My Support and Services
Student Support Services
MHE is committed to maintaining a positive culture, providing all students with the best possible learning experience and removing barriers to effective, rewarding learning. We believe that:
- You learn best when your wellbeing is at its best, and when you feel safe.
- Supportive relationships and reasonable standards of support help you manage their wellbeing.
- Support services are delivered when needed.
- MHE policies and procedures support student wellbeing.
- Personal information is treated confidentially.
MHE recognises that students have individual physical, emotional, psychological or academic needs and that you have challenges and needs specific to your life context and background. Therefore, all MHE staff have a responsibility to help and support you or refer you to appropriate external support services when needed.
Introducing Support Services to Enrolling Students
All students are required to attend the Orientation and to become familiar with the MHE Student support services available from MHE to students. Orientation week activities and signs around the campus will inform students about the support services available.
Students may approach the Student Support Officer at any time during business hours to discuss their needs. The cost of student support is included in the MHE student fees unless clearly stated at Orientation and in the Student Handbook.
Special Needs for Reasonable Adjustment
Any student with special needs must explain their need, and give supporting evidence of the need, to the Student Support Officer as soon as possible. MHE will arrange appropriate assistance, including assisting with enrolment, accessing course advice, studying, completing assessments and exams and accessing results. All staff involved will respect and maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and respect the student’s privacy at all times.
MHE will take all reasonable action necessary to adjust classes and learning materials for students with special needs, including but not limited to:
- Auslan interpreters
- Supervisors and scribes
- Modifying the physical campus
- Changing font sizes in presentations
- Adjustments to presentation medium
- Assistive technology
Note: reasonable adjustment is not designed to give the student who receives it an unfair advantage. The knowledge, standards, outcomes and assessment results required to complete a unit successfully are the same for all students.
Academic Skills and English Language Support
Academic staff will be available for academic support related to a specific unit. In the first lecture or tutorial each semester, academic staff will inform students of the regular day(s) and time(s) of their availability, which will normally be a minimum of two hours per week.
Students may apply to the Academic Skills Advisor (ASA) to participate in:
- English for Academic Purposes – workshops and seminars for students to improve their English.
- English Discussion Groups – weekly casual discussions during trimesters. You can come and learn about Australian culture, customs, etiquette and history while sharing about your homeland, make friends with classmates and get confident in speaking English socially.
- Numeracy support – The Academic Skills Advisor can also aid in numeracy for students who need it.
- Assessment techniques (e.g., report writing, essay writing, presenting).
- Study skills (e.g. time management, research, referencing).
Note: MHE cannot provide general English classes. The Academic Skills Advisor can refer a student to an English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) provider or a Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) provider, which will have to be reported to the Department of Home Affairs with implications for a student’s visa.
Indigenous Students Support
MHE takes its responsibility to “close the gap” in terms of Indigenous higher education seriously. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have been identified as under-represented students that are specifically identified in Australian higher education policy. MHE adopts a culturally sensitive and inclusive approach to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and fosters equity in education.
MHE plans to engage with local Aboriginal communities to understand their educational priorities and aspirations and to build relationships and partnerships. MHE intends to collaborate with local Indigenous organisations, community groups, and elders to build trust and create pathways for Indigenous access to higher education. MHE will operate in a culturally appropriate and respectful manner.
MHE will encourage tailored Student Support Plans, developed by the Academic Skills Advisor, Student Support Officer and the student. MHE is cognisant that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island students may have specific needs related to their cultural background and/or history of social disadvantage that may adversely impact on their participation/engagement and consequently, their completion.
MHE recognises the importance of cultural respect, self-determination, genuine partnership, cultural safety, inclusivity, and ongoing support. MHE will be an environment where Indigenous students can thrive academically and personally. MHE will collect data on the recruitment and retention of Indigenous students to assess the effectiveness of our strategies and identify areas for improvement.
Counselling Services
The Student Support Officer can provide informal counselling. All staff are aware of the symptoms and are willing to have a non-judgemental, confidential discussion, when necessary, on issues such as:
- Conflict resolution and interpersonal relationships
- Stress and anxiety management
- Mental illness support
- Building self-confidence
- Support for victims of bullying or harassment
- Emotional recovery from critical incidents
MHE can refer students to free or paid psychological services.
Review of Study Arrangements
In cases of severe hardship or trauma, students may apply in writing to the Dean for a Review of Study Arrangements, which may include a deferment of their assessments, a temporary or permanent reduction of study load or a leave of absence. Such an application must include a clear, brief description of the cause of the hardship, how it affects the student and relevant documentary evidence, e.g., medical certificates, statutory declarations.
Technology support
MHE is equipped for the future. Study at MHE will prepare you for the rapidly advancing environment. You will gain the edge with our state-of-the-art resources, such as:
- Learning Management System (LMS) – You will get a password for the LMS before your first class. Then you will be able to log in from any computer or device anywhere. You will get training in the LMS during Orientation. The Librarian can always help with it.
- Library computers – You can use the computers in the library for any purpose related to study. They have all the software you will need to use in your course and to complete assessments. The librarian can help you use them.Library computers – You can use the computers in the library for any purpose related to study. They have all the software you will need to use in your course and to complete assessments. The librarian can help you use them.
- IT Support – The MHE campus has free wi-fi. You can call the SSO or Libarian for help with your own laptop, tablet or device if you are using it for activities directly related to your study.
- EBSCO – EBSCO is a huge online database of useful, up-to-date research materials. It is free of charge for all students on the computers in the library. The Academic Skills Advisor or the Librarian can help you take advantage of EBSCO.
MHE’s assessments include video presentations. You can ask the Academic Skills Advisor for guidance on using software for producing, editing and uploading videos.
Job Searching
A student visa lets you work up to forty-eight hours per fortnight during trimesters. There is no limit in the breaks between trimesters.
The Orientation session will include an overview of how to find casual work, including the best websites and other methods of finding available jobs. The Student Support Officer can help with skills such as writing cover letters and CVs.
External Support
The Student Support Officer will help you organise or book referrals to external support services, including but not limited to:
Legal Services:
- Student visas – Department of Home Affairs https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500
- Taxation assistance, including applying for a Tax File Number – Australian Taxation Office https://www.ato.gov.au/
- Your employment rights – The Fair Work Ombudsman https://www.fairwork.gov.au/
- My Legal Mate (a free legal resource designed by the NSW State Government specifically for international students), My Legal Mate – Study NSW.
- International Student Ombudsman – email ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.au or call 1300 362 072
- Your consumer rights – Fair Trading https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/
- For housing, health, medical, legal or financial support, https://askizzy.org.au/
Financial assistance:
Medical Care:
- In life-threatening emergencies – call the police, ambulance and fire brigade on 000
- Doctors and clinics – the closest to the campus is https://www.myhealth.net.au/clinics/burwood-plaza/
Mental and Emotional Support
- Study Australia (provided by the Australian Federal Government) https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/life-in-australia/student-support-services
- For advice about your working rights, go to Work restrictions for student visa holders (Department of Home Affairs).
- In an acute personal crisis, you can find help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from Reach Out https://au.reachout.com/
- Lifeline – call 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Contact Information
Let us help you find the answers.
Academic Skills Advisor (ASA):
- asa@monaro.edu.au
Librarian:
- Librarian@monaro.edu.au
Student Support Officer (SSO)
- sso@monaro.edu.au
