Two parrots enjoying spring

Support services

Need help now

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000. For other urgent support needs, choose from the services listed below.

Emergency

NOW Immediate danger
When: Life-threatening emergency

If on campus, also call ANU UniSafe.

ANU UniSafe

24/7 On-campus security
Hours: 24/7

Urgent on-campus assistance.

Police Assistance Line

24/7 Non-emergency police

If on campus, also call ANU UniSafe.

ANU Wellbeing & Support Line

24/7 Students

Crisis counselling for students.

Staff & Family

24/7 EAP

Crisis counselling services.

Domestic Violence Crisis Service

24/7 Canberra based

Support and intervention for domestic violence.

Access Mental Health

24/7 Immediate support

For concerns about your own or someone else’s mental health.

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre

7am–11pm Crisis support

Supporting victim survivors of sexual violence.

Kids Helpline

24/7 Up to 25 years

Counselling support line for young people up to 25 years.

Support services

Use the search and quick filters to find the right support option.

For
Some services treat students doing paid work at ANU (e.g. casual hours) as staff. If unsure, check the service details.
Mode
No matches found
Try a different keyword (e.g. counselling, legal, 24/7) or hit Reset to clear your search and filters. If you still can’t find the right option, students can contact the ANU Wellbeing and Support Line (24/7). For urgent help, see the contacts at the top of this page.

Filters

For
Some services treat students doing paid work at ANU (e.g. casual hours) as staff.
Mode

Adviser to Staff (ANU)

Counselling Weekdays Free
Hours: Weekdays 9am–5pm
Session limit: Max 6 sessions per semester
Mode: Call, online, in person
Who: Registered psychologists (ANU internal service)
What you can get help with
  • Confidential counselling
  • Career advice
  • Conflict mediation

Staff Respect Consultant (ANU)

Workplace support Weekdays Free
Hours: Weekdays 9am–5pm
Session limit: Varies
Mode: Call, online, in person
Who: Staff Respect Consultant (ANU internal position)
What you can get help with
  • Support for work related issues
  • Triage to the right service

Legal referral (Assure)

EAP Legal Weekdays Free
Hours: Weekdays 9am–5pm
Session limit: Up to 2 sessions (introductory legal referral; limitations apply)
Mode: Call, online, in person
Who: Registered lawyers (Assure, external provider)
What you can get help with
  • Introductory legal referral
  • General legal advice (limitations apply)

Specific coaching (Assure)

EAP Coaching Weekdays Free
Hours: Weekdays 9am–5pm
Session limit: Varies
Mode: Call, online, in person
Who: Dietician, finance coach (Assure, external provider)
What you can get help with
  • Nutritional coaching
  • Financial coaching

Counselling (Assure)

EAP Counselling 24/7 Free
Hours: 24/7 (critical incident support)
Session limit: 4
Mode: Call, online, in person
Who: Registered psychologists (Assure, external provider)
Good to know: For regular appointments, weekdays 9am–5pm (some early/late appointments may be available).
What you can get help with
  • Confidential counselling
  • Coaching (career, relationships, etc.)
  • General support

Counselling (Converge)

EAP Counselling 24/7 Free
Hours: 24/7
Session limit: 2–4*
Mode: Call, text/chat, online, in person
Who: Registered psychologists, lawyers, dietitians (Converge, external provider)
Good to know: Appointments are available 24/7 Australia-wide; in-person options are more restricted at irregular hours.
What you can get help with
  • One-on-one counselling
  • Group counselling
  • Additional options: neurodiversity, legal, manager support, employee support, career, conflict, family, nutrition, finance

Specialist helplines (Converge)

EAP Helpline 24/7 Free
Hours: 24/7
Mode: Call
Good to know: Numbers for each specialist helpline are listed on the ANU Converge page. These helplines can also triage to counselling and support services.
Topics supported
  • Aged care support
  • Disability & carers
  • Domestic & family violence
  • First Nations
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Spiritual & pastoral care
  • Young people & young adults

Counselling (ANU)

Counselling Weekdays Free
Hours: Weekdays 8am–4pm
Session limit: Short-term
Mode: Online, in person
Who: Registered psychologists (ANU)
What you can get help with
  • Free, short-term, confidential counselling
  • Workshops, online courses and resources

Wellbeing and Support Line (ANU)

