The University of Melbourne Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides free, confidential, short-term psychological counselling to currently enrolled students and staff, as well as a range of workshops, mental health training, and helpful resources.
Counselling
Looking after your health and wellbeing is essential to being your best at the University of Melbourne. Life at university can be exciting and interesting, as well as bring challenges such as adjusting to a new environment and the general stress of student life. Sometimes it can be difficult to reach out to family and friends, or deal with things by ourselves. Counselling can be helpful during these times.
Student workshop program
CAPS offers free workshops and group programs on a range of personal development, mental health and wellbeing issues each semester. Mental Health First Aid and other training programs are also available for both students and staff.
The University of Melbourne provides free, confidential, short-term, psychological counselling to currently enrolled domestic and international students and staff located in Australia. We are committed to providing quick access to support for those in need. Students located offshore can explore Support services for remote study.
Appointments
Short-term counselling
Getting support at CAPS begins with an initial appointment. Initial appointments can be booked on the day, or for the next day. They are available Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm. During peak times in semester, demand for initial appointments may increase.
If you cannot find an appointment, contact us during business hours. We can arrange for a counsellor to provide a brief triage phone call to discuss support options. You can also check out what you can do while you are waiting, or if you need urgent support.
All appointments are up to 50 minutes. For your initial appointment, you'll be asked to arrive 10 minutes before your appointment to complete questionnaires about your health and wellbeing.
If you feel more comfortable speaking with a male or female counsellor, or have particular preferences of counsellor, see our staff page for more details. We will endeavour to place you with someone of your choice, although this may not always be possible.
To find out more about what to expect in your appointments and short-term counselling, see our what to expect from counselling page.
Specific services
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International student counselling and support
Moving from another country to study in Australia can be an enriching experience and also bring challenges to wellbeing. This can include stress that comes with culture change, or feelings of loneliness when leaving behind your usual support network such as family and friends.
Our counsellors come from a range of cultural backgrounds and are experienced in working respectfully and collaboratively with people from different cultures. We are committed to being culturally responsive and acknowledge intersectional factors that impact on wellbeing and mental health. We also have dedicated International Student Counsellors, Yuyang Liu and Effie Chen. You can learn more about our counsellors.
Appointments are booked online or by phone. If you would like to see a specific counsellor, you can request this.
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LGBTQIA+ counselling and support
At the University, we value and celebrate the richness diversity brings to our community. We are committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment free from discrimination, harassment, vilification, or victimisation based on sex, sexuality, or gender identity.
Our counsellors are welcoming and supportive of people of all backgrounds, and many counsellors have a particular interest in supporting students of diverse sexuality and gender identity. We also have have a dedicated LGBTIQA+ counsellor, Jean Popomilkov. You can read more about our counsellors.
Appointments are booked online or by phone. If you would like to see a specific counsellor, you can request this.
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HPR for special consideration or registration for ongoing support
Can a counsellor help me apply for special consideration?
Students who have been seeing a CAPS counsellor in an ongoing way about issues affecting their study can talk to their counsellor about completing a Health Professional Report (HPR) to support an application for special consideration or registration for ongoing support.
Before making an appointment:
- Please refer to the University's policies and information on special consideration and registration for ongoing support.
- A copy of the relevant HPR form can be found on either the special consideration page or the registration for ongoing support page.
What if I haven't been to see a counsellor at CAPS before?
HPR forms are best completed by health professionals who have prior knowledge of your circumstances.
If it's your first time seeing one of our counsellors, we may not be able to complete your HPR. However, you can still make an appointment to discuss personal issues that are impacting your study, and we can discuss options and support with you.
More information
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Why seek counselling?
People attend counselling to talk about personal, emotional, or mental health issues which affect their study and life.
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What to expect from counselling
Important information about what to expect when you visit our service, including how we work, what happens in appointments, and your confidentiality.
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Waiting for your appointment
There are many helpful things you can do to support yourself while waiting for your appointment.
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Worried about someone?
What to do if someone you know is struggling and may benefit from counselling.
University staff can access counselling appointments and a range of resources via our services for staff page.
Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers free workshops and group programs on a range of personal development, mental health, and wellbeing issues. Mental health training, including Mental Health First Aid, is also available. For enquiries related to our workshop, group, and training program, email caps-workshops@unimelb.edu.au
Resilience and wellbeing series
Learn a range of fundamental skills to better cope and adapt to life's challenges.
| Webinar | Description | Webinar recordings |
|---|---|---|
| Growing through change and uncertainty | Change is inevitable - some changes are expected, while others can come out of the blue and leave us feeling uncertain and overwhelmed. Join this webinar to understand common reactions to change, learn adaptive strategies to manage the difficult feelings that can accompany change, and uncover new perspectives and opportunities that change can bring. | Watch recording |
| Boundaries and effective communication | Understand what healthy relationships look like, the importance of boundaries and how to set them, and effective negotiation and communication skills to resolve conflicts. | Watch recording |
| Managing stress and how to relax | Understand how our bodies and minds respond to stress, and how this knowledge can help you build relaxation skills. You will also be guided to learn a range of evidence-based relaxation strategies. | Watch recording |
| Changing negative thinking | Identify common unhelpful thinking patterns that can contribute to increased stress, anxiety, and other difficult feelings. Learn and practise how to reframe and balance your thoughts. | Watch recording |
| Let it go: unhooking from unhelpful thoughts and worry | During stressful or uncertain times, we can easily get caught up in worries or persistent negative thoughts, but this is often not useful. Learn and practise ways to unhook from unhelpful thoughts so they have less power over your life. | Watch recording |
| Better sleep | This webinar aims to help you understand the factors that impact on sleep and offer strategies to get a better night's sleep. | Watch recording |
| Managing difficult emotions | Learn more about your emotions and why your attempts to control them can sometimes leave you feeling worse. Join in to develop practical skills to better respond to strong emotions while living the life you want. | Watch recording |
| How to be kind to yourself | Understand what self-compassion is (and is not!), and how this approach can enhance motivation and resilience. Learn practical ways you can show yourself a little kindness when you need it most. | Watch recording |
| Building connections: Overcoming loneliness and isolation | Feeling connected and having a sense of belonging is a natural desire to have as a human being. This webinar will explore the challenging feeling of loneliness we all experience sometimes, and ways to connect when we feel disconnected. | Watch recording |
| Strengthening motivation | How do we motivate ourselves to get things done when we don't feel like it? Learn how to identify your values and use them to plan and carry out effective actions, so that you can do what matters most even when difficult feelings arise. | Watch recording |
Enhance your learning series
Learn strategies to enhance your study and learning experience.
| Webinar | Description | Webinar recordings |
|---|---|---|
| Optimising focus and attention | This webinar aims to help you better understand what attention is and how it works. You'll be able to identify the factors that affect focus, and learn about a range of strategies to build your concentration. | Watch recording |
| Overcoming procrastination: Managing your thinking | Do you put off doing study until the last minute even though you know it’s going to cause you stress? This webinar aims to help you identify unhelpful thoughts that lead to procrastination and learn strategies to challenge them so that you can study more efficiently. | Watch recording |
| Overcoming procrastination: Practical tips and strategies | This webinar guides you through a range of practical strategies to help you study more effectively, feel more competent, and reduce the likelihood of leaving your study to the last minute. | Watch recording |
| Dealing with exam anxiety | It's normal to feel tense and worried in the face of exams. This webinar will help you understand what causes exam anxiety, and cover our top tips to manage it so you can be at your best for your exams. | Watch recording |
Neurodivergent series
Learn about neurodivergence and strategies to enhance your study and learning experience.
| Webinar | Description | Registration/Recording |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding autism | In this webinar facilitated by CAPS counsellors, learn about what autism is and explore some of the strengths and challenges that autistic people have. We'll address myths associated with autism and better understanding of masking, meltdowns, and burnout. Understand pathways to diagnosis and support for autistic people. | Watch recording |
| Tips and strategies for autistic students | In this webinar, CAPS counsellors explore unique issues that autistic students may face in adjusting to university studies. Consider how you could utilise your strengths and also where additional support may be helpful along the university journey. Exchange ideas and learn tailored strategies to manage your capacity and sensory environment to better respond to stress and prevent burnout. | Watch recording |
| Understanding ADHD | In this webinar facilitated by CAPS counsellors, you'll learn about what ADHD is and appreciate the challenges and strengths associated with the diagnosis. We'll address myths about ADHD and how it can look different in different people. Understand pathways to diagnosis and support for adult ADHD. | Watch recording |
| Tips and strategies for ADHDers | In this webinar facilitated by CAPS Counsellors, explore unique issues that ADHDers may face whilst at uni. Learn and exchange ideas about a range of strategies to effectively manage ADHD including improving sleep and routine, addressing procrastination and motivation, enlisting family and friends to provide support, as well as a range of university services. | Watch recording |
Anxiety management programs
We all feel anxious at times, but it's possible to learn ways to manage this so that it doesn't get in the way of life. Find out more about anxiety and how to cope effectively through these programs.
