We’re here for you.

Studying medicine can be an incredibly stressful experience. Balancing classes, study, work, and other commitments is difficult, and finding free time to relax, wind down, and take care of yourself is important!

UNEMSA is here to support all students if they need help. Below you can learn more about our support resources, wellbeing initiatives, and links to other useful resources to support you!

If you can’t find what you’re after here, feel free to contact our committee!

Introducing UNEMSA Wellbeing Wednesday!

Med isn’t very easy. To help your whole being during your time in the course, UNEMSA holds Wellbeing Wednesdays every Wednesday fortnight.

WW Challenges are so easy to be a part of! With your participation, you have a chance to win from a range of snack vouchers, academic subscriptions, your own hobby shark tank funding, or a donation under your name to a cause that matters.

We’re also open to suggestions on how to make UNEMSA and the JMP a more inclusive, supportive community! So shoot us a message on the UNEMSA Wellbeing Facebook Group, or on the Instagram account @wellbeing.jpg!

Check out some of our entrants in 2018:

The JMP Student Support Guide

Studying medicine can be tough and sometimes we need some extra help. Whilst we are studying hard to find out how to look after others, we sometimes forget that first we need to look after ourselves.

JMP students have no shortage of support resources through our universities, AMSA, MedSocs and many others besides. But when things get challenging, the last thing we feel like doing is trawling through policy documents and scrolling through websites looking for them.

We have worked closely with the Dean of Medicine and JMP staff to bring you a guide to navigating the many support systems available to you, based on your personal needs and written in your language. In this guide you’ll find important student support policies boiled down to a ‘need-to-know’ basis, and wellbeing services classified according to what may suit you and your individual needs. We hope that this document can come to your aid when you need it most.

 

Useful Resources

 
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AMSA Mental Health

The AMSA Mental Health Campaign aims to reduce stigma of mental health, improve education about mental health, and help tackle the burden of mental health within our community. 

AMSA Mental Health runs initiatives for #CrazySocks4Docs, RUOK Day, and their own publication, Humans of Medicine.

To stay up to date with AMSA Mental Health, check them out on social media:

Head to health

Head to Health can help you find digital mental health services from some of Australia’s most trusted mental health organisations.

Provided by the Australian Department of Health, Head to Health brings together apps, online programs, online forums, and phone services, as well as a range of digital information resources.

Whether you are trying to improve your own sense of wellbeing, looking for help with something that is bothering you, or helping someone you care about—Head to Health is a good place to start.

Visit their website for more information and resources: https://headtohealth.gov.au/

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Crisis Support

If you need urgent help, the university, local, and national mental health support services are readily accessible and available to you.

If you require urgent medical or safety assistance, please dial 000.

  • UNE After-Hours Crisis Support Line: 1300 661 927 or text 0488 884 169

  • Lifeline: 13 11 14

  • Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

  • eHeadspace: 1800 650 890

  • Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467

  • NSW Mental Health Referral Line: 1800 011 511

  • Armidale Hospital: (02) 6776 9622

LGBTQIASB+ Inclusion + Support

UNEMSA is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in medical and tertiary education. We welcome all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity, and celebrate diversity, individuality, and equality.

UNEMSA is a proud member of ACON’s Welcome Here Project, and the med common room is a designated safe space at the university for all LGBTQ+ people.

We support ACON’s IDAHOBIT and Wear It Purple Days each year. To find out more about our pride initiatives, please contact our Wellbeing Officer.

LGBTQ+ Support Resources

There are a number of LGBTQ+ support services available both nationwide and specifically to residents of NSW.

  • ACON is a global leader in community health, inclusion and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders.

  • Minus18 provides peer support, runs events, and provides resources for LGBTQ+ youth.

  • Twenty10 incorporating GLCS NSW works with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse, intersex, questioning, queer, asexual and more, LGBTIQA+ people and others of diverse genders and sexualities, their families and communities.

  • QLife provides Australia-wide anonymous, LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.

Queer amsa

AMSA Queer advocates for accessible healthcare services for Queer students and communities and produces resources and webinars to better equip medical students to serve Queer patients. AMSA Queer also manages the AMSA Queer Network, which is the largest network of Queer medical students in Australia.

