Careers and Employability delivers a comprehensive range of engaging and specialised career development education services to current students and graduates.

For staff, the Careers and Employability service works in collaboration with academics in the design, facilitation, and assessment of career development learning both in and adjacent to the curriculum including:

• development of content, activities and resources tailored to student cohort needs;
• faculty specific events and employer engagement; and
• information about the latest industry employment data and labour market projections; and support with professional experience programs.

ACU CareerHub

Careers and Employability manage the ACU CareerHub, an online portal which provides students with opportunities for employment, community engagement, work experience, volunteering, and internships. CareerHub also enables students to make an appointment for one-on-one career support, access online services and stay informed of opportunities for professional development.

Contact:
Martin Evans

National Manager, Careers and Employability

The team assists prospective and current students in finding safe and affordable housing. Through the Rental Advisory Service, we offer support on various accommodation issues, including sourcing housing from overseas, interstate, and regional locations, as well as support in resolving tenancy disputes. Students can also be referred to the free Legal Advice Service for confidential written advice.

ACU provides student accommodation in Ballarat, Canberra, and Sydney, with external provider options for campuses in Brisbane and Melbourne. We follow the ‘living and learning communities’ model, ensuring around-the-clock support for residential students.

Contact:
Simone Gallo

National Manager, Student Accommodation

ACU Medical Centres provide comprehensive preventative and episodic healthcare services expected from any regular medical centre or general practice in the community. ACU students can access highly qualified doctors and nurses for any assistance they may require to support their health during their journey at ACU, and can access these services at no out-of-pocket cost. We provide support for students, staff and the local community for the following issues:

• General medicine including chronic disease management
• Clinical placement vaccinations and screening
• Drug and alcohol-related issues
• Immunisations
• Women’s and men’s health
• Referrals
• Sexual health
• Skin checks
• Travel medicine
• Wellness support
• Preventative medicine
• Mental health support

Appointments can be booked online Medical centres – ACU student life, or via phone or walk ins to the clinics.
Centres are located on our Brisbane, Melbourne and North Sydney campuses and are open to all students.

Contact:
Renee Callender

National Practice Manager

ACU Counsellors provide a safe and supportive environment so that students can discuss concerns and develop the tools they need to build resilience and achieve their goals.  Counselling is free and confidential to ACU students who may be experiencing personal, mental health, or general wellbeing concerns that are affecting their life or study.

ACU counsellors are experienced and trained psychologists or social workers. They assist students via one-to-one counselling and through the provision of relevant resources and referral. The counsellors also offer Mental Health First Aid training for staff which educates and raises awareness about mental health and empowers people to respond appropriately. ACU Counsellors facilitate workshops for students aimed at enhancing students' mental health and wellbeing in preparation for key university events such as exams, general study and placements. Students can book appointments with a counsellor online through UniHub.

Staff can register for upcoming courses via Tools and Services.

ACU 24-Hour Mental Health Support Line

The Mental Health Support Line means students can get the support they need at any time. Staff are also encouraged to contact the service when supporting a student in distress or if they have concerns about a student’s mental health - call 1300 638 485 or text 0488 884 191.

Contact:
Kellie Maxwell

ACU's Access and Disability Service supports students who have a diagnosed medical / mental health condition, disability or significant carer responsibilities which may impact their studies. These support services are designed to enable a student to participate in education on the same basis as other students in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) through the Disability Standards for Education (2005).

Access and Disability Advisors, based upon treating professionals' assessment and recommendations, develop an individual plan (called an Education Inclusion Plan) in consultation with students to manage their studies.

Appointments with an Access and Disability Advisor can be booked online through UniHub.

Staff can view further resources and training materials under Tools and Services.

Contact:
Trevor Ianna

National Manager, Access and Disability

Sexual assault and sexual harassment are never OK. ACU takes all reports of sexual misconduct seriously. All students, staff and visitors should feel safe and respected at ACU. All incidents of sexual harm can be reported for the purpose of seeking support or requesting action from the university. All staff and students, on every campus, are expected to behave in a manner that is always respectful and inclusive. If staff see or hear of something that is not quite right, they are encouraged to speak up.

There is a network of Safety Support Officers (known as the Safety Support Network) on each campus. Safety Support Officers are a mix of academic and professional staff who have been specially trained. Their role is to directly support students who disclose that they have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, or family and domestic violence, and to connect them with further support services. Safety Support Officers also provide advice and guidance to ACU staff who are supporting a student through a disclosure.

Safeguarding and Student Safety conduct regular training opportunities for students and staff on topics including Respectful Relationships and Bystander Awareness and are happy to deliver bespoke training to suit the needs of individual groups.