| Program | Description | Date/time | Location | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Break free from anxiety | Facilitated by CAPS counsellors, this in-person group program aims to provide a supportive group environment for students to connect with each other, and learn a range of strategies to manage stress and anxiety more effectively through small group discussions and experiential exercises. This requires a commitment to attend all 2 x 3 hour sessions. | Tue 15 Aug and Tue 22 Aug 9.30am - 12.30pm | Parkville Campus, location provided on registration | Completed |
| Beyond study: Overcoming social anxiety | This three-week online program will help you understand social anxiety and offer strategies to overcome it. Students who participate in the online webinars will also be invited to attend an in-person follow-up session. Facilitated by CAPS Counsellors, this will be a chance to meet other students in a supportive environment, engage in further practice of anxiety management strategies introduced in the online program, and to ask questions. To get the most out of the program, it's best to attend all three online sessions; the in-person session is optional but encouraged. | Mon 21 Aug (Online) Mon 28 Aug (Online) Mon 4 Sep (Online) Mon 11 Sep (In-person) 1 - 2pm | Online followed by an in-person session on Parkville Campus, location provided on registration | Completed |
| Break free from anxiety | Facilitated by CAPS counsellors, this in-person group program aims to provide a supportive group environment for students to connect with each other, and learn a range of strategies to manage stress and anxiety more effectively through small group discussions and experiential exercises. This requires a commitment to attend all 2 x 3 hour sessions. | Tue 3 Oct and Tue 10 Oct 9.30am - 12.30pm | Parkville Campus, location provided on registration | Completed |
Mindfulness programs
Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment with an attitude of openness, curiosity, and acceptance. Regular practice can help us better manage stress and anxiety, improve our focus, engage more fully in life, and take effective action.
| Program | Description | Date/time | Location | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midday mindfulness |
These online sessions aim to introduce the experience of cultivating calm and wellbeing from within. Give your brain a break from study or work by joining a CAPS counsellor in a guided mindfulness meditation. All students and staff welcome. | Every Monday and Wednesday 12 - 12.30pm (Running from Mon 31 Jul - Wed 15 Nov, except Mon 14 Aug and Mon 25 Sep) | Online | Register here |
| Mindfulness for stress management group program |
This in-person group program aims to provide a supportive learning environment for participants to develop a regular mindfulness practice to better manage stress. This requires a commitment to attend 8 x 2-hour weekly sessions and 20 minutes of practice per day. All students welcome. | Wed 26 Jul Wed 2 Aug Wed 9 Aug Wed 16 Aug Wed 23 Aug Wed 30 Aug Wed 6 Sep Wed 13 Sep 9.15 - 11.15am | Parkville Campus, location provided on registration | Completed |
LGBTIQA+ programs
Developed for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, asexual, or with other diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions (LGBTIQA+). These programs offer a safe and supportive environment for personal growth and building resilience.
| Program | Description | Date/time | Location | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eQuip: LBGTIQA+ Wellness and Resilience Group Program | Facilitated by CAPS Counsellors who also identify as part of the LGBTIQA+ community, this is a 6 x 1.5 hour in-person group program. Join our group to explore the impact of marginalisation and discrimination on the mental health of LGBTIQA+ folk. You will learn valuable tools and strategies to navigate mental health challenges, reflect on values and future directions, and connect with like-minded individuals who share similar experiences. Attendance of all 6 sessions is required to fully benefit from the program. | TBA | Parkville Campus, location provided on registration | Completed If you would like to be notified of future eQuip sessions or similar programs, please complete this form. |
International student programs
Reflect on your experience as an international student and extend your social network. Gain support from counsellors and other international students in learning ways to adjust to a new environment, build meaningful relationships, and maintain positive wellbeing.
