Internal Referral Form for Counselling and Psychological Services

• Staff can make a referral on a student’s behalf if they have concerns about a student’s mental health or wellbeing and the student appears unable to request support on their own. 

   
  

• Alternatively, staff may offer to help a student request support themselves by completing the Appointment Request Form with them or sending them the link. This can help the student feel empowered to engage with the support offered.

• The Counselling team will make a clinical decision and determine the most appropriate course of action. This may include contacting the student via phone or email to offer support or liaising with Campus Care.

  
  

• We always prefer that you let the student know that you are making a referral on their behalf. If this is not possible, please outline why in your referral form and/or contact Counselling on (02) 4921 6622 to discuss the referral with the Triage Wellbeing Advisor.

  
  

• Please note, unless there is a serious and imminent risk of harm to themselves or others, it always remains the student’s choice whether they would like to accept any support.

• This Internal Referral Form is only monitored between 9 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday. It is not suitable for emergency or urgent situations.

   
  

• Some examples of situations which may require urgent attention include current aggressive behaviour, a person who has threatened to act on suicidal behaviour in the coming days, or a person who has just experienced a sexual or physical assault. The Mental Health Toolkit provides further information about identifying and responding to such situations.

   
  

If you believe that the situation requires urgent attention, please consider the following options:

Emergency Services (Ph: 000) – if the situation is life-threatening always call emergency services first, then contact campus security.

Campus Security (Ph: 02 4921 5888) – if someone is currently behaving in an unsafe, aggressive, or threatening way on campus.

Campus Care (Ph: 02 4921 8600) – available during business hours; may be able to provide a rapid response or advice relating to concerning, intimidating, or threatening behaviour; support following sexual or physical assault.

NSW Mental Health Line (Ph: 1800 011 511) – operates 24 hours 7 days a week; staffed by trained mental health professionals; able to complete a brief assessment and make recommendations for appropriate care including referral to community mental health teams.

After-Hours Support Line (Ph: 1300 653 007) – operates outside of business hours (including weekends and university closedown periods) and is staffed by crisis support specialists who can provide advice to staff or support to students in distress.

• We encourage you to continue to follow up with the student as appropriate for your role

   
  

• If you would like any tips about what is appropriate or how to best respond in common scenarios, please take a look at the Mental Health Toolkit.

   
  

• You are also welcome to call Counselling on 02 4921 6622 or the After-Hours Crisis Support Line for tailored advice.

We strongly encourage you to ask the student:

1) Do you consent for me to share this personal information with Counselling?

2) Do you consent for me to refer you to Counselling?  This means that you may be contacted by Counselling and offered options for support