We have a wide variety of support services, programs and resources for students
We also have a range of hints and tips to help you recognise if your student is in distress, and to assist them with issues such as homesickness, illness and other difficulties. We can also provide support to students with disabilities or from diverse backgrounds, and in particular for those who are first in their family to attend university.
Explore the options below.
Support services
The University offers an array of student support services, covering:
- health, counselling and wellbeing
- study support
- career planning
- financial support
- disability and accessibility support
- equity and diversity.
You can explore the full range of services available at the student support website.
Recognising a student in distress
While parents, partners, friends and family of students wish them to succeed, students may find it difficult adjusting to university life. Distressed students may actively seek help from you, their social network or the university, but at other times they may need you to reach out to them. Your student may be in distress if they:
- lack direction in what they want to do at university
- are socially disconnected from the university. For example, don’t know their peers
- lack interest in their course or positivity when they achieve academically
- are unwilling to discuss their university experience, program or courses
- don’t attend classes regularly and/or don’t complete assignments
- decline support and assistance from you or from within the university
- don’t attend examinations
- fail to re-enrol for the next trimester
- fail to balance university study, paid employment and socialising
- engage in negative self-talk, such as negative comments about their performance or traits
- isolate themselves from friends, family, and classmates
- experience feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
- experience issues or life stressors outside university.
Helping a student in distress
Talk in private, listen to their concerns
There may be various reasons for your student’s distress and it’s often helpful for them to express their concerns. You don’t have to offer solutions, but you could suggest they seek help from university support services. You can also suggest they speak to their tutors, lecturers or peers, especially if they are distancing themselves from you. Remind them there are people to help all around Griffith and someone can point them in the right direction for help.
Don't interfere or offer unwanted advice
This is a period when they can attempt to improve many situations independently. Let them know they have your support, even if their decision is not the one you would have made.
Be kind with your student and with yourself
Be prepared to make fewer demands of your student in regards to housework, family events and activities during times of distress, including exam times or when assignments are due. Also, keep calm when your student is distressed. If you keep calm, they’ll feel at ease.
Student support is available
If you are really concerned about your student, please contact the university. While we can’t discuss an individual student's situation without their permission, we can contact the student and offer support. We can’t guarantee they’ll accept our support, but we’ll make them aware of support options available. Students have a legal right to access any information the University holds about them, which means we can’t guarantee anything you say to us will be 100% confidential. Please explore the links above for specific student support services.
Difficult news from home
If your student is living away from home while they study, there’s a chance family difficulties such as serious illness or accidents may arise while they’re away. Many parents or partners instinctively try to protect their student by keeping difficult news from them, thinking the news might impact their studies or ability to do well. However, students can become concerned or anxious if they discover important news about their family or community has been kept from them. They could become distressed or feel sad for not being involved in these events.
Anxiety could continue as they wonder what else might be kept from them. We encourage you to be open and share difficult information with your student, as this is usually the best approach in the long term. Your student can access counselling to help them process difficult news, and the University has policies that allow students time away from their studies to deal with personal or family difficulties if need be.
Assistance with illness and other difficulties
If students get sick, feel unwell or experience personal or family difficulties, they should get in touch with their lecturer, tutor, Student Connect or Health Counselling and Wellbeing as soon as possible so arrangements can be made. Further information for students about what they can do if they’re unable to complete assessments or sit an exam can be found on our assessment, exams and grades site.
Assistance for students with disabilities
We offer a range of support students with disabilities. Indicating a disability when enrolling online will not automatically entitle a student to specialised support. Students who require assistance and specialised services should make early contact with our Disabilities Service Officers.
Assistance with homesickness
Starting university is a major transition and feeling homesick is normal. If your student experiences homesickness, listen to them, allow them to express their concerns, reassure them that it’s normal to feel this way and that it will pass. Encourage them to get involved in university activities, cultural events and sports clubs to help make new connections and become more settled. You can also encourage them to talk to you, a friend, fellow students or our counselling service to help them work through their homesickness.
Join a club or society
Students can sign up to various clubs and societies throughout the trimester. View our clubs and societies site to check out the types available.
Join in orientation activities
Students are encouraged to take part in as many activities as possible during Orientation Week.
Play sport
Getting involved in a sport is a great way to make new friends and keep active. Students can use our facilities, play sport socially or join a sports club. Check out the options on our sport site.
Connect online
Joining online communities are an easy way for students to connect with others who share their interests. Some schools and programs have Facebook groups specifically for first-year students to connect and share thoughts and ideas.
Get a part-time job
Working part time is a great way for students to meet new people, make new connections and gain experience, not to mention earn extra money. Our CareerHub advertises job openings and has a range of helpful resources for students looking for work.
Join or make a study group
Some students find they learn best studying together in a group. These groups are usually formed throughout the trimester, and getting involved can be an easy way students can connect with peers in their courses.
Help for difficulty socialising
If your student is having trouble making new friends and settling into university life, encourage them to participate in university activities. Remind them that making connections can take some time, but meeting and mingling with like-minded people will help them quickly make connections and perhaps even create friendships that last a lifetime.
The following are just some ways your student may connect with others at Griffith.