Student support

Student Services staff offer assistance or advice on how to overcome a range of issues which may affect your personal or professional goals while studying with us. The helpful and supportive team are simply a phone call or office visit away.

During your training you may feel like giving up on your course and just ‘dropping out’.

There are all sorts of reasons for feeling this way, such as:

the course is not right for me;
the level is too hard; the workload is too great;
I have money problems; or
I have personal problems which are affecting my study.

Before you decide to leave your course, please have a chat with your lecturer or Student Services staff. There may be ways to get around or reduce your problem such as:

transferring to another course
reducing your workload
managing your time better
putting you in touch with expert counselling and support services
discussing financial hardship fee waivers

Our staff are very experienced at dealing with these issues and suggesting alternate strategies and they would love to help.

Student Support is coordinated by staff at our two largest campuses. Their contact details are:

Albany campus 6371 3890 or email studentsupport@srtafe.wa.edu.au

Bunbury campus 6371 3100 or email studentservices@srtafe.wa.edu.au

Aboriginal programs

Our priority is to support Aboriginal students through enrolment and to ensure that Aboriginal people receive the support they need to graduate.

Visit our Aboriginal Programs page for full details of our services.

Free student counselling service

A free student counselling service is available to enrolled students across all 12 campuses who are experiencing any difficulties that may affect their training.

A counsellor will meet with students in person or on the phone, and can also make referrals to community and health support groups and organisations.

There are two counsellors, who are each based in Albany and Bunbury.

The service operates between 8:30am and 3:30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week that classes are scheduled.

How students make an appointment

Albany: Call 6371 3596 email counselling.albany@srtafe.wa.edu.au or visit the counsellor’s office in D18.

Bunbury: Call 6371 3112 email counselling.bunbury@srtafe.wa.edu.au or visit the counsellor’s office in the library.

Disability, access and inclusion

South Regional TAFE welcomes all students and promotes an accessible and inclusive learning environment.

If you have a disability, medical condition, mental health condition or learning difficulty, you can use our free and confidential services to ensure you have access, support and equal opportunity to participate and succeed in your training course. View (590 KB) (PDF document) our Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2021-2026 (DAIP).

This support is available on all campuses. We encourage you to contact the college’s Student Services staff or Disability Officer to talk about the assistance you may need. Appointments can be made for regional campuses. We will work with you to meet your study needs.

Support may include:

Assistance with course selection and enrolment
Orientation to the college and facilities
Access to facilities and parking
Individual study support such as a note-taker, tutor or in-class assistant
Adaptive technology and software
Specialised and ergonomic equipment
Alternative formats for learning materials
Ongoing support
Assessment alternatives and adjustments.

Students who are carers for people with disability

Are you a primary carer for a person who has a disability, medical or mental health condition, or who is frail and aged? If this will impact on your training at the college, you may be eligible for some study adjustments to participate equitably in your course. Please speak with your Course Coordinator about this, as early as possible.

If you require further assistance contact the Disability Liaison Officer, Albany Campus or Student Services Staff at Bunbury Campus.

Assistance Animals

An assistance animal may accompany a person with a disability to South Regional TAFE.

Please contact Student Services staff or the Disability Liaison Officer to make arrangements for your assistance animal to accompany you to classes. You will be asked to provide evidence that your animal is an assistance animal, and is trained to meet hygiene and behaviour standards.

Transition to Training

Many students have a disability, medical condition or mental illness that may impact on their studies and learning.

The Disability Liaison Officer and Student Services staff at South Regional TAFE can assist teachers, parents and students to plan for a successful transition to study at TAFE.

Transition planning may include:

Planning careers and training at the college
Visiting the campus and classrooms
Meeting the Disability Liaison Officer, Student Services staff and course lecturers
Talking about how the student’s disability or medical condition impacts on their study, and what works best for them
Exploring assistive technologies, software and apps.

Resources to Plan Your Study at TAFE

NDIS Pre-planning Toolkit

The NDIS – VET Pre-planning Toolkit is designed to be used before you start at TAFE. It will help you get the right support at the right time from the right people.

Australia Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET)

ADCET has information and resources for students with disability entering TAFE to help you get the best out of your training

Disability Standards for Education - Resources

Information to help students and parents make their way through the education journey

What Next?

Contact South Regional TAFE Student Services staff Bunbury campus – on 6371 3100 or 0417 937 894, or email StudentServices@srtafe.wa.edu.au

Disability Liaison Officer Albany campus 63713741 or email DisabilityServices@srtafe.wa.edu.au.

All enquiries are confidential.

Support available for improving Study skills | Reading, writing, maths or basic computer skills

South Regional TAFE wants to make learning a successful and rewarding experience for all students. If you are having difficulties with your course, speak to your lecturer.

If you are studying at the college and become unwell or exceptional family or work circumstances disrupt your study, talk to your course coordinator about making flexible arrangements to continue your studies.

To find out more about how we can help you succeed, contact our Student Services staff or the Disability Liaison Officer.

All enquiries are confidential.

Study Skills

Learning Styles (opens in a new tab) This quiz will help you find out how you learn best. What senses you use to learn? Knowing this will help you choose learning and study strategies that suit your learning style.

RMIT Learning Lab/Study Skills(opens in a new tab) A resource to help improve your study, writing and math skills through interactive tutorials and printable handouts.

UNSW Academic Skills(opens in a new tab) Online printable self-help guide to improve your study skills including referencing, report writing, grammar, oral presentation and more.

Student Planner Semester 1, 2023(opens in a new tab)

Read Write Now!

Do you need help with your studies?

Do you want to improve your reading, writing, maths or basic computer skills?

Studying can be challenging, so it’s important to access assistance to support your learning and to make sure you enjoy your student life at TAFE.
The Read Write Now program offers free one-on-one help from trained volunteer tutors who teach according to individual circumstances and needs.

You will meet with your tutor for about an hour and a half each week in a public venue or online.

Your tutor will work closely with you on setting and achieving your study goals. Your individualised study sessions are a faster track to success by:

Improving reading, writing, maths, computer and study skills
Helping with academic writing skills
Assisting with self-directed ways of learning
Managing study workload and meeting deadlines
Setting short-term and long-term study goals
Supporting disadvantaged learners and students with learning difficulties

The Read Write Now program is for adults aged 18 years and over. Adults from overseas need to be permanent residents of Australia with reasonable spoken English.
If you are keen to be matched with a tutor, call 1800 018 802.

Visit their website to find out more.

International students

TAFE International Office

The International Office at South Regional TAFE provides support relating to your study or personal issues. College staff will be able to assist you with:

Advice on courses and pathways;
Your application for continuing enrolment;
Advice on change of course/ units pathways;
Updating your contact details (i.e. address, email, mobile numbers);
Monitoring your class attendance and progress and work with you through an Intervention Strategy in consultation with the lecturer if you are “at risk” of falling behind in your studies;
Overseas Student Health Care Information; and
Transperth information on public transportation (buses and trains).

Call 6371 3100 or email StudentServices@srtafe.wa.edu.au

TAFE International Western Australia (TIWA)

TIWA can also assist with a range of issues relating to your enrolment. You can find helpful information for current students at www.tafeinternational.wa.edu.au/current-students (opens in a new tab) including:

Your enrolment;
Forms, publications and policies; and
How to pay your fees.

For information about finding accommodation or safety advice for international students please visit the Help and advice section (opens in a new tab) of the TIWA website.