Counselling and Psychological Services – The University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides free, confidential, short-term psychological counselling to currently enrolled students and staff, as well as a range of workshops, mental health training, and helpful resources.
Looking after your health and wellbeing is essential to being your best at the University of Melbourne. Life at university can be exciting and interesting, as well as bring challenges such as adjusting to a new environment and the general stress of student life. Sometimes it can be difficult to reach out to family and friends, or deal with things by ourselves. Counselling can be helpful during these times.
CAPS offers free workshops and group programs on a range of personal development, mental health and wellbeing issues each semester. Mental Health First Aid and other training programs are also available for both students and staff.
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The University of Melbourne provides free, confidential, short-term, psychological counselling to currently enrolled domestic and international students and staff located in Australia. We are committed to providing quick access to support for those in need. Students located offshore can explore Support services for remote study.
Book, check-in for, reschedule or change an appointment
Find out more about our team.
Getting support at CAPS begins with an initial appointment. Initial appointments can be booked on the day, or for the next day. They are available Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm. During peak times in semester, demand for initial appointments may increase.
If you cannot find an appointment, contact us during business hours. We can arrange for a counsellor to provide a brief triage phone call to discuss support options. You can also check out what you can do while you are waiting, or if you need urgent support.
All appointments are up to 50 minutes. For your initial appointment, you’ll be asked to arrive 10 minutes before your appointment to complete questionnaires about your health and wellbeing.
If you feel more comfortable speaking with a male or female counsellor, or have particular preferences of counsellor, see our staff page for more details. We will endeavour to place you with someone of your choice, although this may not always be possible.
To find out more about what to expect in your appointments and short-term counselling, see our what to expect from counselling page.
Moving from another country to study in Australia can be an enriching experience and also bring challenges to wellbeing. This can include stress that comes with culture change, or feelings of loneliness when leaving behind your usual support network such as family and friends.
Our counsellors come from a range of cultural backgrounds and are experienced in working respectfully and collaboratively with people from different cultures. We are committed to being culturally responsive and acknowledge intersectional factors that impact on wellbeing and mental health. We also have dedicated International Student Counsellors, Yuyang Liu and Effie Chen. You can learn more about our counsellors.
Appointments are booked online or by phone. If you would like to see a specific counsellor, you can request this.
At the University, we value and celebrate the richness diversity brings to our community. We are committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment free from discrimination, harassment, vilification, or victimisation based on sex, sexuality, or gender identity.
Our counsellors are welcoming and supportive of people of all backgrounds, and many counsellors have a particular interest in supporting students of diverse sexuality and gender identity. We also have have a dedicated LGBTIQA+ counsellor, Jean Popomilkov. You can read more about our counsellors.
Appointments are booked online or by phone. If you would like to see a specific counsellor, you can request this.
Learn more about LGBTIQA+ counselling and support
Students who have been seeing a CAPS counsellor in an ongoing way about issues affecting their study can talk to their counsellor about completing a Health Professional Report (HPR) to support an application for special consideration or registration for ongoing support.
Before making an appointment:
HPR forms are best completed by health professionals who have prior knowledge of your circumstances.
If it’s your first time seeing one of our counsellors, we may not be able to complete your HPR. However, you can still make an appointment to discuss personal issues that are impacting your study, and we can discuss options and support with you.
People attend counselling to talk about personal, emotional, or mental health issues which affect their study and life.
Important information about what to expect when you visit our service, including how we work, what happens in appointments, and your confidentiality.
There are many helpful things you can do to support yourself while waiting for your appointment.
What to do if someone you know is struggling and may benefit from counselling.
University staff can access counselling appointments and a range of resources via our services for staff page.
Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers free workshops and group programs on a range of personal development, mental health, and wellbeing issues. Mental health training, including Mental Health First Aid, is also available. For enquiries related to our workshop, group, and training program, email caps-workshops@unimelb.edu.au
Learn a range of fundamental skills to better cope and adapt to life’s challenges.
Learn strategies to enhance your study and learning experience.
Learn about neurodivergence and strategies to enhance your study and learning experience.
We all feel anxious at times, but it’s possible to learn ways to manage this so that it doesn’t get in the way of life. Find out more about anxiety and how to cope effectively through these programs.
