At SIBT, students can access free, confidential counselling services with our team of professional, qualified counsellors. Counsellors are here to assist you with strategies to optimise your studies, and assist with anything impacting your studies. If you do experience some challenges, it is best to access support as early as possible before your studies are affected. Appointments are available in person, by phone or online.
SIBT is proud to be a diverse, safe and inclusive campus. Should you experience bullying, harassment of any kind, violence or sexual assault, we are here to support you. Help is available! Please contact us if you need any support, or if you need assistance completing the Sexual Offences Reporting Form.
For mental health resources in many languages, please visit the NSW Government Transcultural mental health centre page.
For immediate crisis intervention when your life may be in danger, call Emergency Services on 000 or go to your local hospital emergency department.
1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732
Lifeline 13 11 14
Student Welfare
Sometimes events in life can impact your studies. SIBT is here to support you succeed in your studies through these times. Our trained student welfare professionals can provide support, advice and referrals for financial hardship, health related issues, Centrelink, personal safety and family issues, advocacy, accommodation, and SIBT applications, forms and processes.
We also provide tailored support for international students.
You can seek help with any of the below concerns in a student welfare appointment.
Safety
All students have the right to feel safe and at home - on campus, in the community, online and in their residences. SIBT strives to create a safe and inclusive learning environment and has a zero tolerance policy toward bullying and harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, and such behaviour may result in misconduct proceedings.
Sexual assault, harassment and violence can affect anyone in the community, regardless of gender, sexual identity, race, age, culture, ethnicity, religion, disability, economic status or location.
If you have experienced bullying, harassment or assault, Student Support Services staff are available to support you and ensure you receive the support you need.
Need Support?
Please contact us if you need any support or if you need assistance completing the Sexual Offences Reporting Form.
Safety Online
https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people
During your time studying with us, we are committed to providing a safe, supportive environment for you to study in. This includes your safety online. SIBT want you to have safe and positive experiences online.
Unfortunately, any one of us might have a negative experience online, ranging from relatively low impact issues like mild criticism or feedback, to more damaging experiences such as cyberbullying (up to 18 years old), adult cyber abuse (18 years and older), image-based abuse or being scammed.
What is cyber abuse? Cyber abuse is online communication to or about someone which is menacing, harassing or offensive and also intended to cause serious harm to their physical or mental health. It can take place in online classrooms, chat and messaging services, social media, text messages, emails, message boards and online forums e.g. cyber stalking, trolling , impersonation and online hate. Click here for further information.
If you experience something like this, then there is support and information available through the E-Safety commission, information and reporting mechanisms that can assist and help you deal with what you have experienced. It is possible that the above could be prosecuted by law. Please see here for more information.
Support is also available on campus. If you want to speak privately with our free student Counselling Service or Welfare Service, please contact reception or book a one-on-one appointment with our Student Counsellor.
Advocacy support
SIBT provides student-centred, confidential advocacy support to ensure students can raise any matter of concerns with the support of a professional, dedicated support person. We can provide advocacy support with complaints and appeals, show cause, special consideration and misconduct.
Housing & Accommodation
There are many accommodation options for students including student accommodation, renting on your own, share-housing, or homestay with a host family. Book a welfare support appointment if you have any questions about rental laws, student accommodation or homestay agreements, organising housing, starting a tenancy, or if you experience any issues while living in your accommodation.
Should you find yourself without somewhere to stay, SIBT is here to support you, and we may be able to assist you to locate emergency accommodation.
Work
If you are experiencing issues at work, or need assistance to understand your rights and responsibilities as a worker, international student or placement student, you can get free confidential advice in a student welfare appointment. Information is also available from the Federal Government’s Fair Work Australia.
Financial Concerns
We are here to support students who are experiencing financial hardship due to personal circumstances or an extraordinary event (COVID19, humanitarian crisis or natural disaster) and need financial assistance for essential living costs or food security. If you would like to speak to someone, please book an appointment for Welfare Support, or email studentservices@sibt.nsw.edu.au.
We can provide eligible students with a one-off grocery voucher to help you get through a tough time, as well as referrals to external services in the community. Please note: we are unable to provide financial support for tuition fees or fines.
Domestic students may be eligible for income support via Centrelink. Centrelink is a government agency that provides welfare payments to eligible students who meet the requirements.
The Centrelink payments that domestic students may claim include:
Youth Allowance (students up to 24 and job seekers up to 22)
Austudy (students aged 25+)
JobSeeker (job seekers 22+)
Abstudy (Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students)