
  • flinders.edu.au
  • Staff
  • Students
  • Library
Flinders University Logo Flinders University Logo
  • New students

    Getting started

    • New students - Start here
    • Accept offer
    • Orientation
    • Mentoring programs
    • Credit transfer
    • Ready2Go?
    • Find your college
    • Your FAN
    • Okta

    Higher degree by research

    • Apply for a higher degree by research
    • Start your higher degree by research
    • HDR online induction
    Student System
    Orientation planner
    Compass
  • My course

    My course

    • Course rules & topics
    • Manage your enrolment
    • Timetables
    • Readings
    • Textbooks
    • Exams, assessments and results
    • GPA calculator
    • Graduation
    • Internal transfer
    • Prizes and awards
    • Summer topics
    • Transnational Education (TNE) Students
    • Academic integrity
    • Graduate qualities

    Careers and opportunities

    • Student placements (WIL)
    • Careers & employability
    • Horizon Professional Development Award
    • Study abroad
    • Apply for honours year
    • Further study
    • Apply for a higher degree by research

    Higher degree by research

    • HDR home
    • Degree management
    • Progression and milestones
    • Examinations and completions
    • HDR development
    • Events and awards
    FLO
    Student System
    Compass
    Inspire
  • Support & services

    Health & wellbeing

    • Health services
    • Counselling services
    • Disability services
    • Oasis Student Community Wellbeing Centre
    • Sport & fitness
    • HDR Progression Support

    Study & learning

    • Academic advocacy
    • Studiosity online support
    • Learning Lounge
    • English language support
    • Study guides
    • Library
    • FLO Help
    • Student Learning Support Service
    • Elite athletes study support
    • Defence reserves study support

    Other support & services

    • Indigenous student services
    • International student services
    • Careers and employability
    • Legal advice
    • Financial advocacy
    • Financial support and scholarships
    • Flinders Connect

    IT & technology

    • Student systems and software
    • Email
    • Wi-Fi (eduroam)
    • Computers and printers on campus
    • Multi-factor authentication
    View all support & services
    Ask Flinders
    Flinders Support Network
  • Uni life

    Campuses and facilities

    • Bedford Park campus
    • Tonsley campus
    • Victoria Square campus
    • Regional SA locations
    • Northern Territory campuses
    • Campus security
    • Accommodation
    • Flinders University Museum of Art (FUMA)

    Student news

    • Ping! all student newsletter
    • Empire Times Magazine
    • Student Stories

    Get involved

    • Get involved overview
    • Clubs & societies
    • Sport & fitness
    • FUSA events
    • Join the Student View Group
    • Join the student association (FUSA)
    • Become an Inspire mentor
    • Become a wellbeing ambassador
    • The Good Vibes Experiment
    • Flinders Learning Experience Conversations

    Colleges

    • College of Business, Government and Law
    • College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
    • College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
    • College of Medicine and Public Health
    • College of Nursing and Health Sciences
    • College of Science and Engineering
  • Finance & admin

    Finance and fees

    • Financial advice, emergency loans and grants
    • Scholarships
    • Fees, payments and refunds
    • Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF)
    • Domestic student financial assistance
    • International student financial assistance
    • Financial advocacy

    Admin & documents

    • Government compliance
    • My eQuals
    • Transcripts
    • AHEGS
    • Testamurs
    • Student ID cards
    • Justice of the Peace
    • Important dates
    • Policy

    Insurance

    • Student travel insurance
    • Student insurance
    Student System
    Online payments
    Ask Flinders
  • Feedback & rights

    Feedback

    • Ideas & feedback
    • Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET)
    • Success report

    My rights & policies

    • Safety on campus
    • Student policies and procedures
    • Equal opportunity & diversity
    • Work, Health and safety (WHS)

    Complaints

    • Complaints and appeals
  • flinders.edu.au
  • Staff
  • Students
  • Library
  • You have no saved courses.

    Continue to explore your course options.

     
    Explore our courses

    Your saved courses

    {{{courseName}}}
    mail_outline
    delete
    View all saved courses
  • Quick links 
    • Compass
    • Flinders dashboard (Okta)
    • Calendar and key dates
    • Ask Flinders
    • Student System
    • Flinders Learning Online (FLO)
    • Email login
    • Parking: Bedford Park
    • Campus map: Bedford Park
    • Policy library
    • Campus bus
    • Shop Flinders merchandise

 

Counselling services

Student support & services Health, counselling and disability services Counselling services


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:

 

Academic issues
  • Time management / procrastination
  • Exam anxiety
  • Presentation anxiety
  • Support for supplementary examination applications
  • Assistance with retrospective withdrawal and HECS remission applications
  • Academic planning
  • Disability accommodations
Personal issues
  • Relationship breakups
  • Low self-confidence
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Stress management
  • Problem solving / decision making
  • Managing a crisis
  • Bullying

 

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.

