After hours and crisis support

worried student / stressed student

After Hours Crisis Counselling Support Line

As an enrolled SCU student, you can access our After Hours Crisis Counselling Support Line.

It is confidential, free and available when you need it outside of business hours, and on public holidays.

The service is via phone or SMS, and will link you to a qualified crisis support worker.

The After Hours Crisis responders do not offer ongoing therapy, but can assist with the immediate situation and provide appropriate referral if necessary.

The After- hours Crisis Counselling Support line can help you:

  • Find immediate relief from emotional distress
  • Explore your coping strategies for current problems or during a crisis
  • Open pathways to find longer-term solutions
  • Help you work out the next steps to take
  • Manage safety concerns
  • Seek advice if you are concerned for someone else

The After Hours Crisis Counselling Support Line is available between 5pm and 9am weekdays;  24 hours on weekends, public holidays and during University shutdown periods.

This service offers short term help to manage current problems that might be overwhelming your capacity to cope, impacting on your mental health or your sense of safety. It can also provide support and advice if you are concerned about someone else.

Use this service if you need support:

  • for yourself (e.g., stressed, distressed, feeling helpless, overwhelmed, fragile)
  • if you are supporting someone else who is emotionally distressed.

All calls and SMS communication with the SCU After Hours Crisis Counselling Service are confidential.

The mental health professionals who respond to your call are engaged by SCU via a third party provider. These professionals will log and record all enquiries for information and support purposes. Call and SMS records are shared only with the SCU Counselling Service. The Counselling Service may contact you in relation to your call if requested by you or the mental health professional.

No information will be shared outside of the Counselling Service service without your permission.

However, in certain circumstances your information may be released to a third party if the mental health professional makes a judgment that you or another person is at risk of harm, or where required by law.

All information will be managed in accordance with Australian Privacy laws. For further information please see the SCU Privacy Management Plan.

We welcome your feedback.  Please send any compliments, complaints or comments via email to Counselling Services.

After Hours and Crisis Support

Please call 000 (emergency services) if you or another person is at immediate risk of harm.  If you are on campus, please contact Campus Security: 1800SCHELP (1800 724357).

Service Phone
Emergency Services Ambulance / Police / Fire  000
SCU After Hours Crisis Counselling Support Line 1300 782 676  |  0488 884 143 (SMS)
Lifeline 131 114
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
NSW: Mental Health Access Line 1800 011 511
QLD: Mental Health Line 1300 642 255
Kids Help Line 1800 551 800
1800 RESPECT - Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic violence 1800 737 732

Student Services Amenity Fee

The After-Hours Crisis Counselling Support Line is funded by your SSAF.