Here to help you!
The staff at the Counselling Service are here to help university staff in your work teaching and assisting students. We provide a confidential consultation service for all Victoria staff in regards to student welfare and development either by email, over the phone or in person.
Concerns about students
Counsellors are very happy to talk confidentially with staff about any issue or concern involving a student. You may simply want to refer a student to our service or you may need to talk through a complex dilemma involving the health or welfare of a student. Contact us for more information.
We are happy for staff to refer students to our service and in many cases it is helpful for students contemplating seeking help to be encouraged or supported in this by a staff member or fellow student.
Healthy Minds at Vic
Healthy Minds at Vic is one of the initiatives within the Healthy Campus Strategy which aims to support the mental, physical, spiritual and social wellbeing of staff and students at Victoria. During 2011 the Counselling Service is focussing on positive approaches to the mental wellbeing of students and staff.
Healthy Minds at Vic - Mental health awareness training for staff supporting students
Members of our community will at times experience distress that can lead to serious academic and personal crises, mental ill health and thoughts of suicide. Mental health awareness training will help you recognise the factors that place a student at risk, identify who may be risk, and teach strategies to intervene early. It will outline processes for dealing with critical or challenging situations along with identifying the various resources available to students and staff.
Mental health awareness training will help you to assist someone with mental health concerns before they get professional help.
Just doing our Job - a staff guide to supporting students at Victoria
This guide suggests ways for staff to help students who need support and details the various support services available at Vic.
Staff Support Team
The University has a Support Team of University staff in place to ensure that members of the University community are appropriately supported in these circumstances. Although every incident is different and requires a unique response, everyone involved maybe affected in some way. Early appropriate support can minimise ongoing stress reactions. The Staff Support Team is additional to counselling support available through the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
If you are worried about a staff member you can also contact the University's Staff Support Team (phone Campus Safety Coordinator on 463 6053 or Occupational Health Nurse 463 6845).
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
All permanent employees can self refer for 3 free confidential sessions of counselling for any issue that is impacting on their work.