International Student Support and Wellbeing Services in Australia and New Zealand

What support universities provide

Australian and New Zealand universities offer a structured set of support services to all students, including international students. These typically include free, confidential counselling and mental-health support, academic skills and learning support, disability and accessibility services, financial-hardship guidance, and a dedicated international student support team. These services are part of what you pay for as an enrolled student and are designed to be used early — you do not need to wait for a crisis. Each university publishes its own services; check your university's student support or wellbeing pages for exact offerings and how to book.

• Free, confidential counselling and mental-health support
• Academic/learning skills support (writing, study skills, English)
• Disability and accessibility services
• Dedicated international student support office
• Financial-hardship and welfare guidance

The international student office

Every university has a team whose job is supporting international students specifically. They help with enrolment questions, orientation, health-cover queries, adjusting to study, and pointing you to the right service when you are unsure where to go. In Australia, the ESOS framework and the National Code set out obligations that providers have toward international students, including support and critical-incident processes — your provider must give you orientation and access to support services. In New Zealand, providers signed up to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice have duties to support international learners' wellbeing and safety. Knowing these protections exist helps you ask confidently for help.

• First stop for enrolment, orientation and 'where do I go?' questions
• Australia: support backed by the ESOS framework / National Code
• New Zealand: support backed by the Pastoral Care Code of Practice
• Ask them to refer you to counselling, academic help or welfare

Mental health and counselling

University counselling services are free and confidential for enrolled students, and you can usually self-refer by booking online or in person. They handle a wide range of issues — stress, homesickness, anxiety, relationship or family worries, and academic pressure. Using them does not affect your visa or your standing as a student. If you prefer or need ongoing clinical care beyond the university, services can help you find external options. International students in Australia generally hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) and in New Zealand are generally required to hold appropriate insurance — check what your policy covers for mental-health care and how to claim. Health-cover and visa conditions can change; this is general information, not immigration advice — verify on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au (Australia) or immigration.govt.nz (New Zealand).

24/7 and crisis support

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call the emergency number — 000 in Australia or 111 in New Zealand. For urgent emotional support outside university hours, both countries have free national helplines. In Australia, Lifeline (13 11 14) offers 24-hour crisis support and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) offers mental-health support. In New Zealand, you can call or text 1737 (Need to Talk?) any time to reach a trained counsellor, and Lifeline Aotearoa (0800 543 354) operates a helpline. Save these numbers in your phone when you arrive.

• Emergency: 000 (Australia) · 111 (New Zealand)
• Australia — Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
• Australia — Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
• New Zealand — 1737 (call or text, free, 24/7)
• New Zealand — Lifeline Aotearoa 0800 543 354

Academic and learning support

Beyond wellbeing, universities run learning and academic-skills services covering essay and report writing, referencing and avoiding plagiarism, exam preparation, time management, and academic English. Many also offer subject-specific tutoring or peer-assisted study sessions. These services are especially useful if academic writing or assessment styles differ from your home country. Using them early — not just before a deadline — is normal and encouraged, and helps you meet the academic standards expected in your course.