paperchase edition 5 2016
GULS TIPS
interviewing ?
k
R U OK??
in the kitchen
some tips on how to ask the question to make sure your mates are ok
study got you down? Bria’s chocolate chip study cookies will turn that around!
inside: tips on how to better manage your time and hit peak work-life balance
editors’ welcome
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ou’re more than half way there! Uni is speeding ahead but take a minute to relax and centre yourself. There is no point in doing a law degree if you are going to burn out in the first six weeks – this is a marathon not a sprint!
Speaking of which, this edition has all the helpful tips for de-stressing your life. Time management tips from GULS’ very own first year representative Dimity Thoms will get your uni work in order. While our equity officer Paris Ball can give you an insight on how to get a wok life balance. Take it from a 3L, you don’t want to wake up one day realising that you study law, work in the legal profession, all your hobbies have to do with law (Suits anyone?) plus all your extra circulars and friends are law related. It is exhausting… and confusing. Your nonlaw friends will start to look at you weird when you begin to ponder out loud whether the kid that slipped in a grocery store has a right to sue. And even if you can’t shake your legal addiction at least learn to bake Bria’s amazing cookies to share with your law school friends! Hang in there,
Maddison and Aaron
Maddison and Aaron Maddison and Aaron are GULS’ 2016 Publications Officers. It is their job to bring you exciting and hilarious GULS content with every edition of Paperchase. If you have any ideas for articles or other content, please get in contact with them by emailing them directly at publications@guls.org.
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Contents tips to help you interview!
time management
IMAGE PLACEHOLDER
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Interviewing can be a daunting prospect - no matter how many you’ve had. Lizzie shares her secrets to how you can hopefully land the dream job!
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Not enough hours in your day? Dimity explains how you can better manage time.
extra-curricular corner
what’s on guls?
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ALSA Recap
Isaac shares his ALSA 2016 experience as well as four things he wish he had known before attending.
Interviewing Tips
Eight interviews in two months have taught Lizzie a thing or two. Read her tips on how to interviewing successfully and land that job.
Work or Study: Why Not Both?
Cass Palmer-Field shares her experience working for Project Safe Space as part of a domestic violence course.
In the Kitchen with Bria Sherrington
Procrastinating from your assessment? Maybe stressed? Don’t worry - Bria’s chocolate chip study cookies will make you feel better about life.
Health in Focus: R U OK??
University can be a stressful time so it’s never bad to ask someone “R U OK?” Griffith Health shares some ways to make it easier to ask the question.
President’s Report
Keep up to date with what’s happening in Griffith Law School with Rhys.
Time Management
Dimity shares her tips on how you can best manage your time for more successful study.
Comps Corner: Wit Ex
Stipe and Jaimee-Lee share their tips on how to improve your witness examination.
Work-Life Balance
Equity Officer Paris shares her tips on how to achieve optimal work-life balance.
President’s Report `
Rhys kasper GULS President 2016
what’s happening in
griffith law?
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i everyone, we’re nearing at the midway mark for semester two!
GULS hoodies had arrived and a few law students are more stylish than ever. Our first Junior Competition was held last night and was a huge success, congratulations to Caitlyn Slater the Grand Final Champion and Alfred Jackson the runner up. Justice Applegarth is officially in the Griffith house and on Friday, 2 September he will be presenting a seminar Q&A style. If you are keen on a catch up he has been available for students to drop by. Come along and find out what its like to be a Supreme Court Justice! The focus of next week is all things College of Law. On Tuesday, 6 September we have the Client Interview Grand Final and the College always provides delicious food. The next day they are holding a Practical Legal Training (PLT) seminar at Griffith - a must attend of all soon to be graduating students.
Later down the semester track we have our Bo unce-Back Week, which focuses on mental health, healthy eating and equity! Many of our events are sponsored meaning there are opportunities to speak to professionals and get your networking on. We will be supplying free fruit, and delicious sandwiches throughout the week. In the coming weeks we also have our Junior Competition Grand Finals for the Moot and Negotiation where the best of our junior law students will duke it out for prestigious championship medals and networking opportunities. Finally the GULS 2016 Gala will be held late in the year! More news to come soon but the word on campus is that it’s going to be epic (it always is). The GULS Door is always open and I’m always keen for a chat! Kind Regards,
Rhys Kasper You can also contact Rhys at president@guls.org.
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o compete at the ALSA competitions, you must be the best of the best. You must have won your universities open competition in one of the divisions.