This on demand webinar series will help you better understand social anxiety and offer evidence-based strategies to overcome it. We strongly recommend completing Part 1: Understanding social anxiety before Part 2: Strategies for overcoming social anxiety.
Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment with an attitude of openness, curiosity, and acceptance. Regular practice can help us better manage stress and anxiety, improve our focus, engage more fully in life, and take effective action.
Developed for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, asexual, or with other diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions (LGBTIQA+). These programs offer a safe and supportive environment for personal growth and building resilience.
Reflect on your experience as an international student and extend your social network. Gain support from counsellors and other international students in learning ways to adjust to a new environment, build meaningful relationships, and maintain positive wellbeing.
Learn to recognise and assist someone developing a mental health problem or in crisis, including Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training.
Learn more and register
Explore resources by Counselling and Psychological Services, including tip sheets and guided exercises.
Tip sheets on common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and self-harm.
Information on how to cope with psychological issues which may be affecting your studies, including stress management and motivation to study.
Find out how to make the most out of your relationships at uni or manage relationship issues.
Get advice on how to handle big transitions in your life, from adjusting to life at University to grief and loss.
Tip sheets on wellbeing, including self-care, getting better sleep and dealing with anger.
Advice about how to deal with or help others with addictive behaviours such as drug, alcohol or gambling addiction.
Information and advice on how to cope with and respond to traumatic life events.
Access a range of guided mental health and wellbeing exercises, with accompanying audio files.
Explore recommended external online mental health resources.
Explore
Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provide a range of services to staff of the University of Melbourne.
Information on staff wellbeing services, support, and events is also available on the Human Resources Staff Hub page (login required).
CAPS can provide secondary consultation; that is we can consult with university staff regarding any mental health concerns about students or other staff. This could include:
Secondary consultation is provided by senior counsellors and the manager.
To request a phone or in-person secondary consultation, call us at 03 8344 6927 during business hours.
As a University of Melbourne staff member, you can access short-term individual counselling appointments via either the Employee Assistance Program or Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS).
The University’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides a wide range of free, independent, and confidential services that staff can access for any wellbeing issues you may be experiencing, including personal wellbeing challenges not related to work. Staff and immediate family members can access confidential short-term counselling, along with other wellbeing resources and support materials. All services are delivered either face-to-face, online, via telephone or through the EAP service provider’s app. Learn more about the EAP and how to access EAP services on the dedicated EAP Staff Hub page.
CAPS provides free, confidential, short-term counselling for staff. All counsellors are employees of the University and have a wealth of experience in assisting you to develop adaptive strategies to support you at home and at work.
If you are new to CAPS or haven’t attended our service this year, book an appointment by:
Staff who are existing clients can book, check-in for, reschedule or cancel an appointment using our online appointment portal.
Book, check-in for, reschedule or cancel an appointment
We encourage and promote early identification and support of students who may be experiencing mental health issues or personal distress.
Counselling and Psychological Services offer a range of mental health training for staff.
Counselling and Psychological Services provide a number of specialist training programs for student leaders, tutors and advisors in residential colleges.
The Mental Health Advisory Group is a group of University staff with an interest in a “whole of university approach” to mental health. They support the University of Melbourne Mental Health Strategy.
Are you or someone else in immediate danger?
Call the nearest major hospital – they will connect you with the local after-hours mental health service. You can also find the contact details of mental health services near your suburb or town using the Victorian Government Accessing Mental Health Services Finder.
A mental health crisis is where you may require same-day or urgent support from a mental health professional.
Call 000 (emergency services) if you are in immediate danger.
Call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 for suicide and mental health crisis support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For mental health support and advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you can contact the University Mental Health Crisis Support Service:
Text or call this service for help with:
The University Mental Health Crisis Support Service does not offer ongoing counselling nor is able to provide any health practitioner documentation, but can link you with community counselling, wellbeing services, and resources.
Contact Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) on 03 8344 6927 and/or the University Health Service on 03 8344 6904 if an appointment is needed during business hours.
If you are concerned about a student’s wellbeing, you can contact CAPS for mental health advice for others (i.e., request a secondary consultation) by calling us on 03 8344 6927 during business hours.
Learn more about our psychological support for critical incidents.
Explore recommended external services for mental health support, including suicide and crisis support.
External support services