| Program | Description | Date/time | Location | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International student discussion group: Social connections | Facilitated by CAPS Counsellors, this is a 3 x 1.5 hour in-person discussion group program. We aim to provide a supportive space for international students to share experiences around cultural adjustment, making and deepening social connections, navigating interpersonal conflicts, and developing coping strategies to cope with stress or other challenges you may experience in the process of settling into life in Melbourne. You're welcome to attend 1 or 2 or all 3 sessions as it suits you! | Tue 8/8, Tue 15/8, Tue 22/8 2.30 - 4pm | Parkville Campus, location provided on registration | Completed |
| International student discussion group: Managing stress | Facilitated by CAPS Counsellors, this is a 3 x 1.5 hour in-person discussion group program. We aim to provide a supportive space for international students to share experiences around stress from study, family and society expectations, and job-hunting in a new country. Gain support and strategies from the group to cope with stress in these life domains. You're welcome to attend 1 or 2 or all 3 sessions as it suits you! | Tue 29/8, Tue 5/9, Tue 12/9 2.30 - 4pm | Parkville Campus, location provided on registration | Completed |
| Webinar | Description | Webinar recordings |
|---|---|---|
| How to make challenging (or tough) decisions (CAPS x UMSUi Collaboration) | We make decisions everyday; however, some choices are not easy to make. “Do I stay in Melbourne, or move back to my home country?”, “Do I stay in this relationship, or leave?”, “Do I stay in this job - or quit?” Join this webinar to hear from UMSU International students, CAPS counsellors, and your peers about their experiences, and workshop how to make sound decisions in difficult situations. | Watch recording |
| How to manage family and societal expectations (CAPS x UMSUi Collaboration) | "My family spent quite a fortune to support my studies, so I have to make them proud." "Should I become a ... like everyone else, or pursue a career I'm truly passionate about?" Sound familiar? We carry expectations from family, society, and ourselves. Although expectations can motivate us, they can also sometimes overwhelm us. Join this webinar to share your experiences, hear from UMSU International students and CAPS counsellors, and explore ways to effectively manage expectations. | Watch recording |
Graduate researcher (GR) programs
| Program | Description | Date/time | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate research: Early tasks and considerations | In this online workshop, co-facilitated by Academic Skills and CAPS, you'll learn about the most important tasks of early stage candidature (pre-confirmation) including establishing first-year goals, critically reviewing the literature, and refining your research topic; developing habits to prioritise your wellbeing and work-life balance; setting up an effective supervisor-student relationship; and psychological strategies to build resilience and sustain yourself for the research journey. | Wed 16 Aug, 1.30 - 3pm | Completed |
| Going the distance: Sustaining motivation in the graduate research journey | Facilitated by CAPS counsellors, join this online workshop to share ideas for navigating changes in motivation throughout the graduate journey, and how to stay on track. You’ll develop a toolkit of strategies to generate motivation and tackle procrastination as a GR, and learn how to build healthy self-care habits to sustain yourself over the long haul. | Tue 19 Sep, 1.30 - 3pm | Completed |
| Responding to and thriving through expert and public scrutiny of your research | This online workshop, co-facilitated by Academic Skills and CAPS, explores strategies for building constructive understanding and psychological resilience in the face of scrutiny of your research. We will discuss effective and practical strategies to engage with critical feedback from supervisors, examiners, and peer reviews. You'll learn to manage your response adaptively to benefit from feedback to enable your research stands up to the highest levels of expert and public scrutiny. | Thu 5 Oct, 1.30 - 3pm | Completed |
| Addressing imposter syndrome and quietening the self-critic with self-compassion | Graduate research can be a rewarding journey, and have times when it can leave many GRs doubting their abilities or feeling like a 'fraud'. In this workshop facilitated by CAPS counsellors, we’ll unpack what ‘imposter syndrome’ is and learn strategies to handle it. You’ll discover evidence-based tools to overcome perfectionism and address unhelpful expectations you might be placing on yourself, managing your inner critic so that it doesn’t get in the way of you achieving your study and career goals. | Thu 26 Oct, 1.30 - 3pm | Completed |
Mental health training
Learn to recognise and assist someone developing a mental health problem or in crisis, including Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training.
Self-help resources
Explore resources by Counselling and Psychological Services, including tip sheets and guided exercises.
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Mental health problems
Tip sheets on common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and self-harm.
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Study-related issues
Information on how to cope with psychological issues which may be affecting your studies, including stress management and motivation to study.
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Relationships
Find out how to make the most out of your relationships at uni or manage relationship issues.
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Life transitions
Get advice on how to handle big transitions in your life, from adjusting to life at University to grief and loss.
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Wellbeing
Tip sheets on wellbeing, including self-care, getting better sleep and dealing with anger.