The Griffith Teams were comprised as follows: Isaac Buckland and Brittany May (Championship Moot), Kathryn Townsend and Pauline Klippmark (IHL Moot), Roxy Read and Caragh Morgan (Client Interview), Rhys Kasper and Karsen Goldstein (Negotiation), Alex Curtis (Witness Examination, James Vercoe (Student Judge) and Caitlin Maher (Councillor). While all teams did incredibly well at ALSA, the Client Interview team went above and beyond what was ever hoped for and made it all the way to the GRAND FINAL! This feat not only made them ranked second in Australia and New Zealand for Client Interview, but also made them heroes in our heart. We drank hard that night. The social aspect of ALSA is incredible – when people say that law students know how to party, they were right! Most nights down at ALSA Hobart, there were events on to cater for our thirst. Whether it be a scribble party pub crawl to a cocktail party on the pier, there were event a plenty to let your hair down and kick up your heels after a long day competing.
What I Wish I Knew but Now Know
1. While fun, ALSA is a LOT of work. Don’t get me wrong, there are many opportunities to relax and have fun, but the actual competition is both mentally and emotionally draining. For Brittany and myself the Championship Moot is the heaviest competition in regards to reading and preparation. Not only must you prepare written submissions for both Appellant and Respondent, but this is often in an area of law that you don’t know. This year, our moot was based on a current High Court case involving Admin and Migration Law. Brit and I had not done either of these, so it was a steep learning curve for us. There were many late night phone calls and maybe even some hair pulling moments trying to put our submissions and oral presentations together!
alsa 2016 hobart
isaac buckland
2. Some people are incredibly ruthless and serious about winning. Brit and I went down for the experience of ALSA, but some people from different universities can be pushy and downright rude to you if they think that you are going to be in their way at all during the competition. Rivalry is fierce, and this can be quite shocking to some who haven’t been in that type of atmosphere. 3. It is hard to moot with a hangover. 4. You will spend way too much money on delicious food. The ALSA competitions are most certainly the highlight of my year. Not only was I able to compete against the best teams for mooting in Australia with my incredible partner by my side, but
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the amount of connections and friends I have made will stay with me beyond my university year. I have come away from ALSA knowing that I am incredibly close with my Griffith contingent, but I also know that I have made friends from different universities all across Australia. To anyone unsure about ALSA Competitions or competing in general, I would highly recommend getting involved! It is an incredible learning experience, you make the best of friends, you drink a lot and it looks good to future employers. I hope to see some of you at the next ALSA Competition!
alsa snaps
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lizzie dowrie guls vp admin
interviewing tips “As I was interviewing for clerkships, I was also often asked why I chose to study law, and why I wanted to pursue a career in commercial law.”
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rofessional job interviews can be intimidating even for people 30 years into their careers. I’m not an expert, but I did go through the stress of 8 interviews within two months earlier this year, so I’ve picked up a few tips to share with you.
Preparation
If you prepare for your interview effectively, the interviews will be able to tell and it will pay off for you. Experienced HR representatives and lawyers who’ve already sat in on several interviews that day can see the difference between someone who has taken the time to prepare and research the firm, and someone who hasn’t. You are often given the names of the people interviewing you beforehand – research their experience. If you have expressed an interest in a particular area of law, take a look at what the firm has been doing in that area recently. It’s also useful to know what is hap-
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pening more generally in the legal landscape – check out Lawyer’s Weekly or similar publications. Practice a few questions with a friend or family member who won’t laugh at you and will give you advice on how you behave in an interview setting. You’d be surprised how many little habits you might have that should be avoided in an interview – playing with hair, tapping on tables, fiddling with pens etc. It’s also a good idea to articulate your experiences and ambitions as a practice before your interview, so you don’t stumble over your words on the day. Think about the skills you’ve gained from each of your experiences. In interviews you will often be asked for examples of how you’ve worked in a team or shown leadership. If you search online, there are numerous websites that give more examples of questions you may be asked. It’s definite-
ly worth checking these out and practicing!
