There’s no doubt that the situation in a number of major cities in Australia and abroad right now is really tough, with many of our students who are parents now supporting their children through remote learning, study has become more challenging to keep on top of and many different aspects of our day now all happen within the home. Many of our students may also be experiencing loneliness or struggling with motivation. We are here to help you navigate this difficult time.

Ensuring your wellbeing during this time starts with you, we’d like you to ask yourselves the following questions, so we can help you make the best decisions for your unique situation right now:

1. SELF CHECK – Is my current study load working for me?

This coming Monday 19^th of July is Census Date, Census Date just refers to the last date to withdraw from a unit without paying the fee for it.

It’s a good time to step back and consider how you’re feeling about your studies so far. You may have already had an assessment or two by this point, or have experienced changes such as increased work hours, a big change to home schooling, family responsibilities or ill health, all of which can impact on the amount of time and energy you’re able to devote to your studies.

If you’ve fallen behind in one or more of your units over the last few weeks, you may want to evaluate whether you have enough time available to you each week to comfortably catch up in those subjects in order to demonstrate your true capabilities for the trimester. As a guide, UNE recommends that you spend 12-15 hours per week, per unit, on your study (this includes time spent doing readings, watching lectures, conducting research, working on assessments or study notes etc). You might like to use our helpful time management tool to work out how many hours you have spare for study each week.

You should also have a better understanding of the requirements of your subject/s by this point. If you’re finding a particular subject more challenging than you’d anticipated and feel you might need some additional support, it’s a good idea to get in contact with your Unit Coordinator or the Student Support Team to discuss the options available to you!

For a more comprehensive overview of census date see our last blog at https://blog.une.edu.au/studentexperience/2021/07/12/check-up-week-census-date-is-19th-july-a-guide/.

2. MAKE A DECISION BEFORE MONDAY 19^th JULY – What would you like to amend or request to continue at a pace you feel is healthy at this time?

As much as we wish we had the answers, you’re going to need to make a call based on your unique circumstances.

If you don’t think you’ll be able to catch up or keep up in a unit, or you feel that taking a break for the trimester would be best for your personal circumstances, then it is important to complete the withdrawal process before 11:59pm on Monday 19th June.

You can book a call from a Student Advisor here but please keep in mind these bookings may not be available until after census date so it’s best to make a decision for this trimester over this weekend by weighing up whats best for you.

3. COMPLETE RELEVANT FORMS OR COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR UNIT COORDINATOR BEFORE MONDAY 19^th JULY BASED ON THE BELOW:

>IF AMENDING YOUR STUDY LOAD, COMPLETE ONLINE FORMS BEFORE MONDAY 19^th JULY – Withdraw or amend your unit enrolment, then fill in either a deferral or intermission form.

Basically, if you need to lighten your study load or if you have decided to take the trimester off for any reason, as long as you withdraw from your unit/s before 11:59pm on the 19th July then you will not be charged for the unit/s.

If you are a new student (commencing trimester 2, 2021) you’ll need to complete a deferral form once you’ve withdrawn from your units.

If you are a continuing student, commenced trimester 1 2021, or prior, you’ll need to complete an intermission form once you’ve withdrawn from your units.

 

>IF CONTINUING, CHECK-IN WITH YOUR UNIT COORDINATOR ON YOUR SITUATION – If you decide to continue, please check in with your Unit Coordinator and make them aware of any challenges your facing with getting through your studies.

From there, your unit Coordinator will be able to suggest options which may be possible to ensure your make your way through your studies.

 

4. SELF CHECK – Am I coping?

If you’re feeling like you’d like to receive some support to cope with the situation, we have a wonderful team of counsellors and a range of self-help resources you can access as a UNE student:

Counselling

Current students (on-campus or online) can access free and confidential UNE student Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS). We offer phone, or zoom online appointments.

At your first contact you will be offered a 30 minute Wellness Check-in. During this appointment a staff member will discuss with you your current needs (ie., counselling, Student Accessibility and Wellbeing, academic support etc) and work out a plan to support you, which may include referral to other services. If we decide that your needs are best met by counselling support this can be discussed.

Study Gym Session – Or you may want a ‘study gym’ session. Let the counsellor be your ‘personal trainer’ to help boost your confidence, overcome exam or presentation anxiety, manage your time, avoid procrastination, and improve your concentration and memory for effective exam revision. Please contact our reception on 02 6773 2897 to make a study gym appointment.

To book an appointment you can:

Call our reception on +61267732897 or email studentcounselling@une.edu.au

Counselling during office hours (Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm)

 

URGENT HELP

If you are seeking counselling for an urgent matter, the counsellors will endeavour to see or speak with you on the day if your call is made in office hours.

Phone 02 6773 2897.

If this is not possible or if a matter arises outside our normal office hours then the following contacts may be of assistance.

UNE After Hours Crisis Support Line

• • • • Weekdays 4.00pm to 9.00am AEST. Weekends and Public Holidays
      • Phone: 1300 661 927
      • Text: 0488 884 169

National support contacts

• • • • Ambulance: 000
      • Police: 000
      • Lifeline (24 hrs): 13 11 14
      • Suicide Prevention & Crisis Intervention (24hrs)   1300 363 622
      • Kids Help Line (under 25yrs) on 1800 55 1800
      • Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467
      • Grief Support (24 hr assistance) on (02) 9489 6644 or 1800 642 066
      • Domestic Violence Crisis Line (emergency accommodation, crisis counselling, & referral) on 1800 656 463
      • 1800-RESPECT : 1800 737 732
      • Head to Health – Australian Government Department of Health website which lists national and state mental health crisis service details

NSW support contacts

• • • • NSW Rape Crisis Centre: 1800 424 017
      • NSW Mental Health Line: 24 hr service (to connect you with the right care) 1800 011 511
      • Alcohol and Drug Information Service (24 hour assistance) on (02) 9361 8000

Armidale support contacts

• • • • Call 000 for Emergencies
      • Armidale Police Station (02) 6771 0699
      • Armidale Sexual Assault Service (02) 6776 9655 (BH)  (02) 6776 9500 (AH)
      • UNE Safety & Security (24hrs)    (02) 6773 2099
      • Armidale Hospital 24 hr Accident & Emergency   (02) 6776 9622

 

5. ENGAGE WITH US WHEN YOU ARE FEELING STUCK – one of the most important things to as a student to ensure you stay on track is engage with us and ask us!

If you’re stuck on a particular assessment instruction, learning content, lecture, accessing resources either in Moodle or on the library website, please ASK US.

• • • • Post in your forums questions to your Unit Coordinators as there is a huge change other students may benefit from the same guidance
      • Connect with your peers in the forums about the week’s content and tasks
      • Contact our Library if you need support to access or locate library resources
      • Submit an ASKUNE query if you’re in need of help with enrolment, progression
      • Contact our Academic Skills Office if you need support with academic writing, you can also access referencing tip sheets as well as writing and time management tip sheets
      • If you have a medical condition which makes study challenging for you, please contact our Accessibility and Wellbeing Team to request a study access plan
      • Book a ‘study gym’ session with our counsellors to access support to manage your time and general navigation of your studies throughout the trimester.
      • If you’re having troubles with technology, give our IT Service Desk a call on 02 6773 5000

 

We have so much support available here at UNE, we simply need you to put your hand up and let us know when things are tough.

 

Stay safe and take care.