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Addictive behaviours
Advice about how to deal with or help others with addictive behaviours such as drug, alcohol or gambling addiction.
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Trauma
Information and advice on how to cope with and respond to traumatic life events.
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Guided exercises
Access a range of guided mental health and wellbeing exercises, with accompanying audio files.
Recommended external resources
Explore recommended external online mental health resources.
Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provide a range of services to staff of the University of Melbourne.
Information on staff wellbeing services, support, and events is also available on the Human Resources Staff Hub page (login required).
Mental health advice for others (secondary consultation)
CAPS can provide secondary consultation; that is we can consult with university staff regarding any mental health concerns about students or other staff. This could include:
- Dealing with a crisis
- Understanding complex student behaviour
- Responding to mental health concerns
- Referring people for counselling.
Secondary consultation is provided by senior counsellors and the manager.
To request a phone or in-person secondary consultation, call us at 03 8344 6927 during business hours.
Staff counselling
As a University of Melbourne staff member, you can access short-term individual counselling appointments via either the Employee Assistance Program or Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS).
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The University's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides a wide range of free, independent, and confidential services that staff can access for any wellbeing issues you may be experiencing, including personal wellbeing challenges not related to work. Staff and immediate family members can access confidential short-term counselling, along with other wellbeing resources and support materials. All services are delivered either face-to-face, online, via telephone or through the EAP service provider's app. Learn more about the EAP and how to access EAP services on the dedicated EAP Staff Hub page.
Staff counselling through CAPS
CAPS provides free, confidential, short-term counselling for staff. All counsellors are employees of the University and have a wealth of experience in assisting you to develop adaptive strategies to support you at home and at work.
Initial appointments
If you are new to CAPS or haven't attended our service this year, book an appointment by:
- Calling us on 03 8344 6927, or
- Visiting our reception at Level 5, 757 Swanston Street, Parkville.
Return appointments
Staff who are existing clients can book, check-in for, reschedule or cancel an appointment using our online appointment portal.
Other programs and resources
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Students at risk
We encourage and promote early identification and support of students who may be experiencing mental health issues or personal distress.
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Mental health training
Counselling and Psychological Services offer a range of mental health training for staff.
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Programs for residential colleges and affiliated accommodation
Counselling and Psychological Services provide a number of specialist training programs for student leaders, tutors and advisors in residential colleges.
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Mental Health Advisory Group
The Mental Health Advisory Group is a group of University staff with an interest in a “whole of university approach” to mental health. They support the University of Melbourne Mental Health Strategy.
Emergency support
Are you or someone else in immediate danger?
- In a life-threatening emergency, call 000, then call University Security on 03 8344 6666
- Go to your nearest hospital emergency department
- Contact your local psychiatric triage service (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
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Hospitals close to campus
Location Hospital Psychiatric triage service (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) Parkville campus Royal Melbourne Hospital (Phone: 03 9342 7000)
St Vincent's Hospital (Phone: 03 9231 2211)1300 874 243
1800 888 320 (15 - 24 years)Southbank campus The Alfred Hospital (Phone: 03 9076 2000) 1300 874 243
1800 888 320 (15 - 24 years) -
If you are in another area
Call the nearest major hospital - they will connect you with the local after-hours mental health service. You can also find the contact details of mental health services near your suburb or town using the Victorian Government Accessing Mental Health Services Finder.
Mental health crisis support
A mental health crisis is where you may require same-day or urgent support from a mental health professional.
During business hours
Call Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) on 03 8344 6927 and let us know that the situation needs urgent attention.
If you are concerned about a student's wellbeing, you can contact us for mental health advice for others (i.e., request a secondary consultation) by calling us on 03 8344 6927.
Learn more about our psychological support for critical incidents.
After hours mental health crisis support
Our standard business hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. For mental health support and advice outside of these hours (including 24 hours on weekends and public holidays), you can contact the University's After Hours Mental Health Crisis Support Service:
- Phone: 1300 219 459
- Text: 0480 079 188
Text or call this service for help with:
- Finding immediate relief from emotional distress
- Identifying coping strategies for current problems or a crisis
- Exploring pathways for longer-term solutions
- Working out the next steps to take.
Call 000 (emergency services) if you are in immediate danger. The After Hours Mental Health Crisis Support Service does not offer ongoing counselling, but can link you with community counselling, wellbeing services, and resources.
External support services
Explore recommended external services for mental health support, including suicide and crisis support.