On the day
What you wear and how you present yourself is important. That doesn’t mean that you have to wear expensive designer suits, but dressing appropriately for your audience is a sign of respect. It’s more important that your clothes fit well than how expensive they are. Take a cue from the people who already work at the firm in deciding how to dress, and if in doubt err on the side of looking a bit boring. Remember to wear decent shoes! Show up early, but not too early. Arriving 10-15 minutes early demonstrates that you are on top of things, but showing up 45 minutes early makes it look like you don’t know how to use your time efficiently. If you get in too early, grab a coffee in the lobby! It’s better to wait down there than in the office reception. Also, be polite and friendly to the reception-
ist. The interviewers aren’t the only people you need to impress.
your experiences. For example, you might be drawn to work in criminal law after your work experience with a small criminal law firm, or the subject ‘Corporations and Associations’ might During the interview have changed your life. By explaining you amI’ll start with the generic tips - make eye con- bitions within the framework of your relevant tact, speak clearly, and don’t interrupt anyone. prior experience, you are reinforcing that you You want to come across as confident, pos- are qualified for the position. itive, and enthusiastic because they are looking for someone they could tolerate working with. Even if you aren’t feeling very confident You will probably be asked some behavioral in what you’re saying, fake it till you make it (as questions. This is where your preparation in remy mother says). It’s an important skill to know vising your experience will help you out! These how to back yourself without seeming cocky or questions may be about teamwork, leadership, working under pressure, dealing with conflict, arrogant. or handling criticism. I think a logical way to approach such a question is to describe the situThink outside the box and stay away from ge- ation, the steps you took to resolve it and what neric answers. Interviewers will be talking to you learned from the experience. Being able to up to hundreds of applicants – what will make demonstrate the way you reflect on your interyou stand out is if you are different and have a actions and work shows that you care about unique perspective. Also, don’t panic and blurt what you do! If you freeze and can’t think of out the first thing that comes to mind when an appropriate situation to talk about, I think faced with a difficult or unexpected question. nearly everyone has a group assignment story It’s perfectly acceptable to take a moment to that they remember all too clearly. think about your answer before you give it, or to ask for a question to be rephrased. Interviewers will appreciate you taking steps to be I think the most important question you will be asked is, “Do you have any questions for us?” as clear and on topic as possible! This question allows the interviewer to assess your priorities, your enthusiasm for the role At the beginning of the interview, you’ll often and your level of preparation. be asked something general about your background. This is a good chance to share some interesting things about yourself outside of As a rule, you shouldn’t ask questions that you your professional experience and studies. If could have researched the answers to before you’re involved in sport, music, learning a sec- the interview. I would also steer clear of saying ond or fifth language etc, these are all interest- you don’t have any questions; it can make you ing things to share. You might also discuss dif- seem disinterested. You might be interested to ferent clubs you’re involved with, your favorite learn more about the pro bono program at the type of book to read or your success in roller firm, the opportunities for career advancement or further study, or your interviewer’s personal derby competitions. experience with the firm. I suggest preparing two or three questions in advance and taking As I was interviewing for clerkships, I was also a mental note of any other questions that pop often asked why I chose to study law, and why up during the interview. I wanted to pursue a career in commercial law. You should probably already have an idea about why you’re heading in this direction – but If you have any questions about interviewing it’s worth thinking about before the interview, feel free to ask me! and being able to articulate this effectively. This is also an opportunity to relate it back to Email: vp.admin@guls.org
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cass palmer-field guls competitions officer
work or study?
why not both?!
Cass discusses her experience working on the Project Safe Space clinic
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ey guys, so I was asked to write an article on my experience doing a clinic course to give you all a bit of insight. Last year I took the Domestic Violence course and was able to work on ‘Project Safe Space’. Never heard of it? Neither had I. Basically we could choose to do the theory work and blog posts for the course or engage in some legal experience and work with survivors of domestic violence. We got to draft affidavits, perform a client interview (under the supervision of the course convenor) and provide them with fact and help sheets. Naturally, I took the second more practical option.
still insisting on three or so years experience. Clinics are the prefect way to get involved in actual legal work. It was a great learning curve and was really eye opening. Sure it was a heavy workload, however that one subject taught me so much and it was the first time in university that I actually felt like I was doing the work of a lawyer. I know that this is the career path for me. I have heard of many law students becoming disheartened after realising that being a lawyer is mostly about witting letters and reassuring clients rather locking up murderers like in most TV dramas. So doing a clinic is a really good way of figuring out what sort of legal career path It is so hard to find legal you want to take. work. Students are being turned back for unpaid They also make you look work, yet employers are more employable. You get
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real world experience and most clinics are on social justice issues. Doing one of these courses can show your potential employer that you actually have an interest in particular areas of law and care about your clients. I haven’t done any of the other clinic subjects but I’m sure they’re much the same; they are about teaching you how to be a lawyer, not just how to think like a lawyer. This was merely my experience and others may disagree, but I think clinics are the best way to get legal experience without having a clerkship. Another bonus is that you actually receive credit points for your work too, getting you that little bit closer to graduation!
