Are you considering enrolling in University, preparing for a new study period or are already in the throes of studying? Did you know that all Australian universities have disability services that can provide ongoing support for students with a disability? The first thing you need to do is let your universities disability services know that you have a disability. It’s best to do this when you enroll. If you didn’t, make an appointment with a Disability Adviser as soon as possible. What kind of support do they offer? Each university offers its own unique service however in general if your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder, injury or chronic illness, Disability Services can provide assistance, advocacy, and reasonable academic adjustments.
Don’t have a disability yourself however you are the primary carer of someone that does? Most Universities have programs that extend their support to primary carers. Swinburne's AccessAbility Services is one example. They work with students living with a disability as well as those with primary carer responsibilities. They will negotiate a range of reasonable adjustments to ensure equal opportunity to access and participate in education at Swinburne. Contact your university to find out what services are available to you. Below you will find links and other contact information for 35 Australian Universities. If you can’t find your university contact your student services. All information correct at time of publishing. Australian Catholic University Equity and Disability Unit Tel: +61 7 3623 7377 Email: carolyn.toonen@acu.edu.au Web: http://www.acu.edu.au/student_experience/support_services/disability_services
Australian National University http://www.anu.edu.au/students/information-for/students-with-a-disability
Bond University Tel: +61 7 5595 4002 (Mon-Thurs) Email: disabilitysupport@bond.edu.au Web: https://bond.edu.au/current-students/services-support/services/disability
Charles Darwin University Office of Student Administration and Equity Services Tel: +61 8 8946 6288 Fax: +61 8 8946 6654 Email: kerrie.coulter@cdu.edu.au Web: www.cdu.edu.au/equity-services/disability-services
Charles Sturt University http://futurestudents.csu.edu.au/unilife/support/disability-support
Curtin University Disability Services Tel: +61 8 9266 7850 Email: disabilityservices@curtin.edu.au Deakin University http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/health-and-wellbeing/disability-support
Flinders University Disability Advisor Tel: 8201 2118 Email: disability@flinders.edu.au Web: http://www.flinders.edu.au/current-students/healthandcounselling/disabilities.cfm
Griffith University Tel: +61 7 3382 1159 Fax: +61 7 3382 1103 Email: disability-oua@griffith.edu.au Web: www.griffith.edu.au/student-services/diversity-and-inclusion/students-with-disabilities
La Trobe University Equality and Diversity Centre Tel: +61 3 9479 2900 Email: equity@latrobe.edu.au Web: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/students/wellbeing/studying-with-a-disability
Macquarie University Disability Support Unit Tel: +61 2 9850 7497 Fax: +61 2 9850 6063 Email: campuswellbeing@mq.edu.au Web: mq.edu.au/disability
Murdoch University OUA Liaison Team Tel: (08) 9360 6084 Email: equity@murdoch.edu.au Web: https://our.murdoch.edu.au/Student-life/Health-and-happiness/Disability-services/
Open Universities: OUA Disability Contact Officer Email: disability@open.edu.au Web: https://www.open.edu.au/student-admin-and-support/student-support-services/disability-support Queensland University of Technology Disability Services Email: student.disability@qut.edu.au https://www.qut.edu.au/study/student-life/student-support/disability-support
RMIT University Equitable Learning Services Tel: +61 3 9925 1089 Email: els@rmit.edu.au Web: www.rmit.edu.au/equitable
Southern Cross University http://scu.edu.au/equity/index.php/74/
Swinburne University AccessAbility Services Tel: +61 3 9214 8513 (Mon-Thurs) Email: accessability@swin.edu.au Web: www.swin.edu.au/accessability/
University of Adelaide Tel: 8313 5962 Email: disability@adelaide.edu.au Web: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/disability/
University of Canberra http://www.canberra.edu.au/current-students/canberra-students/student-support/inclusion-engagement/support-for-students-with-disability
University of Melbourne http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
University of Newcastle Email: student-disability@newcastle.edu.au Web: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-students/support/disability-support
University of New England Student Disability Support Tel: +61 2 6773 2897 Fax: +61 2 6773 4400 Email: tony.woods@une.edu.au Web: www.une.edu.au/current-students/support/student-support/disability-support/disability-support-1
University of NSW https://student.unsw.edu.au/disability
University of Queensland Disability Advisor, Student Services Tel: +61 (7) 3365 1704 Email: disability@uq.edu.au Web: http://www.uq.edu.au/student-services/disability
University of South Australia Disability Services Tel: 1300 657 122 or +61 8 8302 2330 Fax: +61 8 8302 2363 Email: disability@unisa.edu.au Web: www.unisa.edu.au/Student-Life/Support-services/Disability-Services/
University of Southern Queensland https://www.usq.edu.au/current-students/services/disability
University of the Sunshine Coast http://www.usc.edu.au/learn/student-support/disability-and-equity
University of Sydney http://sydney.edu.au/study/academic-support/disability-support.html
University of Tasmania http://www.utas.edu.au/students/shw/disability
University of Technology Sydney Accessibility Services Tel: +61 2 9514 1177 Email: accessibility@uts.edu.au Web: https://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/students-with-accessibility-requirements/accessibility-service
University of Western Australia UniAcess - UWA's Disability Office Tel: +61 8 6488 2423 Fax: +61 8 6488 1119 Email: uniaccess@uwa.edu.au Web: www.transition.uwa.edu.au/welcome/disability_office University of Western Sydney https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/currentstudents/current_students/services_and_facilities/disability_service
University of Wollongong Tel: 02 4221 3445 Fax: 02 4221 5667 Email: disability_services@uow.edu.au Web: https://www.uow.edu.au/student/disability/index.html
Victoria University https://www.vu.edu.au/current-students/campus-life/advice-support/disability-support Image credit: Swinburne University AccessAbility Services logo