Wellbeing
While rewarding, we know that university can also be a challenging time for our students, which is why their mental and physical wellbeing is our top priority.
Burgmann provides 24/7 support through the Residential Advisor Team which is overseen by the College Dean.
When further support is required, residents can speak with the College Dean, Deputy Principal or Principal of the College for advice on a range of topics. If the staff don’t feel they are best placed to help a resident, they may refer students to counselling or other support services.
What sets Burgmann apart from other Colleges at the ANU is that our Principal, Deputy Principal and College Dean all live onsite and can respond to incidents if necessary.
Information for parents and loved ones
At Burgmann College, we believe in fostering independence and empowering our residents to develop their autonomy.
By encouraging residents to initiate reaching out for support we build their confidence and equip them with essential life skills. We understand that as parents or loved ones, you may have concerns about a resident and may want to help. To provide clarity, we have developed some FAQs so that you know what you can expect from the college.
My child is unwell/sick at College, what supports are in place?
The College is not resourced to provide medical support, medication or medical advice. Residents should be encouraged to contact a medical provider and take responsibility for their health and wellbeing. The ANU Medical Centre is available for all ANU students as well as many medical practices in the ACT. If a resident is acutely unwell and the situation is deemed a critical incident our staff will follow the ANU Student Critical Incident Procedure and may call 000.
My child has called home and has shared that they are having issues making friends and developing connections within the Burgmann community.
Coming to college can be a difficult transition. You can support your child by encouraging them to reach out to the Residential Advisor (RA) on their floor, the College Dean or Deputy Principal, who are trained in providing pastoral care. It is important that the resident reach out themselves as this re-enforces the College’s approach to fostering independence.
I want to contact the College and let staff know that my child needs support and is experiencing psychological distress, what can I expect?
Our commitment to privacy means that while our staff can listen to your concerns, we may not be able to provide information about a resident unless we have their written permission to do so. Your information can help us keep an eye out for the resident but we do not conduct routine check-ins. If you have significant, immediate concerns we encourage you to call emergency services on 000 and notify reception that emergency services will be arriving. In an emergency situation we will contact the resident’s listed “emergency contact”.
The College encourages residents to reach out to their RA, the College Dean and/or Deputy Principal if they need support. You can help your child by encouraging them to seek support.
I would like to send a care package to a resident, how can I do this?
Everyone loves receiving mail! Care packages can be posted to the resident’s name and address at the College.
Is it necessary for a resident to have Private Health Cover?
Deciding to take private health insurance is a personal choice.
However, a few things should be considered:
- Ambulance costs are the responsibility of the resident and are not covered by Medicare.
Some outdoor activities have a higher risk profile, such as Inward Bound or Interhall Sport, and students wishing to participate in these activities may consider private health cover that includes ambulance costs.
