Student appointments

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.

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.

A counsellor making notes while talking with a client

Specific services

  • 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.

  • 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.

    Learn more about LGBTIQA+ counselling and support

  • 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:

    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.