Psychology & Wellness service
Psychology & Wellness provides confidential, short-term psychological counselling to currently enrolled students, as well as a range of workshops and digital self-help resources.
We’re here to support your mental health and wellbeing
ʹڲƱ Psychology & Wellness offers free, confidential, short-term counselling and wellbeing services for all currently enrolled students.Our qualified mental health professionals are here to support you through challenges, promote wellbeing, and help you connect with the right services.
Services offered
- Brief therapeutic interventions
- Counselling (telehealth and face-to-face
- Workshops and programs
- Self-help resources and digital tools
Our counsellors speak a variety of languages and come from diverse professional backgrounds.
What we can help with
We support a wide range of mental health and wellbeing concerns, including but not limited to:
- Low mood, stress & anxiety
- Body image and disordered eating
- Relationship issues and adjustment
- Substance use, gambling, and internet concerns
- Trauma, sexual assault and domestic violence
- Adjusting to new environments (university life, moving abroad, relocating within Australia, etc.)
See also
Our counsellors are a unique multidisciplinary team of accredited mental health professionals and speak a variety of languages.
One-on-one or group counselling offers a safe, confidential and supportive space to help you share and explore your problems and gain insight into your feelings, thoughts and behaviours.
🕝 Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.
For after hours support, call 02 9385 5418.
📍 Location: (enter via Basser (Rainbow) steps).
📧 Email:counselling@unsw.edu.au
First time with us?
Submit a form to get started and a clinician will contact you to assess your needs.
Returning client?
If you've seen us in the last 6 months, you can book or update your appointment.
Are you or someone you know experiencing gendered violence?
Help is available for you and fellow students if you have been affected by, witnessed, or are supporting someone experiencing ,relationship violence,ǰ.
The Gendered Violence Response Team (GVRT), made up of specialist mental health clinicians, can offer support, information, safety planning, or simply have an informal chat about your options. They can connect you with services for academic adjustments and provide guidance on reporting incidents. You can also report anonymously using the Gendered Violence portal.
There's many ways you can access mental health support. Whether you feel like you're going through a crisis or just feeling stressed, take the first step towards helping yourself by reaching out.
Support for ADFA / Canberra students
If you're an ADFA or Canberra student in need of mental health support, please visit the .
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Before your session, you’ll need to complete a brief registration. This takes about 15–20 minutes and includes a short questionnaire. You can do this over the phone or in person.
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Your counsellor will help you assess your situation and suggest options such as:
Self-help resources
Ongoing counselling or therapy
Referrals to specialists or ʹڲƱ staff
A Mental Health Care Plan via your GP
You’ll explore these options together to decide what suits you best.
How sessions work
Each consultation is considered complete on its own. Your counsellor will focus on what matters most to you, helping you clarify priorities and explore next steps.
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Follow-up sessions may be offered based on your needs.These could be in-person or via telehealth.
During follow-ups, you and your counsellor will review any changes since your last session and decide if ongoing support or a referral to other services is needed.
Appointments are usually 30 or 50 minutes and scheduled as needed, one at a time.
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Telehealth sessions are by phone or video. For phone appointments, you'll receive a call from a “No caller ID” at the scheduled time. For video sessions, log in to the ʹڲƱ Health & Wellbeing Student Portal to access your Zoom link.
Confidentiality is maintained just as in face-to-face sessions. You can discuss any concerns with your psychologist.
To get the most out of your session:
Be on time and available.
Choose a private space where you can speak freely.
Avoid having others present (exceptions may apply for young children).
Do not record sessions without mutual, informed consent.
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Is there a cost?
Psychology & Wellness services are free for students, no out-of-pocket costs. Just bring a valid Medicare or OSHC card. You may need a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP for ongoing sessions. .
How do I get a Mental Health Care Plan?
Book a longer consultation with your GP or visit the University Health Service to get an MHCP.
What if I can’t get a plan or use up my sessions?
Care won’t be denied due to Medicare or OSHC limits. Support is based on your clinical needs.
What should I bring?
Give your MHCP to your psychologist in person or send it via email to counselling@unsw.edu.au or have your GP fax it to (02) 9385 6115.
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If you can’t make your appointment, please let us know as early as possible so we can offer the slot to another student. Missed or late cancellations may reduce your access to future sessions.
We’ll send a text reminder the day before. If needed, in-person sessions can be switched to Telehealth on the day.
Please note: if you’re more than 15 minutes late, your appointment may be given to someone else.
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At Psychology & Wellness, your privacy is a priority. We take confidentiality seriously and will not share any information about you without your consent, except in situations where there is a risk to your safety or the safety of others.
We encourage you to speak with your counsellor during your appointment if you have any questions about our privacy practices.
Before your consultation, please take a moment to read this information to understand your rights, and the limits around privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent.
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Privacy Legislation at both State and federal levels protects personal information collected and held by health agencies. This legislation applies to Psychology and Wellness. All counsellors who work at Psychology and Wellness offered at ʹڲƱ Sydney are registered psychologists or are intern psychologists with provisional registration. Counsellors working with Psychology and Wellness may also have training as a Social Worker with expertise and experience in counselling. The counsellor at Psychology and Wellness, ʹڲƱ Canberra ADFA is also counsellor with qualifications in psychology.
All psychologists are required to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency:.
Psychologists and social workers offering counselling and psychotherapy are required to maintain notes of their counselling sessions and treatment plans. Within this service we may also log and record enquiries for information or support that come to us by phone or email.