Contact

Taleah Neowhouse

National Manager, Safeguarding and Student Safety

The Student Advocacy Service provides students with confidential support, information and referral on matters related to ACU's academic and procedural rules and regulations. The service assists students to navigate University policies and procedures, contributing to a culture of respect and dignity in helping students to resolve any difficulties they may encounter.

Contact:
Ozge Onder

Student Advocacy Coordinator

The Student Life team delivers vibrant programs, events and activities for students. Student Life activities encourage students to engage with each other, participate in life on campus and develop a sense of belonging to an inclusive and diverse community at ACU. The unit provides strategic and practical support for the university's national and campus-based student associations, and student clubs and societies, to foster leadership opportunities and enable student-led activities.  Initiatives include:

• Student leadership and representation. Each of our Australian campuses has a student association, presided over by a council of elected representatives. All of these student bodies fall under the umbrella of a national body called ACU National Student Association (ACUNSA). Collectively these associations provide the student voice and the officers are often called upon for student input into ACU decision making. More information and contact details.
  
  
• Clubs, societies and volunteering are vital parts of campus life and play an important role in our support of the ACU Mission. Our student-run clubs and societies are reflective of the campus culture and provide valuable insight into the interests of the student body. Beyond the social aspects of clubs and societies, participation, particularly for the office bearers, affords opportunities to develop valuable leadership skills. Similarly, through training and participation in on-campus and off-campus events, our volunteers develop skills in leadership, organisation and socialisation and provide students with an opportunity to make friends and give back to their communities.
  
  
• Campus programs, events, activities and services. Vibrant and welcoming campuses are essential elements of student wellbeing. As such they are significant contributors to student success (retention, results and employability). Events schedules reflect the diversity of the campus life and contribute to a sense of belonging, which is important for student success. The individual campus What's On newsletters, found on ACULife, provide up-to-date information.

• ACU Sport provide students with the opportunity to get involved in a range of exciting sport-focused clubs and deliver a schedule of inclusive social as well as competitive sport activities, including the prestige and competitive UniSport program. Through our Place Management team ACU’s sporting fields and facilities can be hired by staff and external stakeholders.

• The Elite Athlete and Performer Program (EAPP) is designed to give students who are top sporting or artistic performers the tools they need to achieve balance across their active and academic lives. As a founding member of the Elite Athlete Friendly University network, we support elite athletes and performers to balance the demands of their sporting and performing commitments with their academic studies. From time – to – time, athletes and performers may require flexible study arrangements to balance their high training volume, time away from study due to competitions, injury, relocation and other sporting or performing-related commitments.

• ACU Active brings together fitness facilities and expert guidance. Our boutique health clubs provide a welcoming space for staff, students and external members to pursue their fitness goals with up-to-date, evidence-based advice from exercise science qualified professionals. With affordable fortnightly memberships including unlimited access to our gyms, wellness programming and group training, ACU Active is here to help members get active, stay active and love being active.

Contact:
Jodie Beckman

National Manager, Student Life

PASS is a free, voluntary, academic support program that provides weekly small-group, peer-led study sessions for specific first-year units that are known to be difficult.

Sessions are run by PASS Leaders, who are senior ACU students who have already completed the subject and achieved a distinction grade or higher. PASS provides you with an opportunity to learn from and with your peers in a relaxed, supportive, interactive and fun environment.

During the sessions you will:

• discuss lecture content to consolidate and deepen your understanding
• develop effective strategies for learning and studying
• engage in activities that encourage active learning and improve academic performance
• have access to additional study materials specific to your course
• develop your confidence, make new friends and feel part of a learning community.

PASS commences in Week 2 and runs weekly or monthly throughout the semesters. Enrolments open on My Timetable after the first lecture for the subject, but if you find you are unable to enrol, please don’t worry - you are welcome to just turn up!  You will get the most benefit by attending PASS every session. 

Contact:
Jackie Rudd

National Manager, Transition

Connect2Uni focuses on developing a sense of belonging and an awareness of academic expectations which are key to student success at university. Starting university can be daunting and navigating your student journey in first year can be challenging, so we have a suite of programs to assist students with starting or returning to study including: Virtual Welcomes, Getting Started Day, Student Mentoring, ACU Quest, and course withdrawal advice.

Contact:

Jackie Rudd

National Manager, Transition

Orientation programs at ACU aim to provide helpful in-time advice and support to students starting at ACU. The team builds a large suite of readily accessible digital resources for pre-learning, manages the ACU orientation webpages and main orientation website, and implements the orientation days at all campuses.

Currently the Orientation team supports: Diploma programs, Undergraduate courses, Postgraduate coursework degrees, ACU Online, Foundation Studies and other courses by request.

Contact:
Jackie Rudd

National Manager, Transition