Welcome to AC Connect, a weekly one-page dose of encouragement, insight, and fun! I hope you will not only enjoy the content, but also benefit from the sense of connection with the wider AC community.

Andrew Mellor,
Director of Student Services

Spiritual Wellbeing

Alphacrucis College is a Christian college, this means we believe your relationship with your Creator is the most vital aspect of your overall well-being. We reflect this by providing students with opportunities to engage with regular chapel services that allow that connection with God to flourish.

Chapel Services are held on each of our campuses, details can be found here.

Making your family part of your College experience

Your family is invited to get a picture of what your learning environment is like so that they can fully appreciate and support your decision to study. Let your parents, siblings (and even your friends) know they can attend our family ‘taste and see’ days, where your learning environment is open for guests to come along and get the full AC experience.

Make new friends

Don't just attend classes, take time to make new friends. On campus, we strive to create spaces and opportunities to connect with your classmates. Even online students have the opportunity to participate in intensive classes, conferences and national events where they can meet new friends and make learning a relational experience.

Stretch your mind and your horizons

You will find your learning environment will develop your thinking and expand your horizons. But sometimes we want to go deeper. AC offers students the opportunity to take their interests and learning to another level. Monthly colloquium meetings (Click here) provide a forum to listen and engage with research presented by other students and staff. And students producing high-quality assessments may be offered the chance to turn their assignment into a research paper with the help of lecturers.

Being an AC student gives you access to networks in the working world and job opportunities are regularly posted to the AC student community.

Fitness and recreation

AC can connect you with fellow students who have similar interests so you can be sure to balance out your studies with recreation, hobbies and sports. Tell us your interest and we can help connect you, just hit the orange chat circle to talk with Student Support.

           
Financial assistance and seminars 

AC provides seminars that help you learn how to be wise with your money and build wealth overtime. Look out for seminars happening on your campus. Need help now? Just contact Student Support and they can connect you with services that exist to help people get debt-free and build a sustainable healthy approach to saving and spending money.

Counselling and Mental Health

If you are facing challenges contact Student Support by clicking the orange chat circle on this page. They can connect you with someone who is a trained pastor or counsellor on your campus or online. 

If you need professional services please find an extensive set of services in this module, under the heading Well-Being and Mental Health Services.

 
Disability

Disability is defined very broadly under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 as any physical, sensory, neurological, intellectual, psychiatric or learning disability, and includes physical disfigurement, the presence in the body of disease-causing organisms and total or partial loss of part of the body or a bodily function. It also includes a temporary, permanent, current, past, or future disability, and chronic health conditions which may not commonly be considered disabilities.

AC is committed to assisting students with a disability in accessing and participating in a course on the same basis as a student without a disability. For more information, see the Access and Equity Policy.

If you would like to access disability support please click the orange chat circle on this page and chat with AC's Student Support team.

Bullying, Discrimination, Violence, Sexual Assault and Harassment

AC has a zero-tolerance stance on harassment, bullying, unlawful discrimination and/or SASH (Sexual Assault or Sexual Harassment) in any form or under any circumstance. 

Click here for more information on how to get help or report an incident.

Special Consideration for Assessments

In the event of unexpected life events, AC wants to ensure the wellbeing of our students and wherever possible help affected students continue towards completion of their award. In the event of minor illness or misadventure, our assessment policy allows for lecturers to award short extensions. Major misadventure, illness or loss will require a greater level of support and special consideration in terms of assessment due dates and conditions. Our Student Affairs Committee hears all request for such special consideration.

Emergencies

If you find yourself involved in or witnessing an emergency situation (a crime or an event in which somebody’s life or health is in danger) it is important that you immediately contact emergency services. Emergency services can be contacted on 000 nationwide (in Australia).

In the event of a critical incident on campus or involving an AC student, AC will ensure that the needs of students and their loved ones are prioritised and treated with sensitivity. Please see our Critical Incident policy.

Privacy

AC collects and holds personal information about you and your application, enrolment, candidature, academic progression, graduation and the provision of services to you. 

AC will only use or disclose your personal information:

• for the purpose for which it was collected
• for a directly related purpose
• when we have the appropriate consent to do so, or
• as otherwise required, permitted or authorised by law.

AC abides by all legal requirements to keep your personal information secure. You can learn more about AC Privacy Policy.