Cass
time management BY dimity thoms guls first year rep
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omething that I have learnt during law school is that managing my time is actually rather hard. You have assignments, tutorial preparations, quizzes, catching up with friends, working, studying, exercising, extra-curricular amidst a number of other things. We all like to think that we’re super time heroes with all this going on and the fact that we’re still alive and breathing, able to function somewhat. We also envy those that seem to have so much time on their hands that they can do whatever they desire, because really, how do we get time management skills like that? I’d like to say that its easy. That time management is actually super easy. It’s not, it takes time to learn when you can procrastinate or when you actually need to focus and get the job done. So, whilst I can’t give you the ability to manage time, in fact you might even be reading this as a way of procrastinating, I can give you a few tips to help along the way. 1. Write a list. Crossing something off a list is so much rewarding when its handwritten and you can strike it out. Try and prioritise your list as well, number them 1 – 3, things with the most importance, a 1 and things that can be done at a later date, a 3. 2. Try and create study groups and split the load of readings, transcribing lecture notes, creating case summaries. This will help a lot! 3. Don’t sacrifice something that you love doing, like a sport or reading, just because you don’t think you have time to do it. These are the little things that will keep you going. 4. Create a schedule of when assignments are due and quizzes available, this will help you keep track of when things are due and help with that priority list writing I mentioned before. 5. We all have to work, but we probably don’t have to work all that much. If you can do one less shift a week to study or socialise, and still survive, still have enough money, that’s probably a better use of your time than working. Working is for real adults, right?
Dimity You can contact Dimity at firstyearrep@guls.org.
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comps corner Some of our junior wit ex judges kindly agreed to share some tips with competitors for next time. Thanks to Jaimee-Lee Holstein and Stipe Drinovac for putting pen to paper!
Junior Wit ex judges tips
It was great to see so many people having a go in the junior comp this year – and I was really impressed with how confident the speakers I had the opportunity to judge came across as a whole.
ments of the offence in their opening, but both examined each of the witnesses extensively on how they felt and their emotional states before, during and after the incident. This can be a great way of establishing intent – but unfortunately intent had nothing to do with their case, I think most of the competitors struggled with so each ended up wasting a lot of valuable time in drawing out what was ultimately irrelevant two main areas: information. 1. Understanding the elements of the crime; and 2. Keeping questions in cross-examination Conversely, in the murder scenario, one competitor succinctly framed the elements of the closed. crime and the major issues in their opening. Doing so clearly enabled them to frame the The first area is important because it frames problem for themselves and us, so that it was the problem for you, defining what it is that you very clear what direction they took in their need to prove, and what’s best to just let lie. questioning and what had or had not been esFor this reason, an understanding of the ele- tablished in order to prove guilt by the time of ments will also help inform your case theory! their closing. For example, in public exposure scenario I As to the second area – there’s a big temptajudged, neither competitor outlined the ele- tion to have the other side’s witness explain
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themselves in cross. You don’t have all the information you need and so want them to elaborate. But the problem here is that they won’t give you the answers you want. Go back to framing the elements of the crime and work out what it is you need the witness to admit or deny in order to prove or disprove each element (remember that defence only needs to cast reasonable doubt over one element). Then think of the kind of questions you need to ask the witness to get them to the point you want, answering only “yes” or “no”. It takes practice, but once you know what it is you want them to say, you can work backwards from that and cut-out all the irrelevant stuff!
Jaimee-Lee Holstein Hello there! Thanks to James, Cass and Bria I was recently able to judge some of the great competitors in the GULS junior wit-ex competition! Here are some of my thoughts and tips, based on things that I saw during the rounds I judged. It’s good to speak clearly! The people who spoke more clearly and at a nice slow pace were easier to understand. It’s good to take a moment to think! I saw two people use different tactics when confronted with their own mental blocks. One person decided to push through and wound up getting lost, the other person decided to stop, take a look at their notes and then continue. You have a certain set amount of time that you can speak for, but how you use that time is entirely up to you. So take a break from talking if you need to! It’s good to say what you want to prove! One competitor decided that they would switch up their entire chain of questioning half-way through. I think they did it because they were unsure of what they needed to prove in the first place. Thinking about what you want to prove should probably be the first thing you plan out. It may help to write what you want to prove in short sentences or dot points! That way when you’re thinking about what sort of questions you might want to ask a witness – you can look at your list and think: “What sort of questions answer these points?” It’s good to be confident! This one is tricky because it’s entirely natural to get nervous, especially if you are trying something new. My tip is to try and concentrate on things that you can control, like your speaking voice or your train of thought. It might be difficult, but if you can take your focus off your own nervousness you might outwardly show more signs of confidence. It’s good to have fun! We had some funny stuff pop up during the rounds, these GULS competitions are a good way to learn and develop your speaking skills in a fun environment.
