Disability Services
What to do if the wheels fall off…
Don’t just keep driving as though nothing has happened!
Well you wouldn’t, would you?
And if things aren’t going well at uni, don’t just let it all drift, DO SOMETHING before you get further behind.
There can be all sorts of reasons why your studies are not progressing as they should. Sometimes it may be because of personal problems, maybe connected to the difficulties of adapting to your new life in a new environment. Or there may be an unexpected illness, or change in your condition. The University uses the term 'Disability' to refer to short term temporary problems as well as more permanent difficulties: e.g. a student who has a leg in plaster for 6 weeks can, during that time, get support from the Disability Liaison Officer.
There are several things you can do to stop the car running off the road… the sooner you take action, the better. You can speak to your subject coordinators, and see if you can catch up on classes you might have missed. If you know you are going to miss classes, talk about getting notes from another student, or from the subject coordiator. Arrange for someone else in the classes, or for your lecturers, to send you copies of hand-outs and keep you up to date with what is happening.
You may need an extension for an assignment. Note, you MUST apply to the subject coordinator before the due date!
You may need to apply for Special Consideration during a session, Grade Pending and/or Supplementary Exams towards the end of session. Again, do this as soon as you are sure you will need to, don’t leave it until the day before the end of classes.
Which raises the next point: you will need documentation about what has happened. This could be from your GP, another health professional, a counsellor, etc. Always ask for and then keep copies of all medical certificates. Keep copies of hospital documentation. If there has been a bereavement, keep the death notice/funeral notice. If there is a car accident/break-in or other incident, keep a copy of the police report number.
If you are thinking of leaving uni altogether, or taking a break, then have a look at the information on the Thinking of leaving site. Above all, TALK TO SOMEONE who can help you arrive at the right decision and then do what is necessary to follow up on this decision.
If you DO decide to leave, try to avoid paying unnecessary HECS because you haven’t withdrawn from subjects, or haven’t applied for remission of HECS if it has been paid and you are entitled to a refund.