Flinders University offers a comprehensive range of student support services, but awareness remains a challenge, and directories like the Student Support & Services Directory aim to improve accessibility.
I was in a meeting the other day in which some participants lamented the absence of a single point of contact where students could learn about support services.
It was a timely reminder that although Flinders has an excellent range of services, finding them can be a bit like running a maze.
Many years back, the Student Support & Services Directory was created – https://students.flinders.edu.au/support.
I’d hazard a guess that many students are unaware of this. But it is a pretty comprehensive list of support services, across the domains of health, wellbeing, study, learning, financial, admin, technology, careers, security, international and Indigenous students, enrolment and more. I recommend that you bookmark this site in your favourite browser.
This year, the orientation team turned that big online list into a published support directory. You can download a digital copy from this post (click the image), and you’ll find print copies at Flinders Connect. If you are having trouble finding a physical copy, email me and I’ll sort you out (gareth.furber@flinders.edu.au).
The reality is that the range of supports available to students is quite comprehensive, but barriers to entry remain awareness and willingness to reach out for help. At least we these kinds of directories we can start tackling the awareness part. Then we can look at why people are or are not willing to ask for help.