Other Policies

• Harassment, Bullying, Unlawful Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Policy
• Child and Young Person Protection Policy
• Workplace Health and Safety Policy
• Access and Equity Policy

The 7 F's - A tool the check-in on your Well-being

Alphacrucis College (AC) acknowledges that personal wellbeing is comprised of multiple factors. A simple method for assessing general wellbeing is to take the following seven areas of life and give each a score out of 10, reflect as to why you gave the score you did:

• Faith: Christians typically understand this area of wellbeing as the sense of relationship and connection to God
  
  
• Family: Your sense of connection and meaning in family
  
  
• Friends: Your sense of connection and meaning amongst friends
  
  
• Firm / Studies: Your sense of meaning, achievement and progress in your work or school setting
  
  
• Fitness: Your overall sense of physical and/or mental health
  
  
• Finances: Your sense of financial security or financial contentment
  
  
• Fun: Your satisfaction with the quality and quantity of recreation and ‘fun’ activities in your life

It is unlikely that you will score each area a 10 and usually we find that these areas are not in perfect balance. Rather than keeping a perfect balance, a better way to understand these areas of wellbeing is that if anyone of them scores low for a long period of time, your overall sense of wellbeing is likely to feel diminished.

If one of these areas scored lower than all the others, it is a sign that you would benefit from investing some time into improving your well-being in this area. Brainstorm ideas, talk to a trusted friend, research online and discover what you can do to begin improving this area of your life. If you are stuck, why don't you reach out to Student Support? Just hit the orange chat circle, on the bottom left corner of this page.

Well-being and Mental Health Services

beyondblue Support Service - Support. Advice. Action

Information and referral to relevant services for depression and anxiety related matters.

Phone: 1300 22 46 36

Black Dog Institute

The Black Dog Institute is a world leader in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. 

Blue Knot Foundation Helpline (formerly Adults Surviving Child Abuse)

The Blue Knot Helpline provides information and short term counselling nationally via telephone for adults survivors of childhood trauma on 1300 657 380 and email helpline@blueknot.org.au 7 days a week 9.00 am to 5.00 pm AEST.

Carer Gateway

Are you one of the 2.5 million Australians who care for a loved one, friend or neighbour? Find out information about the support services available to you, on the Carer Gateway.

Gambling Helpline

Starting to think gambling might be a problem? Find out about the signs of a problem and assess gambling issues and spending. Phone: 1800 858 858

Headspace

Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation. We help young people who are going through a tough time.

Kids Help Line

Confidential and anonymous, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25. Phone: 1800 55 1800

Lifeline

24-hour telephone counselling service. Phone: 13 11 14

Mensline Australia

A dedicated service for men with relationship and family concerns. Phone: 1300 78 99 78

MI Networks

Offering access to relevant, up-to-date information, peer support and connections to local community networks, Mi Networks members provide a personalised response to the needs of individuals living with mental illness, their carers, friends and family members. Phone: 1800 985 944

1800RESPECT

National sexual assault, domestic family violence counselling services 24-hour online support for workers and professionals.Phone: 1800 737 732

PANDA - National Perinatal Depression Helpline

PANDA’s National Perinatal Depression Helpline, funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments, provides vital support, information, referral and counselling to thousands of Australian parents and their families.  Callers do not need to have a diagnosis of antenatal or postnatal depression to make contact with the Helpline, PANDA is keen to support any new parent struggling during pregnancy or after the birth of their baby, as well as their partner, family and friends. Phone: 1300 726 306 from Mon – Fri, 9.00 am – 7.30 pm (AEST/AEDT).

Parentline

Parent Line is a telephone service for parents and carers of children 0-18 in New South Wales. Phone: 1300 1300 52

ReachOut.com

ReachOut.com is Australia’s leading online youth mental health service. ReachOut.com is an initiative of the Inspire Foundation, an Australian non-profit with a mission to help young people lead happier lives.

Relationships Australia

Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities. Phone: 1300 364 277

SANE Australia

SANE Australia is a national charity helping all Australians affected by mental illness lead a better life – through campaigning, education and research. SANE conducts innovative programs and campaigns to improve the lives of people living with mental illness, their family and friends. It also operates a busy Helpline and website, which have thousands of contacts each year from around Australia. Phone: 1800 187 263

The Butterfly Foundation

Butterfly provides support for Australians who suffer from eating disorders and negative body image issues and their carers. Phone: 1800 33 4673

Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS)

Providers counselling and group programs to Australian veterans and peacekeepers and their families. Phone: 1800 011 046