FLSA PRESENTS:
THE ANU WELLBEING GUIDE
You might not know it, but Flinders provides a range of services for students who need support. Health, counselling, and disability services are all readily accessible at university. For those who would prefer to seek support outside of uni, there is an infinite list of places who are here to help. It is of paramount importance that you know that help is always around the corner.
COUNSELLING SERVICE
Flinders provides a free and confidential counselling service which is available to all undergraduate and postgraduate students. The service is open Monday to Friday, from 8:45am to 5:00pm. The counsellors have qualifications in psychology and social work and have experience in a number of areas, including mental health, education, cross cultural counselling, disability, sexual diversity, drugs and alcohol, trauma, sexual assault, and family and relationship issues. Students can attend counselling for a range of reasons, whether they are academic concerns or personal matters. Call: 8201 2118 Book online: http://www.flinders.edy.au/currentstudents/healthandcounselling/bookonline/
HEALTH SERVICE Available to all currently enrolled students and staff, with all consultations strictly confidential, Flinders offers its very own health service. The Medical Centre provides both emergency and outine medical care. Best of all, consultations are bulk-billed! Call: 8201 2118 Book online: http://www.flinders.edu.au/currentstudents/healthandcounselling/bookonline/
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES There is a certain stigma around ‘disability’. However, this refers to any impairment, learning difficulty, medical condition, or disability that inhibits a student’s access to education. Flinders offers a free and confidential service for enrolled students who have a disability. Disability Advisors can help coordinate services which allow students with disabilities to access study, provide advocacy on behalf of individuals or on issues which affect a number of students. If you need a Disability Action Plan, this is also the place to contact! To get in touch with a Disability Advisor and discuss your options: Call: 8201 2118 Email: disability@flinders.edu.au
DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE Unsurprisingly, substance abuse is a big issue within the legal profession, and also affects those studying law. Obviously in Australia and among university students there is a prominent drinking culture. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a glass of wine or a nice beer after a long day? But there are times when it can get out of hand. If you are struggling with an addiction to alcohol or drugs, there is help available. Flinders University provides a free counselling service where you can discuss a range of issues, including those that are drug and alcohol related. However, if you would prefer to seek help outside of university there are still a number of accessible services available. You can refer to our contact guide which lists a number of places where you can seek help.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Sadly, domestic violence is still a prominent issue. It affects people of all genders and ages, and can take many forms. Domestic violence can be both physical and emotional abuse. Unfortunately, most instances of domestic violence go unreported. If you or someone you know is being affected by domestic violence, it is essential to know that there a number of services available for you to get help. Whether you need to report an incident or simply want someone to talk to, there are plenty of options in terms of seeking help to choose from. You can call the university counselling service: 8201 2118 Alternatively, you can call Crisis Care for help and emergency accommodation: 131 611
SMOKING Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Australia. You will feel the benefits of quitting straight away as your body repairs itself. If you quit: • Within a month your blood pressure returns to its normal level and your immune system begins to show signs of recovery. • After twelve months your increased risk of dying from heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker.
• After ten years of stopping your risk of lung cancer is less than half that of a continuing smoker and continues to decline (provided the disease is not already present). • After fifteen years your risk of heart attack and stroke is almost the same as that of a person who has never smoked. Quitting smoking can be one of the most difficult, yet rewarding things a person can do. Speak to a counsellor or call Quitline today!
HEALTHY EATING Taking care of your body is important! A healthy and balanced diet improves your overall wellness, gives you more energy, improves blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Healthy eating and regular exercise also helps us to avoid other health problems such as infertility, stress, and sleep problems. Eating well is important, and even small changes can make a big difference. By avoiding processed foods, having smaller portion sizes, drinking lots of water, preparing meals in advance, and making healthier choices when eating out you are well on your way to a nutritious and balanced lifestyle.
For more information on healthy recipes see http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa +health+internet/healthy+living/healthy+eating/healthy+eating+tips/ healthy+recipes For more information on staying healthy while eating out see http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa +health+internet/healthy+living/healthy+eating/healthy+eating+tips/ healthy+choices+when+eating+out To get more fruit and vegetables into your diet see http://www.gofor2and5.com.au/
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY It can be hard to fit in time to exercise between Uni, part-time work and having a social life. However, keeping active can improve your self-esteem and confidence, make you feel good, and help prevent unhealthy weight gain. It can include playing sport, walking the dog, swimming, cycling and dancing. Walking is a good way to start. 2.5-5 hours of moderate activity and 1.25 to 2.5 hours of vigorous activity a week is recommended. Ways of easily including this into your week could be by taking the stairs or getting of the bus one stop earlier and walking the rest.