Every year the AMSA Queer (QAMSA) community grows and takes on new and diverse challenges. QAMSA is heavily involved in the representation and advocacy of Queer students. With the continuation of its own Pride Month celebration, it aims to educate all medical students on a range of Queer health issues. QAMSA also manages the AMSA Queer Leaders Facebook group which trains and up-skills Queer Leaders across medical schools.

QAMSA’s private Facebook group provides a safe space for LGBTQIA+ medical students to connect, find community and solidarity, and discuss issues of particular interest to the Queer community. The page is accessible to LGBTQIA+ identifying medical students. To join the Facebook group, simply email the team at queer@amsa.org.au or request to join here @AMSA Queer Network.

Instagram: @amsaqueer

Click here for educational resources promoting LGBTQIA+ equity + creating safe spaces in clinical practice by QAMSA and Wavelength Med.

UNE ALLY

Established in 2022, the UNE Ally Network is a group of staff and students who are committed to making the University of New England a welcoming and inclusive environment for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The Network is open to all current staff and students of UNE and is run by the UNE Ally Network Committee.

When you are in Armidale, come and visit our Queer Space! You can find it on the lower level of Dixson Library. The UNE Queer Space is a safe and open area that is for everyone to use.

“What is an Ally?

Being an Ally means:

  • Supporting equal rights for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, sex characteristics, race, nationality, ethnicity, neurodiversity, impairments, religious belief / non-belief, and many other marginalised identities.

  • Doing what you can to call out discrimination and fight for equality.

  • Trying to make the world a better place for anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+.”

UNE Ally Network not only offers an amazing community, but they also offer free UNE Ally Network Training! This will be available when you register with the group. You will get a certificate too (great for CVs!). 

Joining the Network

To join the Ally Network, new members need to send an email to allynetwork@une.edu.au with the following information:

Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

The UNE CAPS team are professionally qualified and registered psychologists, who offer support no matter the stage of your student journey.

We know study does not happen in a bubble and things like personal concerns, money matters, mental health, managing relationships, stress or adjustment issues can impact your ability to be focused, motivated or organised. We have a number of appointments available for you (note: for free!) to reach out and connect with a member of our team and we can support you with your current needs and move you closer to your study goals. You can become the student you want to be!

Additional LGBTQIA+ resources: 

https://www.une.edu.au/current-students/support/student-support/une-wellness-centre/mental-health-resources/lgbtqia-resources




DISABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY

Definitions


The University of Newcastle and University of New England provide a wide range of services for students with a permanent or temporary disability or medical condition to reduce the impact of their condition on their studies.  Support services include, where reasonable, the provision of equipment, examination adjustments, provision of course materials in an accessible format, lecture support, assessment support, practical assistance, library assistance, advice and information, and advocacy and liaison where required.

To enable the Universities to assess if they are able to provide a student with reasonable adjustments to services and facilities to reduce the impact of their condition on their studies, it is in the best interests of the student that the disability and/or condition is identified and assessed early, potentially before an individual enrolls. Accordingly, the JMP urges students with medical, physical or emotional / psychological conditions or disabilities that may lead to them requiring additional support, services or assistance to make their situation known to the relevant University student support unit as soon as possible. If necessary and reasonable, the University will put into place an individual program of support.

Further information about student support services may be obtained by contacting:

University of New England: Special Needs Office T: +61 2 6773 2897; E: accessinclusion@une.edu.au

UNE Student Accessibility and Wellbeing

The Student Accessibility & Wellbeing Office (SAWO) aims to create an inclusive learning environment for UNE's diverse student population by helping students overcome barriers to their university studies.

SAWO coordinates services and support for various student groups, including those:

  • with a disability and/or health condition

  • who are carers

  • victim-survivors of domestic violence

  • residing in rural and remote areas

  • incarcerated

  • on permanent humanitarian visas

  • members of the defence force and emergency services

  • elite athletes

We are committed to ensuring all our students have access to equal learning opportunities.

If you feel that you would benefit from some extra support and have questions you'd like to discuss with an Accessibility and Wellbeing Coordinator before you register with us, you are welcome to book a 30-minute appointment.

BOOK ONLINE

https://outlook.office365.com/book/UNEStudentAccessInclusionandWellbeing@myune.onmicrosoft.com/

We are available via phone or face-to-face on the Armidale campus (Anaiwan Country). Please advise which option you require when booking an appointment.