We want all students to feel comfortable seeking help and support from the counselling service. If you are needing support but unsure about whether the counselling service will be appropriate, please contact our intake workers.
8:45am - 5pm Monday - Friday at Bedford Park campus.
By appointment at Sturt and Tonsley Park campuses.
**Note: Counselling can also be provided via phone and Skype and there are remote services.
Call 1300 512 409 or text 0488 884 103.
Weekdays: 5pm to 9am
Weekends and public holidays: 24 hours
During University hours contact Health, Counselling and Disability.
Use this confidential support service if you are:
Counselling is a type of talking therapy that allows a person to talk about their problems and feelings in a confidential and helping environment.
Counsellors are trained to listen, help you deal with any negative thoughts and feelings, and work collaboratively to overcome issues that are causing emotional pain or making you feel uncomfortable. Counsellors may draw on a range of different resources in the process.
Counselling differs from therapy/psychotherapy, in that it is usually shorter-term, deals with more practical and immediate issues, and focuses on finding solutions, both practical and emotional for a current situation. Psychotherapy tends to be longer, involve a more in-depth analysis of your personality and situation, and seeks to provide a more profound shift in life perspective.
Counselling is delivered by different professionals. We have both social workers and psychologists in our team who are experienced counsellors.
Students typically present to the service by using the online booking form.
Having received the booking request, one of our duty counsellors will then try (within 1-3 days) to get in contact with you via phone to speak to you about your issue.
Sometimes the problem can be resolved during that initial contact. Other times, the counsellor might suggest booking in for a counselling appointment, or they might refer to you a service better suited to your situation.
For students who are booked in for a counselling appointment, during the counselling session, you'll be encouraged to share what is troubling you, one-on-one with one of our counsellors, either face-to-face or over the phone/Skype. You may be asked to describe a difficult situation, or difficult thoughts and feelings you are struggling with. By discussing your concerns with you, the counsellor can help you gain a better understanding of the situation, of your thoughts and feelings, as well as helping you identify some potential solutions.
It is common to require only a few counselling sessions in order to come up with a plan to resolve the issues that are troubling you. If more sessions are required, your counsellor will let you know. Flinders students can access up to 6 sessions per year.
Counselling sessions can range in length from short 15 minute phone calls, to the more typical hour-long face-to-face appointment.
Here at the counselling service, we are mindful that some students may be cautious about seeking help because of fears of overt or subtle discrimination. This includes LGBTIQA students, indigenous students, culturally and linguistically diverse students, students of faith, students on the autism spectrum and students with mental illness or disability.
Our goal is to make the counselling service a safe space for everyone. To this end, we have undertaken a number of service changes in order to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds feel welcome.
We want all students to feel comfortable seeking help and support from the counselling service. If you are needing support but unsire about whether the counselling service will be appropriate, please contact our intake workers.
Flinders After Hours Crisis Support Line
Call 1300 512 409 or text 0488 884 103
Weekdays: 5pm to 9am
Weekends and Public Holidays: 24 hours
External Crisis Support Services
Lifeline - 13 11 14 - - crisis support and suicide prevention - available 24/7
Suicide call back service - 1300 659 467 - counselling for people affected by suicide
Beyondblue - 1300 22 4636 - support, advice, action - available 24/7
Mental Health Emergency Triage Service - 13 14 65
National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service - 1800 737 732 - counselling, information and support - available 24/7
Domestic Violence Crisis Service - 1300 782 200 - available 24/7
Crisis Care - 13 16 11 - Monday to Friday 4.00pm to 9.00pm, 24 hours on weekends and public holidays
Family Drug Support - 1300 368 186 - Supporting families affected by alcohol and other drugs - available 24/7
Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800 - support for 13-25 year olds - available 24/7
Mensline - 1300 78 99 78 - support for men, anywhere, any time - available 24/7
Headspace - 1800 650 890 - support for 12-25 year olds - available 24/7
We've still got you covered:
Flinders University provides all students with counselling services available through Health, Counselling and Disability, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Call 8201 2118 to make an appointment or email counselling@flinders.edu.au at any time and a counsellor will contact you within the next business day.
For those students studying or working remotely, we have face-to-face options in most regional areas and remember that counselling appointments can be conducted via telephone or Skype as well. When the counsellor contacts you talk with them about your options.
Flinders University also provides all students with dedicated crisis counselling support after-hours, on weekends and on public holidays. This service can be contacted by phone on 1300 512 409 or by text on 0488 884 103.
Students studying remotely might also find the following services useful:
Health and Counselling Services are located at:
Level 3, Student Services Centre (next to the Sports Centre)
Flinders University, Sturt Rd,
Bedford Park SA 5042
Disability Services are located:
Opposite the Health Service in the Union Building Basement (rooms B10 to B10D)
Both are open: 8.45am to 5pm, Monday - Friday (including vacation periods, but excluding Christmas and New Year periods).
All feedback or complaints about the services offered at Health, Counselling and Disability Services should be directed to the Director Student Services.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
CRICOS Provider: 00114A
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