Illness or serious personal problems can have a very negative effect on your studies! However there is quite a bit of flexibility in the university, Centrelink and HECS systems which can really limit the damage, if you take practical steps at the time or as soon as possible afterwards. If, after reading this, you are not sure what to do, talk to someone. Counsellors will be able to help you look at all your options and choose the best one.
- Get documentation wherever possible from your GP, Counsellor, etc. Keep all medical certificates. Keep copies of hospital discharge notices. Ask for letters from hospital staff briefly outlining period of impairment. Where there is 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 do not wish the exact nature of your medical/compassionate circumstances to be communicated to lecturers, the Counselling Service can keep this information confidential. Contact lecturers, uni counsellors if illness is lengthy. Some courses can accommodate for study in hospital with extensions on assignments.
- Catch up on missed lectures or tutorials/practicals as soon as possible. Some lectures are taped and available for viewing in the library. Some courses have lecture outlines on the web. Check them out as soon as possible. Don't leave it until the last moment.
- Check whether attendance at lectures/tutorials is compulsory and notify lecturer as soon as possible regarding your health/personal problem. You do not have to give details but you may be required to provide medical or counselling documentation.
What you can do to make up
If you have documentation regarding a period of impairment - medical or compassionate you can:
- apply for extensions on assignments
- apply for supplementary exams where you were unfit to sit on the day of the exam, or where your medical compassionate circumstances have affected your exam preparation. This application should be made within three working days of the exam.
Forms are available at the Health and Counselling Service or your Faculty Office. Some school's eg law and psychology, have their own forms available at their School Offices.
You can apply for I (Incomplete) Grades if you will be unable to complete assignments by the end of semester. Documentation about your medical/compassionate circumstances is required. If your application for an I grade is successful you can submit work after the end of the semester, have it marked and the mark obtained will replace the I grade. Application forms are available from your Faculty Office or from the Health and Counselling service.
Where impairment is longer term, you may request support from the Disability Liaison Officer who can arrange for some changes in assessment or appropriate extra support. 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.
It is useful to have some contact numbers of other students within your course so that you can keep in touch with information presented in lectures /tutorials/ practicals and any general procedural changes within your course. These contacts may be able to collect class handouts etc for you if you are sick. Try to avoid leaving assignments until the last minute - allow for emergencies.
Where possible always contact lecturers/counselling staff/ health and medical staff before the assignment deadline. It is not helpful to apply retrospectively unless it is an emergency. Most lecturers appreciate an early request for special consideration rather than very close to or after the assignment deadline.
The policies referring to assessment can be found in the Student Related Policies and Procedures Manual and it is always wise to check. There are some variations between Schools and Faculties in relation to applications for special consideration on health or compassionate grounds. Check with your Faculty or School Office.
If you believe that you need to withdraw from one or more topics
Read the section Course and other concerns at the Get Connected site, or pick up a pamphlet from Health and Counselling Services. It covers a range of information and implications for your studies, finances and future options that you should consider prior to making any major decisions.
Other useful contacts are the Disability Liaison Officer, Enrolment Services (formerly the Student Records Office) and your course coordinator.
