Advice for Parents

How can I find out how my son/daughter is doing academically?

The only way is to ask him/her. Students are able to access their assessment results through their online UNSW account. UNSW staff are not permitted to release information about academic progress or attendance to anyone else without that student's express consent, or in exceptional circumstances.

If your son/daughter appears to be having difficulties, try to find out why, rather than assume that it must be due to lack of diligence or effort. University work is very challenging and even students who achieved outstanding higher school certificate results may receive relatively poor grades during their adjustment period at university.

What can I do if I am seriously worried about his/her well-being?

If you are really concerned, please contact the University. While we cannot discuss an individual's situation/circumstances (without their permission), we can contact the student and offer support as appropriate. We cannot guarantee that they will choose to take advantage of our offer of support, but we will make every effort to make them aware of support options. We can also tell you about UNSW policy or procedures that apply in specific situations.

Students have a legal right to access any information the University holds about them. This means that we cannot guarantee that anything you say to us will be 100% confidential. We could discuss this with you should the occasion arise.

You could also suggest that your child contacts one of the many services listed on the Student Life site. These include:

Homesickness

Homesickness or a type of culture shock can hit any new student. The peak times for this appear to be the first couple of weeks of the academic year and/or about 3-6 weeks into semester, or the period immediately following the Easter or mid-semester break.

Please don't assume that all students will face a crisis at university. The vast majority of students do not encounter serious problems. Nevertheless, UNSW staff have supported many students (and parents) through difficult times, particularly the adjustment anxiety that is often experienced in the daunting first few weeks - you name it, we have probably had to deal with it.

Should I tell him/her about problems at home?

In the case of family difficulties, serious illness (or worse) many parents instinctively try to protect the student by keeping the news from them. In our experience, this is not the best approach.

Students can become very anxious if they discover important news has been kept from them. They can become distressed or feel guilty for not 'sharing' the worries with the rest of the family. Anxiety can continue as the student wonders what else might be kept from them.

We can offer support to students and have policies that allow students time away from their studies (without financial or academic penalty) to deal with personal or family problems. If you are ever unfortunate enough to find yourself in this kind of situation, you can call the Counselling and Psychological Services on 02 9385 5418 or email counselling@unsw.edu.au for in-confidence advice.

Will you tell me if s/he is ill?

We ask students during enrolment to give us details of who to contact in an emergency. This would only be used in the unlikely case of a student becoming dangerously ill and unable to make contact themselves. UNSW will only use the contact information if medical personnel advise that it is required. Hospitals have similar guidelines and do not notify the University if a student is hospitalised unless asked to do so by the student. It is up to students themselves to inform the University that they are in hospital.

Who will stop him/her drinking too much/having inappropriate relationships/going out when they should be studying?

Students 18 years and over are adults. As such they have to make adult choices. University life presents many opportunities and many challenges. Students often describe their university years as the 'best years of my life'. This is not just about the pursuit of their academic and career dreams. It is also about their participation in cultural, sporting and political activities. For some students the mix can be distracting and poor choices may be made. Our Counselling and Psychological Services is here to assist students who need advice and assistance or need to refocus. If issues such as these arise, please encourage the student to seek assistance.

How can I prepare and support him/her for independent life at University if they are moving away from home?
  • Ensure your son/daughter reads all the pre-arrival information that they receive and complete and return all forms in a timely manner.
  • Encourage them to attend Orientation Week events and activities. Faculty and School Welcomes will give them information specific to their program, workshops will help with academic and study skills and social events will make it easier to make friends on campus. The more preparation they do in advance, the less anxiety they will encounter on arrival.
  • Spend some time with them looking at their financial situation and helping them to plan a budget.
  • Make sure that they can cook at least 2 or 3 simple dishes which they enjoy. This will give them comfort if they are homesick.
  • Make sure that they can wash and iron their own clothes and take personal responsibility for scheduling and managing day-to-day activities at university.
  • Ensure they have a large supply of simple items such as tooth paste, coat hangers and tissues. Help them by ensuring they have a large supply so it becomes one less thing they have to worry about.
  • Of course you will miss them but try to be positive about their impending departure. It can be hard for students to settle to their studies at the same time as worrying about the distress being faced by parents/families at home.
  • Do keep in touch! Regular correspondence and calls are vital to student happiness. If they don't hear from you, they may become anxious and find it hard to study. However, parents calling or writing too often can make homesickness worse. Students need to focus on life at university, not focus on how much they are missing home or being missed.
  • If they appear to be very homesick, suggest they take advantage of the many activities and services provided to help students make the transition to student life. Discourage daily calls if you can. If you are really concerned, do call us - we can make contact with students to offer advice and steer them towards other sources of support.
  • Coming home every weekend can be a sign of homesickness. For some students it can take time to 'feel at home' at university. Encourage your son or daughter to participate in a first year peer-mentoring program. These programs are designed to help students adjust to university life more quickly. If they feel that they don't "fit in" with the crowd around them, they may feel excluded or worry that university life is not for them. They would not be alone in thinking this. Please encourage them to talk with one of our contact services listed below so that we can help them find activities and settings where they can feel more included.
Contacts

Counselling and Psychology Service
Level 2, East Wing, Quadrangle Building
Tel: 02 9385 5418
Email: counselling@unsw.edu.au

Student Central
Lower Ground Floor, Chancellery Building
Tel: 02 9385 1000
Email: studentcentral@unsw.edu.au

Student Development International
Ground Floor, John Goodsell Building
Tel: 02 9385 5333
Email: international.student@unsw.edu.au

Student Equity and Disabilities Unit
Ground Floor, John Goodsell Building
Tel: 02 9385 4734
Email: seadu@unsw.edu.au

UNSW Main Switchboard
Tel: 02 9385 1000