Stipe Drinovac
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in the kitchen with
Bria sherrington bria’s chocolate chip study cookies
These cookies are not only the perfect study snack but they are also the perfect procrastination tool!! Nothing more motivating then the smell of freshly baked cookies to get you through your law notes!
equipment
2-3 oven trays 1 large bowl 1 electric mixer
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ingredients
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar 1 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 2 cups oats 1 ½ cups plain flour 1 teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (or chopped dairy milk chocolate)
submit your recipe Want your food to be featured in the next issue of Paperchase? Just submit your recpies and some pics to publications@guls.org
bria sherrington
Bria is one of GULS outstanding Competitions Officers
method 1 Heat oven to 180°C. In large bowl, stir brown sugar and butter until blended. Stir in vanilla and egg until light and fluffy. Stir in oats, flour, baking soda and salt; stir in chocolate chips. 2 Onto ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls, space the cookies out. 3 Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. 4 Enjoy!
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Maintaining a work-life balance BY paris ball guls equity officer
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don’t maintain a work life balance so much as frantically juggle work and life. One of the biggest lies perpetuated in law school is the idea that working yourself to the bone is the only way to keep up. Burning the candle at both ends may be a great way to get a lot done in the short term, but in the long term all it does is lead to burn out. Going to university has been a marvellous experience for me as I have had some fantastic opportunities to meet people, engage in causes, compete and travel that I would never have dreamed of growing up in the Blue Mountains. However by the time I hit the end of my fourth year I was completely burnt out. Competitions and activities I once loved became a chore that I actively procrastinated over, peer circles became hostile and it became incredibly difficult to summon the motivation to keep up with commitments and deadlines. My one regret is that I didn’t give myself enough time. I had this idea ingrained in my head that if I said no to an opportunity or couldn’t meet a deadline, it was a sign of weakness and I was letting myself down. Aside from being a very unhealthy outlook on life it was also highly unrealistic. Life does not always go according to plan and taking the time to rest and reflect is just as important as seizing opportunities. Here are five things that I have learned throughout my degree that have helped me juggle work and life a little more smoothly:
Have a physical outlet and make time for it
Make it something selfish, something that’s just for you. Find something that you love doing where you’re not worried about whether or not it looks good on your resume or how it adds meaningful progression to your goals. Do it for no reason other than that it’s fun and gives you a sense of satisfaction.
Karate has been a huge outlet for me during my law degree. When I am having a bad day, nothing makes me feel better than a good sparring match, particularly if it is against my dad. It can get difficult to maintain a balance between study and personal health when deadlines are looming and the pressure is on. However, a healthy body helps keep a healthy mind and making time for an outlet is most important when stress levels are at a high. My greatest pride in life isn’t my law degree; it is the wonderful karate class my dad and I built together over the course of five years. I’ll never forget the day my dad and I earned our black belts in karate and it is always great to see Facebook updates of my karate students earning their next belt or winning medals at tournaments.
Know when to say no
I really struggle to say no to people. A common situation I find myself in is saying yes to a commitment… and then three more and wondering why two weeks and a million coffees later I have no time. It is ok to say no to people and set boundaries. Sometimes it can be hard, particularly when a close friend or employer is feeling the heat and comes to you asking for help. However, that is not your burden and people will in the long run respect you more for saying no at the outset. There is nothing worse than saying yes to something only to not be able to follow through at the eleventh hour.
Focus on living a wholesome life, not just on having a wholesome resume This was something my boyfriend picked up on: I had a habit of always introducing him and I by describing our jobs. Your law degree/career is not the only thing that defines you as a person. Make time for people you love, your passions in life and random adventures. Be a wholesome person not just a wholesome resume. Relaxation time is a must. For me, this usually involves food and a book or video game.
