International student support
As an international student enrolled at Gold Coast Institute of TAFE you can receive free student support services.
Visit the Student services page for more information.
ELICOS support
English language support
Academic study support
Counselling
Institute facilities
Contact us
ELICOS support
International students who are completing the nationally accredited English Language Intensive Courses for Students (ELICOS) can receive extra support.
ELICOS support includes:
- free class placement test at orientation on the first day of your enrolment
- free internet and e-mail access
- tutor support in small groups in addition to classroom teaching
- extra conversation classes for two hours each week (optional)
- whole school excursions every eight weeks
- library membership/borrowing rights
- free use of the Independent Learning Centre (ILC)
- free end of year graduation ceremony and lunch
- free access to the Southport Centre 8.00am to 9.00pm (Monday - Friday) and
- personal and career counselling.
English language support
Tutor support is available during class time.
Academic study support
Your faculty will help you with:
- writing assignments
- preparing for exams
- general study skills and
- time management.
Counselling
Gold Coast Institute of TAFE has trained and qualified counsellors who are knowledgeable about the issues facing international students. They give international students free and confidential support with adjusting to an unfamiliar environment, new study, stress, culture shock or just someone to talk to.
Counsellors can also help you with career exploration and further study pathways.
Read about some of the common concerns of international students who come to Counselling.
What is Counselling like? What can I expect?
The goal of a counselling session is to help you find options and make choices to solve problems and feel better.
Counselling sessions are usually one hour long. Sometimes one counselling session is all that you will need. In some cases you can meet once a week until your problem is resolved.
Your first counselling session
- Make a booking to talk to a counsellor through the Student Services office on the Ashmore and Southport campuses.
- Arrive for your counselling session. You will be asked to complete a 'Personal details' form.
- Meet with a counsellor after filling out the form. In your counselling session you can talk about your problems. The counsellor will listen attentively and not judge you.
- The counsellor may ask you questions about the problem and about other areas of your life in order to figure out how best to help you.
- The counsellor may offer information which you may need to resolve your problems.
What problems do international students often talk about with a counsellor?
Living in a new culture presents many challenges. Some of the issues that international students experience, and often talk about in Counselling include:
- homesickness
- not wanting to go home
- difficulties reading, writing or listening to lectures in a foreign language
- adjusting to major difference in the education system
- not being understood because of your accent
- not being understood when you express yourself in your usual way
- roommate conflicts
- difficulties making friends with Australians
- conflicts between values at home and in Australia regarding dating
- problems interacting with teachers or employers
- concerns about family reactions to choices you make while in Australia
- finding that some people are prejudiced against others from different cultures
- dealing with others misperceptions about your culture or country and
- discovering that problems at home are still worrying you even though you are in a new environment.
These issues can lead to:
- sadness
- worry
- loneliness
- confusion
- frustration or anger
- a lack of confidence
- fear of the unknown and the unfamiliar
- problems with sleeping
- problems concentrating
- academic performance problems and
- physical illness.
Our professional counsellors can help with any of these issues.
Can anyone find out that I have been to Counselling or what I said to the counsellor? What is confidentiality?
Everything you tell the counsellor is private and confidential.
'Confidentiality' means that by law the counsellor cannot provide anyone with information about you without your written permission.
Exceptions include:
- when it is clear that a persons life is in danger
- when a child or elderly person is in danger of being harmed by a caregiver
- when there is violence such as shoving, choking, grabbing, hitting, punching, kicking or threats of any of these between spouses or dating partners who live together or
- when the information is required by a court of law in Australia.
I want to talk to a counsellor. What do I do now?
Make an appointment to talk to a counsellor.
If you are in crisis or are so upset that you feel you cannot wait to speak with someone please tell the receptionist that you need to speak with someone immediately.
For after hours emergency contact numbers please visit the Career and personal counselling page.
Institute facilities
As an international student at Gold Coast Institute of TAFE you can access a wide range of institute facilities.
Institute facilities include:
- private study areas
- childcare facilities
- on-campus parking
- full library services
- academic and personal counselling
- on-campus bookshop and
- on-campus food services.
Visit the Institute facilities page for more information.
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