The counsellors at Psychology and Wellness work collaboratively as a team. This means if you are seeking support or documentation and your counsellor is unavailable another counsellor might be able to provide support and assistance.
Any information provided during counselling sessions is securely stored for a period of 7-10 years from the date of last contact with the service. After this time the information is disposed of using a protocol that ensures confidentiality and is in keeping with required State Government and ʹڲƱ record disposal schedules. Any individual who has used Psychology and Wellness is able to request access to their personal records. The State Health Records Act and Freedom of Information Legislation govern this access to records.
Keeping your information correct
We like to keep your details current so please notify us if you have a change of personal contact information. Our records are not linked to ʹڲƱ student records so changes of your personal details provided to ʹڲƱ are not updated on to Psychology and Wellness records. You will need to notify Psychology and Wellness separately of these changes.
Release of personal information
Psychology and Wellness may only release information to a third party external to Psychology and Wellness under certain circumstances. These circumstances include:
Initiated by the client (YOU)
You can ask/direct your counsellor or give permission to Psychology and Wellness staff to disclose information to a third party or parties on your behalf. This direction is usually in the form of a written statement signed by you.
Legal requirement to provided confidential personal information
Occasionally a legal subpoena for specific documents to be produced or for a specific counsellor to appear before the State or Federal Court.
Sometimes an over-riding legal requirement will lead to a carefully considered release of information that would normally fall into the category of personal confidential information. These circumstances would normally involve: statutory obligations, illegal or criminal activities or the prevention of harm to others, including children.
For example: when the client’s behaviour is considered, by the ʹڲƱ counsellor and/or their direct supervisor (the Psychology and Wellness Lead or Senior Counsellor), to be a danger to themselves or others a considered action based on a professional duty of care will be taken with the purpose of protection and keeping safe those that are considered to be ‘at risk’.
Child/children at risk
Counsellors are also required to notify the relevant authorities if they are made aware of any child or children at risk of harm.
Release of personal information for other purposes (e.g. discontinuation from a course or special consideration)
To release information about you on your behalf we normally require a written request. There is a special form for this purpose that your counsellor will ask you to complete and sign.
An email request may be adequate especially if you have made such an arrangement with your counsellor.
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Join the Weekly Rolling Group
Looking for connection, support and a space to grow? The Rolling Group at ʹڲƱ Psychology and Wellness offers a fun and interactive group experience led by our mental health clinicians. Guided by principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), each session explores topics like managing change, low mood, anxiety, and relationship challenges, helping you build skills to live a more fulfilling life.
You’ll participate in short educational segments, group discussions, and experiential activities designed to help you learn from others and reflect on your own journey.
Before joining, you’ll need to meet with one of our clinicians to make sure the program is the right fit. After that, you’ll receive everything you need to get started.
If you have any questions, reach out at counselling@unsw.edu.au or call 9385 5418.
Support & resources
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Counselling is a safe and supportive space to talk with a qualified professional about your concerns. It helps you reflect, gain clarity, explore options, and develop strategies to manage challenges in your life, study or relationships. Counsellors work with your values and support your goals in a non-judgemental way.
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Yes. You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit. Counselling offers a confidential space to explore emotions, gain new perspectives and feel supported. Many students find it helpful for issues like stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, low confidence, and life transitions.
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If needed, the counsellor can refer you to more specialised or intensive support services, including GPs or external providers.
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No. Seeking help shows strength and self-awareness. Counsellors can help with a wide range of emotional challenges, and will refer you to appropriate medical support if necessary.
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You can say as much or as little as you like. Counsellors will support you at your own pace and help you express your thoughts and feelings.
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Counsellors help you make your own decisions. They may offer suggestions or feedback, but they aim to support your self-discovery and autonomy.
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No. Counsellors are trained to listen without judgement and treat all concerns with care and respect.
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Not at all. Asking for help is a sign of strength and courage. Everyone needs support at times—seeking it is the first step toward resolution and growth.
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Yes. Counsellors follow strict confidentiality rules. Exceptions apply only when there’s a risk of harm. If you're unsure, you can ask about confidentiality in your session.
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Yes, you can request your preference when booking. Availability may vary.
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They are accredited mental health professionals with experience supporting students.
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No. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who prescribe medication. Counsellors and psychologists offer talk-based, evidence-informed support and may refer you for medical care if needed.
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Most students attend 1–3 sessions. Some return as needed throughout their studies. The number of sessions depends on your individual needs and goals.
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- Respectful, professional support
- Clear explanation of services and confidentiality
- Free counselling and group programs
- Support tailored to your goals and values
- Culturally sensitive and inclusive care
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- Be open and honest
- Participate actively
- Ask questions and share feedback
- Keep appointments and notify us if you can’t attend
- Treat others with respect and protect shared confidentiality
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If you're already seeing a counsellor, they may be able to provide documentation. If not, your treating health professional or spiritual advisor is usually best placed to support your application. For details, see Special Consideration and Fee Remission/Withdrawal.
Need more support? We’re here to help.
Whether you're feeling unwell, overwhelmed or unsure where to turn, support is always available at ʹڲƱ.
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If you or someone else are in immediate danger or need urgent medical or psychological help, please seek emergency support right away.
This includes contacting emergency services (000), attending your nearest hospital or using after-hours crisis lines.
If you require emergency support while you're on campus, access our 24/7 services below.