Support services 

Support services available to ANU students and ANU staff. 

Despite your efforts, there may be situations where students or you will have experienced distress during discussions. Some options you could consider include: 

• Refer to the ANU Supporting Students in Distress (Guide). 

• Remind students of ANU resources for students [link to Support services page]. 

• Ensure you communicate your availability to students who may wish to contact you. 

• Check in on any students whom you may be concerned about. This might include discretely approaching them after a tutorial or lecture during which they appeared distressed, or contacting them later by email, offering a consultation or directing them to support services. The ANU Policy: Support for students requires all staff to proactively identify students’ needs for academic and non-academic support. You can find more information in ANU resources for students [link to section] section. 

• Contact your College support staff who can offer follow-up support for individual students. More information on each college’s student support services is provided later in this guide. 

• Contact the Student Safety and Wellbeing team if you need information on how to refer a student. 

• Check in with yourself and follow up with any necessary employee wellbeing support. You can find information in the ANU resources for staff [link to section] section. 

ANU support for students 

ANU offers support services for students. See below for details: 

• 24/7 ANU Wellbeing and Support Line – Phone: 1300 050 327 or SMS: 0488 884 170 

• Academic Skills can advise students on draft assignments, study skills, research writing, strategies for assessments, and academic integrity best practice.   

• Accessibility supports ANU students with conditions or illnesses that impact their studies. Students can register for an Education Access Plan (EAP) through the Accessibility team.  

• ANU Counselling is a free, confidential, and non-diagnostic service available to all currently enrolled ANU students. 

• The Dean of Students offers confidential, impartial advice and problem resolution.  

• The ANU Student Safety and Wellbeing Team provides coordinated support, information, and referrals. They are also the first responders to identified disclosures of harmful behaviours including sexual misconduct, racism, ableism, etc. 

• ANU Harmful Disclosures tool: the university provides staff and students who have experienced harmful behaviours with the opportunity to submit an identified or de-identified disclosure for the purpose of receiving information and support.  

• ANU Students’ Union (ANUSA) Student Assistance Services can provide various free services, including wellbeing, academic support, welfare, and more.   

ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences 

• Associate Dean (Student Experience & Integrity) can provide support and advice for CASS students during their studies.  

• ANUSA CASS Representatives can help with any questions, concerns, or comments students have about their studies in CASS. Email sa.cass@anu.edu.au or contact them here. 

• The CASS Student Office provides advice on choosing the correct courses and planning a degree. 

ANU College of Law 

• The College Student and Education Support team provides support and advice for ANU College of Law students during their studies. 

• The ANU College of Law website provides a comprehensive list of all support programs and wellbeing initiatives for law students.  

ANU support for staff 

Urgent crisis support 

There is a wide range of services available across the university, the ACT, and nationally to support students’ mental and physical wellbeing. You can find a selection of services and relevant resources on the ANU Urgent support page. 

Security and 000 

When someone on campus is aware of an immediate threat to the life of a person or a serious threat to property, call 000 and report the incident to ACT Policing or one of the emergency services. Following that, report the incident to ANU Security on (02) 6125 2249. 

Guidance 

The Supporting Students in Distress (Guide) is designed to assist staff in providing information on the support channels available to students in distress. It includes information about the impact that supporting a student can have on you, and who you can talk to. 

Inclusive Communities including the Respectful Relationships Unit. 

Managing your own wellbeing   

It is important to acknowledge that challenging discussions can be highly distressing for staff as well as students. This may be a result of the topics under discussion, or of the reactions and responses of students. 

The University offers free and confidential services you can access if you need to debrief or just have a chat about your own wellbeing. You are encouraged to contact the available support services below.  

• The Employee Assistance Program is a free counselling and advice service for ANU staff and immediate families. There are two support options: 

• Assure provides up to 4 appointments per year in person, via phone, email or Skype. It has a 24hr crisis hotline. 

• Relationships Australia is available for up to 4 appointments per year in person or over the phone. 

• The ANU Adviser to Staff provides counselling and advice to staff on campus dealing with personal or work-related issues. Appointments can be made during business hours. 

• If you have experienced discrimination as a result of the discussion, the Staff Respect Consultant is available for confidential appointments to raise workplace issues and (if appropriate) be referred to areas responsible for management or resolution, including misconduct. You can choose to remain anonymous when you call. 

• Injury Management provides access to a number of services including early intervention assistance. 

• Respectful Relationships Unit provides consultation support and education in Understanding Sexual Violence, Bystander Intervention, and LGBTIQA+ Ally. They can also support teaching staff to build restorative dialogues into their practice after conflict. 

You might also consider attending Mental Health First Aid training. You will learn the signs and symptoms of mental health problems, where and how to get help and the help that has proven to be effective.