FAQs

What welfare services are provided on campus?

Lots, and the good news is they are all free! Check out our links page for more information on welfare and support services for specific groups on campus.

ANSUA runs a free welfare service. We employ a welfare officer, Bronwyn Evans, who works three days a week helping students on a range of issues including Centrelink, financial assistance, tax help, accommodation and employment advice.

The ANU also provides a counselling service, which provides free and confidential counselling via the ANU Counselling Centre. The centre is located on the first floor, Building [18] 
North Road
(Next to the Sports and Recreation Association and the Purple Pickle Cafe. Upstairs above the doctors and near the dojo and the squash courts) They are open 9:00am - 4:45pm weekdays, closed 1:00pm - 2:00pm for lunch and closed on public holidays. Contact them to make an appointment of go the their website for more information

Telephone: (+61) 02 - 6125 2442
Email: Counselling.Centre@anu.edu.au

Within the ANUSA structure, there are also a number of departments, which are student-run support, advocacy and social networks. Each Department has an elected officer who convenes a collective meeting on a regular basis. We have a Women’s, Sexuality, Indigenous, International, Disabilities, Education and Environment department.

How can I get urgent help?

Urgent help Mental Health Crisis Assessment and Treatment Service (CAT) (part of the Canberra Hospital Mental Health Services)

tel: 1800 629 354 (24 hours) tel: 6205 1065 (office hours)

Lifeline Canberra:Lifeline's mission is "to enhance the well being of the community through the provision of counseling and counseling related services, the core of which is a 24 hour crisis telephone counseling service". tel: 13 11 14 (24 hours)

How Can I get academic support?

Talk to your tutor or lecturer! This may seem incredibly obvious, but at university, students often find academic staff far too intimidating to approach. ANUSA’s advice is DO IT ANYWAY! Tutors in particular have set office hours for a reason, so that they can provide advice and answer questions for students. If you are having problems in a particular course, your first step should be to speak to you lecturer or tutor. In addition to getting some useful advice, letting them know you are having difficulties early on will probably help you if gets to the point where need to ask for an extension or need help with assessment later in the course.

Academic skills and Learning

The Academic Skills and Learning Centre (ASLC) offers ANU students free and confidential help with their academic work. Their service is completely free and available to all undergraduate students. They can advise on academic skills and learning issues such as focus, critical reading, reasoning, argumentation, logical development, style and presentation. They provided one-on-one consultations, courses, essay drafting help and several online services.

Tutoring

Finding a later year student to do some casual tutoring is really easy. Expect to pay around $20 - $30 per hour. Advertise on noticeboards around your academic area or on the ANU Careers Hub.

Academic Clubs and Societies

There is a student run club or society for most academic disciplines offered at the ANU. These clubs can usually help you with any academic problems you are having, whether it be through setting you up with a tutoring or just someone to answer your questions, running study-sessions before exams or even providing model answers or past exams for study purposes. Check out or Clubs and Societies page for contact details of the club relevant to you.

What financial services are available to me on campus?

ANUSA’s Welfare Officer, Bronwyn Evans, provides a range of financial services including budgeting and help with Centrelink and other government services.

Tax Help

From July to October each year, the Welfare Officer hosts the ATO Taxation Help Program. It is a service where low-income earners can have their tax returns prepared for free by ATO trained volunteers. In addition, general taxation information is provided all year round. If your tax affairs are simple and you earn less than $35,000 per annum, you could be eligible for FREE help with your tax return. To arrange an appointment, contact the ANUSA Welfare Officer, Bronwyn Evans on 61255849.

Scholarships and Awards

Go to the following link for a comprehensive list of national scholarships that you may be able to apply for: http://www.myfuture.edu.au/ or go to www.anu.edu.au/scholarships to see the many ANU Scholarships on offer.

Undergraduate Loan Fund Application

ANUSA provides a short-term loan service to undergraduate students who have financial difficulty remaining in full-time study. These loans generally provide temporary assistance to cover the General Services Fee, field trips, academic books and child-care costs. The scheme does NOT lend money to pay for HECS or tuition fees. The manner in which the loan is provided is flexible and is done through the Credit Union with a guarantee by the University Committee. The loan needs to be repaid within a certain time, and academic results or even graduation may be withheld until the loan is repaid. For more information, contact the ANUSA Welfare Officer, Bronwyn Evans on 61255849 or email sa.welfare@anu.edu.au

Undergraduate Loan Fund Application forms are available 'HERE'

ANUSA Welfare Fund

The ANUSA Welfare fund is a recent initiative which provides grocery vouchers to students in short-term financial difficulty. To receive a voucher contact Welfare Officer, phone the Welfare Fund mobile on ... or pop into the ANUSA office.

How can I get help finding accommodation?

Canberra is currently in the midst of a housing crisis, and students are facing to worst of it. Both on and off Campus, rental accommodation is difficult to find and very expensive. The only good news anyone can really take form this is the knowledge that they are not alone in the search for affordable housing!

Accommodation on campus

For on campus and ANU run housing, University Accommodation Services(UAS) are the fat controllers. They deal with all admissions to all on-campus undergraduate accommodation. For undergraduates, the ANU has something called a ‘first year guarantee’, which means that if you are a new student coming from interstate or overseas to study at the ANU, they will guarantee you accommodation for your first year.

For undergraduates, if you are not covered by the guarantee, (i.e, you are from the ACT, it is not your first years of study at the ANU or you are late in lodging you application) successfully securing a bed on campus is near impossible (but worth a try!) Your best bet is to look off campus.

Accommodation off campus

The private market in Canberra is experiencing heavy demand and the estimated time required to secure accommodation is approximately 4-6 weeks. It is essential to organise temporary accommodation before you arrive in Canberra if coming from interstate or overseas.

The ANUSA Welfare Officer, President and Vice President, as well as UAS staff, can assist you with enquiries about off-campus accommodation.

Rooms to let are often advertised on noticeboards around campus. Check the noticeboards outside Chifley Library, in Manning Clarke Centre and in the Union building, as well as the bollards in Union court.

Housing Online - This is an online accommodation noticeboard that advertises private rental, share accommodation, private board and accommodation wanted. This website can be viewed from any computer (you do not need to be in the UAS office to access this site).

The Canberra Times - The Canberra Times newspaper will be a very useful resource. The property section on a Saturday advertises all of the rental properties in Canberra, and also has a large amount of share accommodation. On Wednesday there is a smaller property section. You will need to be prepared to attend property inspections.

Domain - Great nationwide property website advertising properties for rent and to share.

Allhomes - Canberra based property website advertising properties to rent and share.

Canberra Map - Great map to get your bearings. Shows where city centres and suburbs are located. ANU is located in Acton (Canberra Central)

Action Buses - Canberra bus service website with routes and timetables.

Temporary Accommodation - Some options close to ANU for short-term accommodation when first arriving in Canberra.