Here you will find useful information on a range of personal services to support you with your studies. As a UOW College student, you also have access to all the personal and academic support services available at the University of Wollongong. Information about these services can be located on the UOW Support Services webpage.
Academic and personal support
Personal support and wellbeing
Counselling services
The UOW College Counselling service provides confidential and professional support if you are experiencing difficulties that are impacting your mental health, wellbeing, and learning.
To make an appointment
This appointment based service is available Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm.
- call +61 2 4252 8747
- email uowcollege-studentcounsellor@uow.edu.au
Please note: this service is not a crisis service.
For 24/7 urgent mental health support
- Call Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Call the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511
- Call or text the UOW 24-Hour Student Wellbeing Support Line
In an emergency
- Always call 000
Counselling support for international students
Studying overseas can be an exciting and rewarding experience for any student let alone international students who sometimes struggle with cultural differences and other difficult life situations. In addition to the pressure of having to achieve high marks, international students may find themselves feeling lonely, isolated or homesick.
UOW International Student Programs has a range of programs, events, and activities that can connect a student with people from all over the world to local communities, societies, and clubs.
As a member of BUPA, you also have access to a 24hr telephone student support line: 1300 884 235. The advice can be provided in 180 languages, for a range of emergency situations, medical or otherwise, including:
- medical and accident assistance
- personal, home and property assistance
- general tax and legal inquiries
- trauma counselling
UOW online mental health programs and apps
If a student is not able to access a one on one counselling service with UOW or College Counselling, there is a range of UOW Counselling Online Mental Health Programs and Apps that students can access for free.
Student Advisors
UOW College has student advisors who can help you with any concerns or problems. Support provided by Student Advisors includes:
- Course progress and study pathway advice
- Assistance in resolving attendance issues
- Support and referral options to other support services
- Assist students living with a disability or medical conditions obtain an Access Plan by ways of reasonable adjustment to access support for their studies.
To make an appointment
See reception staff at Building 30, or make contact directly by telephone or via email. A Student Advisor will see students immediately in emergency situations.
Student Advisors: Greg Zaharis / Kris De Liseo
Telephone: 4252 8821 / 42528838
Email: college-advisor@uow.edu.au
Other personal support services
- Campus Buddies
- Disability Services
- Student Relations Coordinators
- Student Services Manager
- UOW College Homestay Service
- BUPA Wellness Program
The Campus Buddies program provides incoming UOW College students with exciting opportunities to meet new people, practice their conversational English, connect and engage in campus events and develop their intercultural communication skills through partnering with UOW Pulse student volunteers. Students will meet their Buddies weekly and participate in a number of different group activities and workshops to assist them with their transition into campus life, ask any questions and make new friends.
Register your interest here: volunteering@uow.edu.au
A Buddy Program Meet & Greet event is held at the beginning of each semester. All participants in the program are invited to come to this event as an opportunity to get together, socialise and meet other people involved in the program, in turn making more friends whether they are Australian or other study abroad and exchange students. All new students, including those not participating in the buddy program, will be invited to this event via email once a date and venue have been confirmed.
A range of disability services are available to ensure all individuals have an optimal study experience at UOW College.
Services include:
- Advice and support
- Assistive technology
- Note-takers
- Volunteer readers
- Advocacy
- Peer support networks
- Alternative exam arrangements, and
- Accessible parking.
For more information visit the Disability Services website or ask a UOW College Student Advisor to make an appointment for you.
Student Relations Coordinators are currently enrolled UOW students who used to study at UOW College. They coordinate free lunchtime activities and run information sessions and SOLSMail tutorials for all UOW College students – please see the monthly student activities calendar available in the Building 30 foyer and at Reception for details.
Student Relations Coordinators can also answer questions about living in Wollongong, studying at UOW College and making the transition to UOW and can direct students to support services where needed. SRCs may also be able to speak to you in languages other than English.
Student Relations Coordinators are available at lunchtime from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, usually from Tuesday to Friday. They wear a blue t-shirt and can be found by checking the activities calendar.
Oversees the College’s student services such as: Student Advisory functions, the Homestay program, student activities, student health and wellbeing initiatives and English language support in the Learning Hub. The Student Services Manager manages orientation and transition sessions for College students and is an advocate for all College students. This role also has responsibility for gathering feedback from students.
The College runs a homestay program for students requiring accommodation and who would like the experience of living with a local family. Students who stay in a UOWCA Homestay:
- experience the Australian culture first hand living with an Australian family;
- settle into their new environment more easily;
- practice English with their Australian family and friends;
- live in a safe and secure family environment with people that care about them;
- have their meals provided by their Homestay family;
- are supported by their Homestay family; and
- are placed with a family that matches their needs.
BUPA is an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) provider and runs a series of catered lunchtime information sessions as well as other initiatives centred around health and wellbeing for students. Some of the areas covered by these sessions include: sexual health, gambling and other addiction, mental health, sleeping difficulty, managing stress, surf safety, skin checks and flu vaccinations. A heavily discounted adult learns to swim program is also part of this program. BUPA also offers student policy holders with a 24 hour, 7-day Student Advice Line dedicated to help assist them with a range of emergency situations, being medically related or not. Assistance can be provided in 180 languages with a range of emergency situations, including:
- Medical and accident assistance
- Home and property assistance
- General tax and legal enquiries
- Personal safety, drug and alcohol advice