• Purpose
• Section 1 - Scope
• Section 2 - Procedure
• Student support services
• Critical incidents
• Mental health and student conduct
• Section 3 - Responsibilities
• Section 4 - Definitions
• Section 5 - Appendices
• Appendix A – Contact details
• Appendix B – Critical incidents
• On-campus incidents
• Off-campus incidents
• Appendix C – Role of University of Canberra student support services

Purpose

(1) This Procedure will assist University of Canberra (University) community members to support students by providing a coherent, supporting, culturally safe and holistic approach when responding to students experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis.

Section 1 - Scope

(2) This Procedure seeks to support the implementation and effectiveness of the Support for Students Policy.

(3) This Procedure offers processes to staff and students to facilitate:

1. good mental health for the University student community
2. appropriate responses to those individuals experiencing mental health conditions.

(4) This procedure applies to all University of Canberra Students enrolled in courses and units of study including non-award courses.

Section 2 - Procedure

Student support services

(5) Staff must familiarise themselves with the support services available at the University website and described below and refer students as required and appropriate. Staff are advised to contact the Student Wellbeing and Support team or Medical and Counselling if they require advice and/or assistance in supporting the learning of a student experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis.

(6) Special consideration will be applied by the Future Students team to students who declare their academic performance/eligibility has been impacted by a mental health condition or learning disorder, when applying for (re)admission to the Universoity. For more details see Study at UC - University of Canberra.

(7) University staff must complete professional development to assist in their understanding and ability to support students experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis. The University provides opportunities for staff to complete training eg Mental Health First Aid.

A Student can be brought to the attention of University support services in the following ways:

1. Incident report – student residences – Unilodge staff to notify Student Wellbeing and International Support (SWIS) by email – wellbeing@canberra.edu.au.
2. IVIVA report – Director, Student Life.
3. Internal referral – staff member notifies SWIS via email, phone, walk up or Teams message, OR Medical and Counselling via phone or walk up.
4. External referral – family, health professional, Placement/Internship host, external support service (list not exhaustive) notifies the University (IVIVA report, faculty, careers, SWIS, and so on) via email, phone or walk up.
5. Student initiates contact via an appointment, email or phone with Medical and Counselling or SWIS.

(8) Internal and external support services may include any of the following services:

1. Access Mental Health
2. Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
3. Community Services
4. Domestic Violence Crisis Service
5. Emergency Services
6. InclusionUC
7. Onelink
8. Medical and Counselling.

Critical incidents

(9) A critical incident is defined as a tragic or traumatic event or situation, or threat of such, which has a serious personal consequence for the student or their family that may result in emotional reactions in the University community.

(10) Whether or not a staff member believes that a critical student incident arises from a mental health issue, the incident must be managed by the University’s Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) under the terms of the University’s Resilience Management Framework and Business Continuity Plan. The procedures to be followed in reporting a critical student incident are summarised in Appendix A.

Mental health and student conduct

(11) The University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023 address matters of academic, non-academic misconduct, or serious misconduct, as defined in the Student Conduct Rules, by a student while they are on University grounds or taking part in any event or activity related to the student’s enrolment at the University and conducted under the name of the University. This includes placements, internships, exchange programs, excursions, field trips, conferences and courses undertaken through a Third-Party Provider institution.

(12) It is recognised that certain behaviours that may be considered to be a breach of the Student Conduct Rules may be caused by, or result from, a serious mental health condition. If a person suspects on reasonable grounds that a student’s conduct has occurred because that student is suffering from a serious mental health condition, the student’s conduct may be referred to an Authorised Officer under the University of Canberra (Medical Leave) Rules 2022. The Medical Leave Rules address matters of physical and mental health conditions that impinge on the individual’s capacity to engage in university study and life.

(13) If the student’s conduct has been referred to a Prescribed Authority under the Student Conduct Rules, and the Prescribed Authority forms a reasonable belief that the student may have a serious health condition, the Prescribed Authority may transfer the matter to an Authorised Officer under the Medical Leave Rules. If this occurs, the Authorised Officer can recommend to the Prescribed Authority that the student conduct matter be suspended, including that the student conduct proceedings be permanently stayed.

Section 3 - Responsibilities

Section 5 - Appendices

Appendix A – Contact details

Appendix B – Critical incidents

On-campus incidents

Off-campus incidents

Appendix C – Role of University of Canberra student support services