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Campus Wellbeing is committed to providing a range of high level support and assistance for Students at Macquarie, through the delivery of services in:

Counseling – provides free, confidential counseling for students to discuss any issue that may be of concern. Such issues may include psychological, emotional and/or social difficulties affecting academic progress, university and personal life.

Disability – provides support and assistance to students with a disability and/or health condition to enable them to have an equal opportunity to flourish at University.

Welfare – provides a support, information, advocacy and referral service on welfare, health and wellbeing related matters such as (but not limited to), financial, tenancy, legal, sexuality, drugs and alcohol, mental health, and sexual health.

Careers – provides skills and experience for students needed for career success, as well as connecting employers and industry bodies with MU talents and help staff prepare students for career decisions and employment.

Medical -  provides a bulk-billing medical service offering a full GP service.

Chaplaincy – provides spiritual support for students from all faiths and denominations.

Campus Wellbeing…enabling students

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Stepping Into 2012 – Paid Internships with PwC

2012 UNI Careers Forum: Accessing Your Ability at Work

2012 UNI CAREERS FORUM:
ACCESSING YOUR ABILITY AT WORK

Tuesday 3 July, 2012

University of Western Sydney, Parramatta Campus

Building EA, Ground floor lecture theatre, Victoria Road, Parramatta

10:00am – 3:30pm (registration 9am, includes a free lunch & morning tea)

• Free lunch

• Free parking

• Free accessible transport from Parramatta station

Who should come?

All currently enrolled University students with a disability in NSW/ACT thinking about career pathways or how to manage your disability during work experience.

Does that mean you? Perhaps you don’t think of yourself as having a disability but the definition is broad and includes dyslexia, mental illness and ongoing medical conditions

Why come?

• To find out more about practical career strategies and programs to give you an edge in a tough job market.

• To hear from uni grads with disabilities about how they have secured rewarding jobs or relevant experience.

• To hear from employers about equity initiatives.

• To participate in workshops about job seeking essentials, disclosure and workplace adjustments.

• To hear about how to look after your mental health

To register and for more information

go to: www.uws.edu.au/careersforum2012

or contact: Debi Toman, NDCO

Email: d.toman@uws.edu.au Phone: 9685 9315

OUA Support Services

OUA Student Support Services

The centre for Open Education at Macquarie University would like to do as much as we can to help you succeed in your studies with Macquarie via OUA. To do that, we are providing a list of services you may need to access from time to time:

Academic Support through ‘Smarthinking’ (OUA):

For help with assingments, you can access four hours of free tutoring support for each OUA unit you undertake. To access:

1)      Sign in to MyOUA at https://www.open.edu.au/public/login/form

2)      Go to Manage Your Study and then select Active Units

3)      Click on the Smarthinking link beside your eligible units

For enquiries, contact smarthinking@open.edu.au

Learning Skills (OUA):

A range of modules to assist you in developing skills in time management, study planning and setting academic goals. To access:

1)      Sign into MyOUA at https://www.open.edu.au/public/login/form

2)      Go to Manage Your Study and then select Active Units to find Quick Skills modules.

UniWISE (Macquarie):

An iLearn resource specifically designed to help undergraduate students develop Academic Writing and Learning Skills.

1)      Go to the Student Homepage at www.students.mq.edu.au

2)      Click on Support and select Learning Skills.

3)      Click UniWIS and enrol yourself.

Note that workshops for students and quick guides are also available on the Learning Skills page

ALPS (Macquarie)

An online writing resource specifically designed to provide postgraduate coursework students with guidance and models of postgraduate academic writing, as well as various tasks for self-assessment.

1)      Go to the Student Homepage at www.students.mq.edu.au

2)      Click on Support and select Learning Skills

3)      Click ALPS and enrol yourself

Note that workshops for students and quick guides are also available on the Learning Skills page.

Telephone Counselling  Service (OUA):

 1300 923 804 or counselling@open.edu.au

The OUA Student Wellbeing Counsellor can be contacted by phone or email for an appointment to talk over personal issues that students may be facing – study related or not. The OUA counselling service is confidential and the counsellor service is confidential and the counsellor is highly qualified and experienced in speaking with students.

Disability Service (Macquarie)

If you have indicated that you have a disability that may impact your studies, we will already have contacted you about registering with the Macquarie University Disability Service. If you would like to further information about services for students with special needs:

http://students.mq.edu.au/campus_life/wellbeing/disability_service/

 

Career Service (OUA)

An online service providing advice and information about career development, resume writing advice, job interview skills and more. To access:

1)      Sign in to MyOUA at https://www.open.edu.au/public/login/form

2)      Go to Student Updates

3)      Click on Career Space/

CareerHub (Macquarie)

An online service providing a range of career fact sheets as well as information about employment opportunities, workshops, presentations and career fairs. To access:

1)      Go to the Student homepage at www.students.mq.edu.au

2)      Click on Support and select Career Development.

3)      Click Students to log into Career Hub.

UniWellbeing Course

What does the UniWellbeing Course Involve?

• The Course is for Macquarie University students.
• Participation is confidential
• There are 6 lessons, one per week, CBT framework
• Each lesson takes around 10 minutes to complete
• Online course – no tests, no exams, complete lessons at own pace
• includes practical examples of how other students have learned to overcome problems with worry, stress, and low mood
• Plus additional materials about problem solving, managing sleep, communication and other skills.
• Good feedback received from students currently participating in the course

As this is a research study, some students will receive weekly email or telephone support from one of our Team, while others will complete a self-guided version of this Course.

