Support and services

Macquarie University supports and services

Personal support and services are available for staff and students and can be accessed at any time.

This page provides students and staff with links to various support options on- and off-campus relating to matters of diversity and inclusion.

Internal Macquarie University specific supports and services

Macquarie University offers several personal support services for health, wellbeing, and social needs, among other personal situations you may be facing.

The Student Care and Reporting Network assists with reports of:

• wellbeing concerns about your or another student’s physical or mental wellbeing
• inappropriate behaviour concerning harassment or other unwanted behaviours involving students
• academic misconduct, or make a complaint or feedback on a service or experience.

• Student Wellbeing provides 24/7 assistance with matters relating to your mental health so that you can thrive whilst you study. Some services include (but are not limited to) online mental wellbeing support, counselling and mental health support, and safety advice.
• Accessibility Services helps provide support and reasonable adjustments to your studies if you have an ongoing disability, health condition and/or mental health condition, have a temporary injury, are neurodivergent, or are a carer of people with a disability.
• Student Advocacy can help you understand university policies and procedures, ensuring that you can better understand your rights and responsibilities whilst studying at Macquarie.
• Macquarie runs many Peer Support programs, like Mentors and Buddies, which allow you to have social and study support when first starting your studies at university.
• Walanga Muru provides a wide range of support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at Macquarie University, including (but not limited to) course guidance, enrolment support, and student spaces.
• Macquarie University Health General Practice offers free, non-judgmental, and confidential STI testing services.

To see more of the supports and services Macquarie University offers, visit the Students Support page.

External community supports and services

There are also many external organisations and services that can provide support and assistance to students and staff who are experiencing any of a range of issues.

• 13Yarn is a 24/7 free, confidential crisis support phoneline run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Mudgin-gal is an Aboriginal organisation delivering support, referrals, and community-based services to Aboriginal women and families, including a drop-in centre and legal advice.
• Wirringa Baiya is a NSW state-wide community legal centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children and youth.

• The NSW Quitline 13 7848 (13QUIT) is a confidential telephone information and counselling service, to help people who smoke or vape quit and stay quit.
• GambleAware NSW is the government organisation dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of gambling. They can provide confidential advice and support to anyone affected by gambling.
• Gambling Help Online offer free online support for anyone affected by gambling. They offer 24/7 support from gambling counsellors, can direct you to local support services, and provide tools and resources to understand and manage your gambling.
• Sydney Drug Education and Counselling Centre specialises in supporting young people, aged 12–25 years, with alcohol and drug counselling services.

• 1800RESPECT is the National Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence Counselling Service providing information, referrals, and counselling.
• Full Stop Australia provides counselling, training, and advocacy to support people impacted by sexual, domestic, and family violence.

• Anti-Slavery Australia provide free legal and migration services to people who have experienced or are at risk of modern slavery.
• Legal Aid NSW provide free legal advice, assistance, and representation for workers with employment law problems, including issues with wages, dismissal, and discrimination.

• Link2Home is the NSW statewide homelessness information and referral telephone service. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. They can provide information, assessments, and referrals to homelessness support and accommodation services in NSW.
• Tenants Union of New South Wales provide information and resources on housing rights in New South Wales, covering areas such as evictions, repairs and utilities, and starting a tenancy.
• Youth Off The Street is a not-for-profit youth services organisation. They support 12–24-year-olds in NSW and QLD who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and disadvantage.

• ACON is NSW’s leading LGBTQ health organisation, providing community health, inclusion, and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders.
• Minus18 is an organisation for LGBTQIA+ youth, improving lives through events, workshops, and peer support.
• QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships.

• Autism Connect is a free, national autism helpline, providing independent and expert information over phone, email, and webchat.
• Lifeline provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services.
• Mensline offer free professional 24/7 telephone counselling support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), addiction, relationships, stress, and wellbeing.
• People with Disability Australia provide an individual advocacy service and connect people with disability and their families to information, advice, and referrals.

• Family Planning NSW Talkline provides free and confidential information, advice and options across a wide range of reproductive and sexual health issues, including contraception, sexual transmitted infections, and abortions.
• The Sexual Health Info Link is a free and confidential advice line where you can speak to a qualified sexual health nurse.

These are just a few options, and there might be other support services that are better suited to your situation. If you have been discriminated against, sexually harassed, vilified or victimised in NSW, Anti-Discrimination New South Wales may be able to help.