EQUITABLE ACCESS GUIDE 2022
EQUITABLE ACCESS OFFICER’S WELCOME
Hithere, Congratulationsonmakingitto UNSWLaw!AstheEquitableAccess Oycerfor20,Iamdelighted tobringyouthefirsteditionof ourEquitableAccessGuide–a resourcedesignedtosupportyou throughthetrialsandtribulati oflawschool.Inthefollowing pages,you’llfindacomprehensive breakdownofthevarioussupport servicesoxeredatUNSW–from EquitableLearningServicesto [ImageDescription:aheadshotof SpecialConsiderationsandUNSW Noasmilingdirectlyatthecamera, Psychology&Wellbeing. wearingapolkadotdress]
Lawschoolischallenging,anditcanbediyculttoadmitthat you’restrugglingwhenyou’resurroundedbysomanyhigh achieverswhoappeartohavetheirlifetogether.Butifyoul withadisability,illnessormentalhealthcondition,know youarenotalone;hereatUNSWLaw,wehaveathrivingand diversecommunityofstudentswithallkindsoflived experi es.It’simportanttorememberthatseekinghelpisnotasign weaknessbutoneofstrength–andthereisabsolutelynosh inaskingforanyadjustmentsoraccommodationsthatyoune tosucceedatuniversity. Wishingyoualltheverybestofluckthisyear! Noa Zulman 2022 Equitable Access Officer
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EQUITABLE LEARNING SERVICES What Is ELS?
EquitableLearningServicessupportstudents livewithdisabilities,chronicillnesses,and healthconditionsorthosewhoareprimarycar tosucceedatuniversitythroughtheprovisi academicadjustmentsandaccommodations.
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HOW DO I APPLY FOR ELS? 1.
Completethisonlineregistration https: form / at www.student.unsw.edu.au/els .Itwillaskyouforsome basicpersonalinformation,includingyourstudentID, emailaddress,andthecourseofstudyyou’reenrolled in.Don’tworry–youwon’thavetosubmitseparate formsforLawandtheotherdegreeyou’reenrolledin!
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Onceyou’vecompletedtheonlineregistration form,ELSwillemailyourUNSWemailaddressdetail ingthenextsteps.Makesurethatels@unsw.edu.auis identifiedasa‘safe’emailaddresssothatitdoesn’t getlostinjunkmail.
3. Before you can book an appointment with ELS, you’ll need to gather supporting evidence about your disability or medical condition from a health professional and have them complete this Health Professional Report form: https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/ files/uploads/group38/Health%20Professional%20Report%20(PDF)_2021.pdf.
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Oncethisdocumentationhas beensubmitted,youcanemailELSto bookavideo,phone,orin-person appointmentattheKensington cam pustodiscusstheprovisionsyou mightneedtosucceedatuniversity withanEquitableSupportOycer. It’shelpfultothinkaboutthekinds ofeducationalsupportyoumayhave receivedinhighschoolorduringthe HSCasaguidelineforwhatwillbe [ImageDescription:Illustrat usefulatuniversity–butyouareby twofiguresonabalancedbeam withanequalsignbetweent nomeanslimitedbythis.
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YourELSOycerwillthenprepareanEquitable LearningPlanwhichdetailsalltheacademicadjustm thatyouareentitledto.ThisELPwillgenerallybemade availabletoyoubythestartofTerm1.
6. At the beginning of Term, it is your responsibility to email each of your lecturers a copy of your ELP. It’s helpful to CC:inthecourseconvenorandELSsothat alltherelevantindividualsareawareofthesuppor requirethroughouttheterm.
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What Kinds of Educational Adjustments are Available? There’s a wide variety of educational adjustments available to students, depending on the nature of your health conditionandspecificcircumstances.Someexamples includeextratimeforexamsandonassessments,a note-taking service, assistive technology (both in-class and forexams),alternativeformatting,andadditional classworksupport.
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SPECIAL CONSIDERATION What is Special Consideration? Special consideration is a procedure that assesses the impact of short-term events that were beyond your control upon your performance in a particular assessment task or exam. Exceptional circumstances may include short-term illness, unexpectedtraumaorfinancialhardship,thedeathofa relative or friend, religious commitments, or technical issues during an online assessment.
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HOW DO I APPLY FOR SPECIAL CONSIDERATION?
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You must apply for Special Consideration before the start of your exam or the due date of your assessment unless illness or misadventure prevents you from doing so. If your circumstances prevent you from applying prior to the due date, you must apply within three working days of the as sessment or exam. NB: UNSW has a ‘Fit to Sit/ Submit’ Policy – if you sit an exam or do so and cannot later apply for Special Consideration.
