We’re a few weeks into semester one now at the University of Newcastle (UON) and by now most of us will be working hard away at our through multiple assessments, which can often feel like a lot at once and overwhelming.

As someone who’s been studying here for almost five years now, I’m still caught by surprise every time. In my five years at the university, I’ve utilised various support services offered by the university some of which you may or may not be aware of and I would like to share some of them with you today.

Peer Assisted Study Sessions

Have you ever felt like you’re just not getting it? You listen to your lecturer, your tutor, you do the course readings, you make notes, ask questions but still find yourself confused? Then you want to see if a Peer Assisted Study Sessions or  PASS is offered for that subject.

PASS is an hour-long optional series of study sessions offered to students in certain courses, providing you with the opportunity to review weekly course materials, concepts, and assessments with other students.

The university says one PASS session is equivalent to three hours of solo study. Having used PASS in the past myself for ENGL1000 Reading English Literature, personally I think that’s underselling them. The class discussions, the brainstorming, the extra time to go over what the heck was happening in Beowulf, and going through what was needed of our first assessment step by step, I all found invaluable.

I asked a former PASS leader Lili Carter how she thought PASS helped students and she answered, “Tutorials and Lectures can be such an intimidating spaces to speak your point and bounce ideas off others… each session is completely adaptable and can be for whatever students need assistance with.”

Find out more about PASS here.

On Campus Medical Centres

Finding a bulk billing doctor these days is difficult and out of pocket costs for just a doctor’s consultation are not cheap. Especially on a full time student’s earnings.

Thankfully at the University’s medical centres all you need is your medicare card at the ready as all consultations will be bulk billed. If you’re an international student, check your eligibility with the university or your health insurance provider.

Appointments at these centres do require a booking unless urgent, and last for about 15 minutes.

To learn more or book an appointment visit the link here.

 Counseling Services

As a student I’ve certainly had my fair share of struggles. In 2021, I failed a subject that was quite important to me and my degree. It was so devastating and left me so lost I didn’t enrol in the following semester. 

It took a lot of time and work but one of the things that helped me find my feet again was the UON counseling services.

At the time I didn’t even want to step onto university grounds but luckily I didn’t have to thanks to their phone and zoom appointments. I took a zoom appointment and while it didn’t fix things right away talking to a professional, getting all my thoughts out, knowing the options available to me, it helped.

UON counseling is staffed by professional counselors and they don’t just offer personal counseling either. If you need help drawing up a budget, or want someone to help overlook your resume, they have specialists in financial and career counseling who can help you.

I reached out to Dr Emma Kerr, a clinical psychologist who works as part of the UON counseling team and asked her what she might say to a student who’s nervous about using the service.

She answered “Everyone will go through ups and downs in life, including during your university degree. Reaching out for support can help you navigate the difficult times – because you matter, and you don’t have to do it alone.”

Check out these links on the UON website for more information:

Personal Counselling

Financial Counselling

Career Counselling

Accessibility

If you have a temporary or permanent disability you don’t have to carry that burden alone. 

In fact not registering with Accessibility day one, may be my biggest regret in my time spent at the university. As someone with autism, I don’t experience the world the way others do, I’m easily overwhelmed by certain noises, consistently misinterpret social cues, and often find myself in complete disarray when my routine changes.

Though I’ve adopted some strategies over the years to help myself cope, they aren’t always a   perfect solution. Sometimes my disability does have adverse effects on my study that are beyond my control. Now with Accessibility I don’t have to shoulder that burden alone and can call on extra support when I need it.

When I registered with Accessibility last year, I was given a Reasonable Adjustment Plan and access to other support services which have really made a meaningful difference to my study.

Accessibility can offer students (on an individual needs basis), a reasonable adjustment plan, interpreters, exam support, mobility services, and much more.

Accessibility also offers supports to the primary Carer of someone with a disability.

To find out more about all things Accessibility click here.

 Adverse Circumstances

We all try to juggle all the various aspects of our lives. Study, work, friends, family etc. Then sometimes you’re given another thing to juggle or the wind changes direction and suddenly things start to get away from us. Like an upcoming test or assignment deadline for example.

It certainly did for me during the pandemic when I heard my grandfather had passed away in the night.

All of us suffered during the pandemic locked inside our homes. We lost time, opportunities, and family. In person birthday parties became zoom meetings, many jobs and internships went up in smoke, and funeral numbers strictly limited.

Covid-19 affected all of us and the University saw that being extra flexible with the Adverse Circumstances system.

Adverse Circumstances allows you to submit for an extension or reschedule an assessment under certain conditions, health, trauma, hardship etc.

The system changed this year to give course coordinators more autonomy in the approval process.

To request extra time for a quiz, in class test or assessment login into the Adverse Circumstances system in ServiceNow here. Click on assessment extensions, select the course and assessment you want an extension for, the amount of extra time you want, the reason you require the extension, and attach any supporting documents.

For more information about Adverse circumstances click here.

Campus Security

Feeling and being safe is the most important thing for everyone on every Campus.

That’s why the University has a security team on campus 24/7, 365 days a year.

Some of the services security provides includes an after dark safe walk, after hours shuttle bus, and regular ground patrols.

Campus securities’ number is 02 4921 5888 and is worth saving as a favourite contact in your phone just in case. You can also reach campus security at any of the Security Help points however please ring 000 in the event of an emergency.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have never needed to call on security before but seeing their presence on campus and the frequent security checkpoints has allowed me to always feel safe on campus even as I study late into the night.

For additional information click here.

AskUON

Do you have a question about enrollment, your program, one of the Universities’ services, or something else and you’re not sure who to ask? Then AskUON.

I’ve used AskUON so many times. Whether it be asking them to connect me with other university services, what’s happening with course enrollment, or how to set up a program plan, I’m sure they’re sick of hearing from me.

AskUON is an online platform linked to your student account that allows you to submit a question and get referred to or connected with relevant parties who will then answer you.

The platform also allows you to search through some of the already answered questions other students may have asked such as how to obtain a student Opal card or how to enrol.

Check out and ask AskUON your burning questions here.

There are also plenty of other services the university offers to support student’s studies. We also have several social clubs on campus from everything from, religious and cultural  groups, to sporting groups, and common interest groups. Feel free to check out what’s available here.

Have you spoken with any of these supports before? How’d you find them? Please drop your thoughts in the comments, send us an email, or shoot us a message on Instagram to let us know.

Feature Image by John Thomas