New client form (for those new to the service)

Book an appointment - 8201 2118 (Existing clients only)

After Hours Crisis Support Line - 1300 512 409

 

Opening hours

9am - 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.

After hours crisis support line

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:

  • emotionally distressed
  • experiencing mental health issues
  • having thoughts of self-harm.

 

cell-phone.jpg

Frequently asked questions

What is counselling?

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.

What is the counselling process at Flinders?

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.

How do I know that I won't be discriminated against?

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.

  • All of our counsellors have done LGBTIQA awareness training
  • Many of our staff are listed as members of the Ally Network
  • We have close ties to Yunggorendi, including a shared counselling/ Indigenous support role
  • Oasis, which is managed by Health, Counselling and Disability Services has chaplains available for students seeking support around their faith and spirituality
  • Recently our counsellors did training with Autism SA on better supporting the needs of students on the autism spectrum
  • Our counsellors have qualifications in psychology and social work and are highly experienced in a broad range of areas including mental health, education, cross-cultural counselling, disability, sexual diversity, drug and alcohol, trauma, sexual assault/harassment and family and relationship issues
  • Our handouts include services for students from diverse backgrounds

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.

What crisis supports can I access?

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

What if I am living, working or doing a placement outside of Adelaide?

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:

  • In the Northern Territory (Alice, Darwin, Katherine), contact EASA Counselling Services on 1800 193 123.
  • BUSH SUPPORT SERVICES 1800 805 391 Bush Support Services is a 24-hour confidential telephone support and debriefing service for multi-disciplinary remote and rural health practitioners and their families. It is staffed by qualified psychologists with remote and cross-cultural experience, is toll free and available from anywhere in Australia. For more information https://crana.org.au/support.
  • SA Regional Access 24/7 https://saregionalaccess.org.au/ At this link there is information about SA Regional Access, a 24 hour 7 day a week telehealth online counselling service that offers free professional and online counselling for anyone who live or works in regional, rural or remote South Australia or have a rural connection. You do not require a medical referral to initiate contact. This means you can access free professional counselling anywhere, at a time that is convenient to you. 
  • For Doctors and Medical Students – Doctors and medical students around Australia now have access to free, confidential telehealth mental health services through the new Drs4Drs Support Service. To access this service call 1300 374 377 (1300 DR4 DRS) or visit Drs4Drs.com.au. 
Privacy

Refer to our privacy page for how we handle your confidential information.

Chaplaincy Service at Oasis

  • The Oasis chaplaincy service is an additional support resource available for all students to enhance your study and wellbeing.
  • The chaplaincy team does not provide counselling. However, we are here to listen and journey with you
  • Each chaplain brings unique skills and abilities and has a faith background that underpins their values and beliefs
  • Chaplains can be contacted by phone and email. Or you can visit us face to face at the Oasis Student Wellbeing Centre. More information and our contact details can be found here. 
Read the blog

News

Contact us

Health, Counselling and Disability Services are located at:
Level 3, Student Services Centre (next to the Sports Centre)
Flinders University, Sturt Rd,
Bedford Park SA 5042

Office hours are open: 9am 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.

(08) 8201 2118

After Hours Crisis Support Line

counselling@flinders.edu.au

disability@flinders.edu.au

Flinders University Logo

Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042

Student help and requests

  • Glossary
  • Flinders website
  • Staff Portal

Follow Flinders

Facebook - Flinders University Twitter - Flinders University YouTube - Flinders University Instagram - Flinders University LinkedIn - Flinders University

Brand SA logo Innovative Research University logo Indigenous communities

Website feedback and requests

Disclaimer

Accessibility

Privacy

CRICOS Provider: 00114A      TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12097      TEQSA category: Australian University

Last Updated: 14 Jun 2022
Fearless Logo

This website uses cookies

Flinders University uses cookies to ensure website functionality, personalisation, and for a variety of purposes described in the website privacy statement. For details about these cookies and how to set your cookie preferences, refer to our website privacy statement.

You consent to the use of our cookies if you proceed.

Accept and continue