AFTRS is committed to providing an effective and supportive learning environment for students and we want you to have a rewarding experience during your studies here. However there may be times that you are struggling or need some extra support.
Our friendly Student Engagement Managers and the AFTRS Counsellor can help.
Students will be introduced to the Student Centre support network during Orientation week.
AFTRS provides students access to free individual student counselling to support you with school-related or personal issues affecting your wellbeing.
Counselling is a supportive and confidential collaboration between a qualified counsellor and client (AFTRS student) to promote mental health and wellbeing, enhance self-understanding, and resolve identified concerns. Clients are active participants in the counselling process at every stage.
Counselling may be short or long term, such as:
Students can make an appointment at any time during their studies.
Safe Conversation Officers (SCOs) are a network of staff have undertaken Mental Health First Aid training, and volunteered to be available for students who want to have a friendly and confidential chat about life, study and mental health concerns.
SCO’s will listen to you and help you access information about support and reporting. They are not counsellors but can provide an appropriate initial response to your concerns and guide you to the right services.
If you have indicated on your enrolment that you have a disability or medical condition which requires access support. a Student Engagement Manager will contact you.
It is essential that you register with us as soon as possible in order to receive additional help and support. Our aim is to ensure students requiring support realise their full academic potential. We are committed to the provision of reasonable adjustments, in consultation with you, within a reasonable time after notification of the need for adjustments.
Reasonable adjustments are measures taken to enable you to participate fully and equally in areas of the School’s operations on the same basis as a student without a disability. These include:
If you haven’t notified the Student Centre about your access needs, please complete the Student Access form located on the AFTRS website and send back to studentinfo@aftrs.edu.au.
A Student Engagement Manager will arrange a meeting with you and devise a Learning Access Plan if required which may include adjustments that support you in your course.
AFTRS is committed to ensuring that all curriculum, classrooms, work areas, public areas, online environments such as Moodle and Library Search, and other tools and resources are accessible for any individual, including those with a disability or medical condition, that impacts an ability to study.
Students can disclose disability status to a Student Engagement Manager at any time.
Reasonable adjustments are recorded in an agreed Learning Access Plan (LAP).
Arriving at what is a reasonable adjustment for an individual student request involves consultation between Student Engagement Managers and the student.
All full-time students at AFTRS are eligible for a Concession Opal card to use for travel in the Opal network in NSW.
You can apply for a concession card once you have been sent your AFTRS Student Number: you need to fill in the Application form listed below and return the signed pdf to AFTRS. We will get Transport NSW verification and then let you know when you can go online to order a concession card.
Travel Concession will not be valid until the start date of your course, and will be suspended if you withdraw or take Leave of Absence.
AFTRS Students can use their AFTRS photo ID card, which you will get during O-Week, as proof of entitlement when travelling with a Concession Opal card in the Opal network.
How to Apply
In order to enable access to apply for a concession card, you will need to:
You cannot apply for a concession card without submitting a completed form to the Student Centre.
If you require any further information please go to the Opal website Concessions page.
You may also apply for Transport Concession Entitlement Card at the same time.
This is an official concession card issued by Transport for NSW used to prove concession entitlement when travelling with a Concession Opal card but also allows eligible students to prove their eligibility to travel on a concession fare outside the Opal network including:
What is the difference between Opal card and Transport Entitlement Card
Having an Opal card does not prove that you are entitle to concession for the fact that the Opal card is not personalised. So a student could have picked up this card from the ground and start using it.
Transport Officers when inspecting will check to see that the Concession Opal card is current and they will ask for the student to prove concession entitlement in the form of a Student ID (if your institution ID card has been approved) or the Transport Concession Entitlement card.
As listed in the T&C’s, your Transport Concession Entitlement Card is valid for up to 15 months after it is issued, subject to you continuing to meet the eligibility criteria. The expiry date is printed on the back of your Transport Concession Entitlement Card. If you are still an enrolled student after 15 months then you will need to update the card before it expires.
What you need to do is to apply for a replacement Opal concession card:
For more information visit Transport NSW Manage your Opal card pages
AFTRS has a fantastic and extensive library with physical and online resources to support your studies.
To help get you started the Library team have put together a guide to introduce you to the AFTRS Library and all of the services and benefits you will receive once you become a student.
While AFTRS doesn’t provide dedicated student accommodation on campus, or residential colleges, we have provided information and advice on off-campus options in vibrant surrounding suburbs.
The Student Accommodation Guide has information on Rental & Shared Housing, Private Student Accommodation, Residential Colleges as well as short term accommodation and home share options.
The iconic Bondi Beach is just 2kms to the east of AFTRS and the Sydney CBD a mere 2kms in the other direction where you’ll find Chinatown, Darling Harbour, the Rocks and Circular Quay. The inner city suburbs of Darlinghurst, Redfern, Paddington and Surry Hills are in close proximity to the AFTRS campus and the inner west suburbs of Newtown and Marrickville just beyond. The sprawling Centennial Parklands surround the Entertainment Quarter and the EQ itself is home to food markets and cinemas. A world-class city, Sydney is home to a multitude of festivals and events throughout the year.
There is a Facebook Accommodation Group for AFTRS Students you can join BUT this is only available once you have accepted & enrolled into your course. It is not available to anyone outside of AFTRS students.
Please contact the Student Centre if you would like anymore information on Accommodation in Sydney
AFTRS have partnered with Headspace to offer all students free access.
From waking up to exercising, eating to sleeping, Headspace has 1,000+ hours of exercises to help you live your whole day mindfully — not just when you’re sitting to meditate
Meditation and mindfulness have been shown to help people stress less, focus more, and sleep soundly, and Headspace is your personal guide. With hundreds of guided exercises for meditation, sleep, focus, and movement, we’ll help you start and end your days feeling like your best self.
Here’s what you’ll find:
• Guided meditations for stress, focus, productivity, and more
• Sleepcasts and bedtime audio for restful nights
• The Wake Up: bite-sized videos for daily inspiration
• Focus: music and meditations designed to get you in the zone
• Move Mode: quick workouts and guided cardio for body and mind
Here is the invitation link to Join for Free.
You can sign up once you have been sent your AFTRS Student Number and email at the end of Jan 2022.
If you run into any issues signing up, please let the Student Centre know
Watch this Launch webinar to learn all about the Headspace approach to meditation and mindfulness, and tips for using the app.
Use password: helloheadspace