Before you submit your application, you must prepare supporting documentation that describes your exceptional circumstances in as much detail as possible.
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Depending on your situation, supporting evidence might religious leader or UNSW, or screenshots of any technical issues. Remember to include the time frame in which your illness or misadventure occurred and emphasise the seriousness of your circumstances and their impact upon your academic performance!
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Once you’ve gathered all your support documents, apply online through your myUNSW account by following this link https://iaro.online.unsw.edu.au/special_consideration/home. login. a. Click New Application and complete the Student Declaration. b. Enter your contact details, course information, and
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oY ur application will be assessed by the Student Case Reviews Team and will be processed within 3-5 business days. In determining the outcome of your application, the Team will consider your performance in other assessments in the course, the severity of your circumstances, the type of assessment that progression.
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6 If you’re unhappy with the outcome of your application, you can request a reassessment or appeal an outcome by emailing specialconsideration@unsw.edu.au
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What Circumstances are Considered Non-Applicable for Special Consideration?
Typically,UNSWdoesnotprovidespecialconsideration whencircumstancesaretheconsequenceofyourown actionorinaction.Thisincludesmisreadingacourse outlineorexaminationtimetable,attendingrecreat eventssuchasconcertsandsportingevents,orvolun takingonaheavyacademicload.
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UNSW PSYCHOLOGY AND WELLNESS
Lawschool Law school (and (andlife life in in general) general) can can sometimes sometimes be stressful bestressful and and overwhelming.UNSWPsychology&Wellnessoxersstudentsmental health support health support through through referral referral and counselling andservices. counsellingservices.
Asa As a student, student, youyou can can access access Mental Mental Health Health Connect –Connect a free and –afreeand confidentialservicethatallowsyoutodiscussyoursituati aknowledgeableadvisorwhocanoxertailoredrecommendati based upon based upon your your individual individual circumstances. circumstances. This might This include might referral include to UNSW’s to UNSW’sinternal internal counselling counselling service or service an external oran service, external such asservic a doctor, a doctor, psychologist, psychologist, or social orsocial worker.worker.
Youcan You can book bookaaMental Mental Health Health Connect Connect Appointment Appointment at https: https://www. at /www. student.unsw.edu.au/mhc. student. unsw.edu.au/.UNSW mhc UNSW LawSoc LawSoc also also promotes promotes the the imporimpor tanceofmentalhealththroughtheexistenceofWellbeingOyce who run who run initiatives initiatives such as such Wellbeing asWellbeing Week! Week!
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PSYCHOLOGY & WELLNESS APPOINTMENTS
• Ifyour your advisor advisor recommends recommends mental mental healthhealth counselling counselling as an a appropriate service, appropriate service, you can you call can UNSW call Psychology UNSWPsychology & Wellness &Wellness on on +6193854(Monday–Friday,9am-5pm)toarrangeaconfidential appointmentwithaqualifiedcounsellor.
•• You don’t You don’t need need to to have have a diagnosed adiagnosed mentalmental illness toillness access toac this service this service – counsellors –counsellors can help you can with help anything youwith from anything anxiety and fromanxi mood management, mood management, to to developing developing studystudy skills, skills, and motivational andmotivation sup-port! port!
•• Most consultations Most consultations are between arebetween 30-50 minutes 30-5minutes and mayand occur mayoccur either in-person, either in-person, on the onphone, thephone, or via or a video viaacall video (depending call(depending on the on individual’s circumstances individual’s circumstances and changes and in changes the evolving inCOVID theevolving 19 COVID restrictions).Dependingonyourindividualneeds,youmayalso followupappointments.
•• Cost: While Cost: While Psychology Psychology & Wellness &Wellness don’t don’t charge charge out-of-pocket out-of-pocket expenses, you’ll expenses, you’ll bebe required required to present topresent a valid Medicare avalid card Medicare and may card beaskedtoobtainaMentalHealthCarePlanfromyourGP.
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OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES •Intheeventofanemergency,call0or gotothenearestemergencydepartment. •Lifeline–134: 24/7crisissupportandsuicideprevention. •MentalHealthLine–1805: Oxersprofessionalhelpandadviceandcanrefer youtolocalmentalhealthservices.
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CONTENT WRITER NOA ZULMAN (EQUITABLE ACCESS OFFICER) PUBLICATION DESIGN MAHA RAUF & KATIE KOO (PUBLICATIONS DIRECTORS)