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Student Services

 

As an enrolled student at GOTAFE, you are entitled to access a variety of non-academic support services from the Student Services unit. These support services are funded from the compulsory non-academic student fee that is paid upon enrolment.

Student Services include:

  • careers counselling service
  • counselling service
  • disability liaison service
  • student activities including GO Week
  • student support program
  • Youth Pathways program

Staff include counsellors, disability support staff, Youth Pathway officers and student support officers. All staff are qualified and experienced in dealing with the many issues that students encounter while studying. 

 

Counselling

Sometimes life can be difficult and nothing seems to be working out. It can feel even worse when we don’t have anyone to talk to about our problems.

Counselling is the process of guiding you during a stage of life when reassessments or decisions have to be made about yourself and your life course. We are not experts in your life, but we can help you explore and open up other possibilities to do things differently or look at alternatives and options.

At GOTAFE we employ qualified Social Workers, Mental Health Practitioners and Family Therapists to provide counselling free of charge to enrolled students.

Counsellors can help you with a wide range of problems and issues. If the Counsellor cannot help you, then they will refer you to another service that can help. Counsellors are available to talk to you about:

  • Personal or family issues
  • Relationship issues
  • Grief and loss issues
  • Work related issues
  • Student or study related issues
  • Time management and goal setting
  • Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety
  • Promotion of Health and Wellbeing
  • Other issues or general concerns

Availability

This is a free service for GOTAFE students. Counsellors aim to be available on campus or by phone. If they are unable to see or talk to you immediately, please leave a message and they will get back to you at the next available time. If you have an emergency you can contact Lifeline on 131 114 (24hrs a day, 7 days per week).

Confidentiality

Whatever you say to a Counsellor remains confidential. However, if you are referred onto another service, or have been seeing another health professional and you want information to be given or received then you must provide written permission for your Counsellor or another health professional to pass on information. Please feel free to discuss issues of confidentiality with your Counsellor.

For further information contact a counsellor at your local campus on 1300 GOTAFE (1300 468 233).
 

Youth Pathways Program

The Youth Pathways Program (YPP) is for young people aged 15-19 years studying at GOTAFE. Case workers based at each campus work with you to design your own training and support plan, to help you get a job, or to do further training and education for at least 6 months.

A Youth Pathways case worker can also assist with:

  • Information on travel and accommodation to assist study
  • Referrals to external agencies
  • Career planning
  • Goal setting
  • Time management
  • Attendance issues
  • Planning for future education and training
  • Course information
  • Development of “Exit” Pathway plan from GOTAFE
  • Centrelink information

For further information contact a Youth Pathways Case Worker from your local campus on 1300 GOTAFE (1300 468 233).

 

Disability Support

GOTAFE provides a Disability Liaison Service with a Disability Liaison Coordinator (DLC) employed to provide students with disabilities with the necessary support they need to access GOTAFE courses.

When applying for courses, you are advised to contact the DLC to discuss your needs which may include:

  • assistance with your course application and enrolment
  • orientation to campus facilities
  • note takers
  • classroom support and tutorial assistance
  • adaptive technology, e.g. voice activated computer programs, ergonomic keyboards/chairs etc

The appropriate support services may take some time to set up, so it is important to let the DLC know as soon as you have been offered a place. The DLC will discuss the range of options available to best suit your needs.

To speak to the Disability Liaison Coordinator call 1300 GOTAFE (1300 468 233).

  Download the Disability Action Plan [PDF Document - 3.1MB]

 

 

Last modified by Jacqui Hoggan 06-Feb-2013