CONTACT GUIDE GENERAL ISSUES Centrelink: Australia’s one-stop shop for benefits and other commonwealth services. List of Contact Details available at: https://www.humanservices.gov.au Healthy SA (SA Dept of Health): A comprehensive site including information on Aboriginal Health, babies and children, disability, environmental health, multicultural health, gay and lesbian health and youth health and much more. Contact Details: Central office Telephone: (08) 8226 6000 Reach Out: A web-based service designed for young people to help themselves through tough times. Information on mental health, drugs and alcohol, sexuality, uni, work and relationships. Contact Details: http://au.reachout.com/contact-us Women’s Information Service: Free and confidential information, support and referral services for women. Contact Issues: Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm Phone: +61 8 8303 0590 or 1800 188 158 SMS: 0401 989 860 Shop Front (Open to visits) Mensline: Support, information and referral for men who are dealing with relationships, separation, family break-up, stepparenting and similar concerns. Contact Details: 1300 78 99 78 contactable: 24/7 Nutrition Australia: A community based organisation which provides information and advice on nutrition. Good FAQ’s page. Contact Details: 03 8341 5800
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL Drug Arm : A useful website with information and services and support available Contact Details: 82964777 Australian Drug Foundation: An excellent site on alcohol and other drugs. Contact Details: Emails: adf@adf.org.au Phone: 03 9611 6100 Druginfo Line 1300 889 817 Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia: Information about alcohol and other drugs and support services available. Contact Details: 1300 13 1340 (8:30 am – 10 pm everyday) MENTAL HEALTH Mental Illness Followship South Australia (MIFSA) : A support service available in South Australia Contact Details: mifsa@mifsa.ord Phone: 1800 985 944 Australian Transcultural Mental Health Network: A network linking transcultural services and other relevant bodies to improve the quality and accessibility of services available to Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Plenty of useful information, available in a number of languages. Contact Details: Email: info@mhaustralia.org Phone: (02) 6285 3100 Beyond Blue: Information about depression and available treatments. Contact: 1300 22 4636 Mental Health Services: Provides information about mental health issues and various mental health and crisis services. Website Details: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/Ment al+Health+and+Wellbeing-1
SANE: This excellent web site is a must to visit for those wanting information on any mental health issue. It also has an exhaustive web site listing. It also provides a free Helpline Online service. Contact Details: 1800 18 7263 Lifeline: Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Contact: 24 hour 7 day a week service 13 11 14 RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT Yarrow Place – Rape and Sexual Assault Service : Information regarding rape and sexual assault, supports and services available. Contact Details Phone during office hours: (08) 8226 8777 After hours: (08) 8226 8787 Toll-free in SA: 1800 817 421 SEXUAL HEALTH/SEXUALITY ShineSA: Information on sexual health issues including sexually transmitted infections, contraception, resources and services. Many of their pamphlets are available in a range of languages. Contact Details: 1300 794 584 Bfriend : A support program for newly identifying same sex attracted people. The site also has information about services and resources available to people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and transsexuals. It includes some great stories about personal experiences. Contact: 8202 5805 or 8202 5192
Sexual identities : Flinders University's own website supporting sexual diversity on campus. Website: http://www.flinders.edu.au/equal-opportunity/sexual_andgenderdiversity/educational_resources.cfm LEARNING DISABILTIES Opening All Options : Fantastic website specifically aimed at tertiary study. Developed by the University of Tasmania. Contact: Phone: (03) 6324 3615 Email: ADCET.Admin@utas.edu.au SPELD SA: Information, referral and software advice for people with a learning disability. Contact Details: 298 Portrush Road, Kensington, Email: info@speld-sa.org.au Telephone: 08 8431 1655 I am dyslexic: 14 y.o. dyslexic’s site – has some great stories and tips. Website: http://www.iamdyslexic.com EATING DISORDERS Eating Disorder Association SA : Information, referral and support, plus links to other good sites. Contact: Sewell House 296 Payneham Road Payneham, SA 5070 thepanicroomsa@gmail.com Tel: 0410 521 633