Personal counselling and wellbeing
TAFE NSW wants you to get the most out of your learning experience, but sometimes personal matters can affect your well being and interfere with your ability to learn and complete assessments. That is why TAFE NSW offers free counselling about education and careers to current and future students.
You can arrange for an appointment with a Counsellor by phoning 131 601 (option 5, then option 2). Counselling services can be provided in one-to-one sessions on campus, and telephone or online counselling can also be arranged. Speak to our administration team about these options the time of making your appointment.
TAFE Counsellors will take the time to listen to your needs and work with you to come up with strategies to help you. You can talk confidentially about all kinds of situations knowing your privacy* will be respected. TAFE Counsellors can help you with situations and personal issues that may impact your studies such as:
- anxiety, stress and depression;
- health concerns;
- disability support;
- referral to Aboriginal education options and assistance;
- support options for students from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds;
- relationships and conflict management;
- domestic violence and other forms of abuse;
- alcohol and other drug use
- educational difficulties;
- planning goals and achieving outcomes;
- study skills;
- time management and work-life-study balance;
- goal setting;
- improving self-confidence;
- harassment and complaints;
- navigating life transitions, such as returning to the workforce;
- financial and accommodation stress;
- referrals for financial assistance (e.g. Centrelink, scholarships); and
- referrals to other services (e.g. employment, legal, medical, accommodation and financial services).
Some campuses arrange course information sessions and other group programs to assist students with career choice, study skills, exam techniques and stress management. Some campuses offer both day and evening services and have bilingual counsellors who can assist students in a number of other languages**.
TAFE Counsellors maintain networks with community and government agencies in the areas of education, health, welfare, law, disability, ethnicity, etc. These networks help the counsellors obtain information and/or make referrals for specialist assistance.
External and urgent assistance
As a student at TAFE NSW, you have the ability to access TAFE Counsellors for urgent same day assistance. However, TAFE NSW counselling services have limited hours of operation and so it is important to know who you can call in an emergency, particularly after hours. You can find out more information about this by contacting your local TAFE NSW.
For urgent matters where you are at imminent risk of harm, or for people in life-threatening situations, please call 000 to receive immediate help. Alternatively, go directly to your nearest hospital emergency department.
If you feel unsafe and need urgent assistance for a mental health issue, call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. The Mental Health Line is a state-wide, 24-hour mental health telephone access service. Anyone can use the Mental Health Line to speak with a mental health professional and be directed to care in their local area.
The Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) provides crisis counselling to people at risk of suicide, carers for someone who is suicidal and those bereaved by suicide, 24 hours per day 7 days a week across Australia.
Lifeline also offers a 24 hour telephone counselling service, which provides crisis support, and can be contacted on 13 11 14.
If you are experiencing mental health concerns, it is recommended that you seek professional help (e.g. GP, Psychologist) and not rely on the internet alone.
You can also arrange an appointment with one of our TAFE Counsellors during business hours, by phoning our administration team on 131 601 (option 5, then 2), if health concerns are impacting on your studies. TAFE Counsellors can help you to access Mental help services and also- TAFE Disability Consultants, who can assist you with support regarding educational matters.
*N.B. The TAFE NSW Counselling and Career Development Service is a free and confidential service. However, TAFE Counsellors are bound by legislative responsibility and need to provide information when requested to do so. This could apply to the following circumstances:
- if your life is in danger or at serious risk of harm;
- if someone else’s life is in danger or at serious risk of harm; and/or
- if your counsellor is required, by law, to disclose information. For example: taking action to protect a child or young person from serious harm or responding to a court subpoena (request for copies of) relevant records.
**N.B. If you need to speak with a counsellor in your own language, please notify the administration team at the time of making your appointment. You may be able to be referred to another counsellor who speaks your preferred language.