Helpline 24/7 Free
Hours: 24/7
Mode: Call, text
Who: Registered psychologists (ANU)
What you can get help with
  • Hotline support for situational stress, emotional difficulties, and mental health concerns

Chaplaincy (ANU)

Chaplaincy Weekdays Free
Hours: Prayer/chaplaincy space access is generally weekdays during term time (check current hours)
Appointments: Flexible & ad hoc
Mode: Call, online, in person
Who: Multifaith chaplains (ANU endorsed; mainly volunteers)
What you can get help with
  • Chaplain appointments (flexible, ad hoc)
  • Support for wellbeing, meaning, faith/spiritual care (multi-faith)
Notes
  • Multifaith team (women and men, lay and clergy)
  • Diverse cultural, linguistic and educational backgrounds

Psychology Clinic (ANU)

Clinic Weekdays Low cost / varies
Hours: Most weekdays 9am–5pm (Closed Tuesdays); Fri 9am–4pm
Mode: In person
Who: Provisional psychologists supervised by registered clinical psychologists (ANU)
What you can get help with
  • Assessments
  • Therapy
  • Counselling
What to know
  • Training clinic for provisional psychologists
  • Can’t assist with complex or chronic mental health conditions
  • Waiting list may close periodically when capacity is reached

LGBTIQA+SA Peer Support (QLife)

Peer support Every day Free
Hours: Every day 3pm–9pm
Session limit: N/A
Mode: Call, online
Who: Free and anonymous peer-support and referral service run by staff and volunteers with lived experience as LGBTIQA+SB people (external entity)
What you can get help with
  • Peer support for LGBTIQA+SB individuals and their support people
  • Anonymous support and referral

Additional Resources

ANU Resources

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | Services
Landing page for the Anu Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Services Division. Contains useful links to factsheets, disclosure and reporting tools, action plans, legislation and University policy documents relevant to diversity equity and inclusion.

ANU Supporting Students in Distress (Guide)
Topics covered:

  • Trauma-Informed Support at ANU
  • Managing your own wellbeing
  • Death of a Student
  • Disengaged Student
  • Missing Student
  • Bully, Discrimination or Harassment Disclosure
  • Sexual Assault or Sexual Harassment Disclosure
  • Supporting a student in distress
  • Suicidal or Self-Harming Risk
  • Key ANU Student Services Contacts
  • ANU On-Campus Residences

LGBTIQA+ support | Australian National University
Compilation of different LGBTIQA+ support networks, contacts, and services, internal and external to the university.

Anti-Racism Factsheet
A factsheet developed by the ANU Staff Respect Consultant to help individuals navigate, mitigate, prevent and eliminate racism at the ANU. The factsheet contains a mixture of resources, advice and context in reference to Australian and ANU policy.

Family and Domestic Violence Factsheet
A factsheet developed by the ANU Staff Respect Consultant to help ANU members understand how Family and Domestic Violence Leave works at the ANU.

Urgent Support - Students
A page developed with contact details for providing urgent support to students.

Student Support - wellbeing, medical, academic
Compilation of descriptions of ANU service providers and their contact details for supporting students with academic, wellbeing and medical issues.

Mental health support for students outside Australia

Many of the counselling services listed on this page only cover services provided within Australia, here are additional resources that students (and staff) can access abroad:

Suicide Hotlines & Crisis Helplines | Free, 24/7 Chat, Text & Phone (findahelpline.com). 
If you require urgent support, please contact your nearest crisis service and ask them about options for ongoing assistance in your area.

Contact your local doctor 
Your local doctor can help with treatment for mental health symptoms and also provide a referral to local services.

Mental Health Resources 
ANU Counselling provides free online Mental Health Resources including handouts, talking tips, and their online mindfulness course. 

Moodgym, Ecouch & Centre for clinical interventions
Free self-help & mental health programs available online.

TalkCampus
The TalkCampus app enables you to talk anonymously to students from universities and colleges around the world going through similar struggles and offers instant support for your mental health any time of day and night. You can also find information about other mental health apps here with eMHprac recommendations for tertiary students. 

Uni Virtual Clinic (ANU) 
Is an online platform designed to provide university students with easy access to information and tools to support their mental health. This includes tips to manage stress, resources for dealing with anxiety, or strategies to tackle study issues.