Photo by Jessica Lewis 🦋 thepaintedsquare

UNE has reached an exciting milestone in its commitment to a more accessible and inclusive learning environment with the launch of Student Assist. This new platform centralises and streamlines the management of Study Access Plans (SAPs), making it easier for staff to understand student needs and faster for students to receive the adjustments they require.

From 28 October, the team in the Student Accessibility and Wellbeing Office (SAWO) have been supporting students to transition across to this platform. This milestone is the result of more than 12 months of careful planning, system development, and behind-the-scenes work to ensure the move to Student Assist is both seamless and sustainable for the long term.

The introduction of Student Assist brings meaningful improvements across the university, including

• More integrated systems
  Reduces duplication and ensures information flows seamlessly between teams.
• Clearer visibility of adjustments
  Academic and professional staff can easily view SAPs, recommended adjustments, and student needs through the dedicated portal.
• Simplified and consistent processes
  SAP management becomes more efficient, reducing administrative burden and helping staff focus on student support.
• Improved student experience
  Students benefit from a much easier way to request supports such as Auslan interpreting, alternative formatting, assistive technology, exam adjustments, and other disability-related services.
• Stronger compliance and reporting
  Student Assist tracks reasonable adjustments, communications, and access needs in a structured, auditable way to meet critical regulatory and compliance obligations.

SAWO will continue to support students and staff throughout the transition. If you have questions about SAPs or experience issues with the new system, please contact the team at accessinclusion@une.edu.au. More information is also available on the SAWO website.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we move toward a more streamlined and student-centred approach to accessibility at UNE.