ALWAYS schedule in chill time
When a new commitment pops up, estimate the time needed to complete it and then double that time. There’s nothing worse than finding out about an amazing opportunity only to be forced to say no because you are already overcommitted. It’s equally awful to have to bail on a good friend’s birthday or a close relative’s milestone at the last minute because you didn’t allow yourself enough time to finish an assignment. Always leave yourself extra time. This is both to give you time to de-stress and also to free up time for random adventures and opportunities. Paris is GULS’ Equity Officer
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Paris can be reached on equity@guls.org
++health in focus
R U OK ??
The Griffith University Health Service provides medical consultations, emergency and first aid treatment and a full range of general practice medicine to all students. In each article we will provide health and well-being information to help you get the most out of your body and mind. This month’s focus is on nutrition. Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy this semester: griffith health service
The roller coaster ride of being at university…… It can be the best times and the worst times all in one. We all know the up & down pressures that arise whilst studying at Uni. Have you considered checking in with your roommate, study buddy or friend and saying “R U OK?”. It’s hard to tell how everyone is feeling all the time, so it’s a good idea to ask, are you ok? This isn’t always an easy conversation to have, so check out some of the things you can do to make it easier!
Choosing the right setting –
Have you chosen somewhere relatively private and comfy? What time will be good for them to chat? If they can’t talk when you approach them, ask them for a better time to come back.
Walk a day in their shoes –
Before you start asking questions, there are some things to consider. Have they seemed withdrawn or down lately? If so, can you think of any possible reasons why? If you have some idea of what’s wrong, it might be easier to make the most out of the conversation. Some of the reasons they might be feeling down are: • Going through something stressful • Experiencing grief or loss • Being around people going through tough times • Arguing with someone • Problems at school/uni/work • Big life changes e.g. moving house
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• • • • •
Caring for someone who is unwell Being bored, lonely, away from family Having a medical condition or chronic illness Not sleeping well Not exercising enough
Things you could say –
Although you want to keep these things in mind as you approach the conversation, it’s up to your friend to tell you what’s going on – not for you to make suggestions. You don’t want to push the conversation otherwise they may feel less inclined to share with you. Some of the questions you can ask to encourage them let you know what’s going on are: “Hey, how have you been lately? What’s been happening?” “You haven’t seemed yourself lately – is there something you want to talk about?” “What’s going on for you at the moment?” “How are you doing? Anything you want to chat about?
Listening without Judgement –
Take what they say seriously. Don’t interrupt or rush the conversation. If they need time to think, try and sit patiently with the silence. If the opportunity arises encourage them to explain. Ask “How are you feeling about that?” or “How long have you felt that way?” Show that you’ve listened by checking that you’ve understood. Try and do it in a way that shows you’ve listened to all the details and are really trying to understand what they’re going through. You could say, “It sounds like you’re juggling a few things at the moment and you’re feeling really stretched”. If they get angry or upset, stay calm and don’t take it personally. Let them know you’re asking because you care and acknowledge that times seem tough for them. Don’t forget that the information they give you is personal and not for you to share with other friends and or colleagues. It important you take this conversation and its information serious, only handing over information to people if you consider it necessary.
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Seek Help together!
Encourage your friend to get some support. They might want to start by talking with their family about what has been going on or they may prefer to talk with someone that they do not know, like a health professional or counsellor. You could help them to find and arrange an appointment with one of these people; you might even offer to go with them to their first appointment to help them feel more relaxed about it. Some ways you could bring it up: • Have you talked to anyone else about this? It’s great that you have talked to me, but it might be good to get advice and help from a health worker or counsellor. • Getting help doesn’t always mean sitting on a couch with a psychologist or taking medication. Did you know that GPs can help with this sort of stuff? Find one that bulk bills then all you need is your Medicare card (i.e. you don’t have to pay). Supporting a friend through a tough time can be difficult. Remember to look after yourself and your needs. If at any stage you feel overwhelmed you should consider getting some support from a trusted adult (e.g. parent, teacher or GP). If you or anyone you know is experiencing problems with depression or mental health issues, help is available from the Health Service and Counselling Service on campus or through Lifeline on 131114. Griffith University will be running events throughout September for R U OK? day Save the date - University Mental Health and Well-being Week running from 10th Oct 14th Oct across all campus’s. References – ReachOut.com, youthbeyondblue.com, ruok.org.au
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GULS
GRIFFITH UNIVERSIT Y L AW SOCIET Y
www.guls.org