How do students apply or get more information?

Applications for the first trial of the UniWellbeing Course are closing soon, we encourage students to please apply as soon as possible.

To apply or for information, please visit our website: www.ecentreclinic.org or click on this link: http://www.ecentreclinic.org/index.php/our-courses/ecentreclinic-courses/uwb-course

 

 

The Flu Season is Here!

Influenza, the official name for the flu, is an incredibly contagious virus which isn’t picky about who it infects, and it can really knock you around, even those that are in perfect health. It’s a quick little sucker as well, by the time you realise that your friend or colleague at work has got it most likely your well on your way to having it also. We know that you like to think of yourselves as invincible and that generally you don’t get sick, but why risk it? With exams coming up and assessments being due all at once, a case of the flu can be a major set back and lets be honest its just annoying having to spend the weekend recovering from a stupid bug that could have been prevented in the first place.

But rest assured we have a solution for you the medical service is now offering flu shots so there should be no excuse for coming down with it. Throughout May and June the medical service, which is now located on the east side of campus within the hospital, will be running a special FluVax clinic with dedicated staff to eliminate the waiting times.

A quick call on 9812 3944 will get you an appointment.

The vaccination costs $20, but for many people this fee is waived. You can get a free vaccination if you:

• are over 65
• are pregnant
• are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• Have a pre-existing medical condition such as diabetes, cardiac disease, lung disease, chronic kidney disease, impaired immunity or a chronic neurological condition.

Details for the medical service are listed below:

• Address:

Suite 305, Level 3
Macquarie University Clinic (Building F10A)  (See Campus Map)
2 Technology Place
Macquarie University NSW 2109

• Phone: +61 2 9812 3944 or +61 2 9812 3906
• Fax: +61 2 9812 3945
• Email: medical@mq.edu.au

 

Improve Your Wellbeing!

Stressed?

Worried?

www.ecentreclinic.org

Icarus: What is Bipolar Disorder?

One should not condone stigmas, stereotypes and prejudices but they appear so often in our societies that it is a real shame. But in the past few decades a large number of organisations and individuals have stepped forward to fight back, to educate and to raise awareness of disabilities and mental health which has been fantastic to see. So let us follow in the foot steps and educate ourselves about issues that affect a vast majority of the population either directly or indirectly. We owe it to ourselves and those around us.

This post marks the first in a series to raise awareness of different disabilities and to fill in some of the blanks, provide links to support and to disband the stereotypes.

So what is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder is also known as Manic-Depressive Disorder and is essentially a mood disorder. It involves elevated energy levels which are also termed ‘mania’ and depressive episodes or symptoms, both to varying degrees. Due to this it is often equated with the myth of Icarus, where Icarus rises to the Sun before falling to the ground, representing thre rises and falls of Bipolar. The Bipolar spectrum stretches far; one could be diagnosed as Type I, Type II or with cyclothymia or simply on the Bipolar scale.

Bipolar I: Involves manic episodes for longer periods of time lasting days or weeks with psychotic symptoms.

Bipolar II: Involves no psychotic symptoms and shorter period of mania lasting hours to days.

One can also have mixed episodes where they experience symptoms of both manic and depressive episodes at once. Or rapid cycling where the manic and depressive episodes switch rapidly between the two.

Bipolar Disorder is subject to genetic and environmental factors depending on the individual.

Unlike people suffering depression or manic episodes based on a particular event of positive or negative outcome, Manic Depressives have a range of moods not depending on what is happening in their lives. Episodes or symptoms can be set off by events but they are generally unprovoked. It is most likely to first appear in adolescences or young adults and can be devastating or sometimes beneficial to the individual.

Bipolar doesn’t effect a person’s intelligence, personality, or contribution to society. In fact Bipolar has been linked to enhanced creativity, goal striving and positive achievements. Look at the King of British Comedy and polymath Stephen Fry. Intelligence beyond measure, comedic genius and literary wizz. He has had Manic-Depressive Disorder since child-hood but strives forward to every degree, raising awareness and support for those who need it and contributing to world in so many ways. His documentary ‘The Secret Life of a Manic-Depressive’ is MUST WATCH!

In fact the number of comedians and actors with Bipolar or other forms of mental illness is surprisingly high. They include Carrie Fisher, the beautiful Princess Leia from Star Wars, Richard Dreyfuss, the hilarious Tony Slattery, Robbie Williams, and comedienne and former psych nurse Jo Brand.

Having Bipolar Disorder is not easy, while beneficial sometimes in forms of creativity, someone with Bipolar faces a difficult life as they swing between moods and are subject to the stresses and thoughts of the depressive and manic episodes and symptoms. The previously placed stigmas placed on them are however wrong as we have seen. Awareness needs to still be raised to show people that this is a serious disorder which can be horrible to suffer but that the people affected are no different from themselves.

If you would like to know more about Bipolar Disorder then please check out these links:

Beyond Blue

SANE Australia

Black Dog Institute

‘Bipolar II Disorder: Modelling, Measuring and Managing’, Parker, G., Cambridge University Press (2008)

‘Mastering Bipolar Disorder – An insider’s guide to managing mood swings and finding balance’, Edited by Kerrie Eyers and Gordon Parker, 2008, Allen & Unwin (2008).

National Institute of Mental Health (US) – We believe this to be one of the best available sources of internet information on bipolar disorder

If you think you may have Bipolar Disorder or that someone close to you has then please seek the advice of a professional. If you are not sure then there is no harm in a consultation or taking the Black Dog self test.