Living with Disability Support & Resources
If you’re looking for support, Griffith provides an extensive array of services to students, and there are many local and national organisations you can connect with. We’ve compiled Griffith based, Gold Coast based and national support services all in one place for you to refer to whenever you need.
Griffith Support
- Student Disability and Accessibility – Support and resources to explore
- Book an NDIS appointment at the Gold Coast campus – Fill out this Form for more details on NDIS appointments at Griffith
- Employment initiatives – A number of initiatives to improve the employment outcomes for students with disabilities and help you improve the next steps in your career journey.
- Griffith Mental Wellbeing Support Line – 24-hour mental health support service – provides advice and support for experiencing emotional distress, managing safety concerns, and opening pathways to find longer-term solutions
External Support
Gold Coast Based
- Gold Coast Disability and Youth – A disability support service specialising in ASD teens and young adults. They provide self and plan managed NDIS participants with a range of support options including: individual support, group programs.
- After Hours Safe Space – A low intensity, community-based after-hours mental health service with locations in Mermaid Beach and Southport
- Acute Care Team (1300 MH CALL) – 24-hour Specialist Mental Health Care that can provide advice, referrals and crisis support
National
- Australian Network on Disability – Find internships, mentors and other career development opportunities
- Beyond Blue – Beyond Blue provide support related to depression, suicide, anxiety disorders and other related mental illnesses
- Lifeline – 24-hour mental health crisis support service – provides advice and support for those experiencing emotional distress, from ‘having a difficult time’ to ‘feeling suicidal’
Educational Tools
- SBS Inclusion Training – From both an education and employment perspective inclusion at work is important as it creates safe, happy and productive environments where everyone can achieve their full potential. The SBS Inclusion Program has a range of online modules and resources designed to train people in the areas of cultural competence, diversity and inclusion. There are animations and films, including real people telling real stories. The training is free for all Griffith students and staff.
- Disability Awareness Training – The content in this program is ideal for someone who has minimal or no knowledge of disability, and can be used as a refresher course to be applied across a range of workplaces. This program aims to build confidence in interactions with people with disability, learn tips for better communication, discover where to find out more information about particular disability topics and share this new knowledge with others. This training is free.
- Mental Health First Aid – Physical first aid is accepted and widespread in our community, however most does not cover mental health problems. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches people the skills to help someone who they’re concerned about.
Resources
- Equity Resources – covering topics on gender, LGBTQIA+, disability, reducing bias and more.
- Disability Advisory Committee – The Disability Advisory Committee acts as a reference group for the Equity Committee on matters relating to students and staff with disabilities and advise the Equity Committee on the development, implementation and evaluation of the University’s Disability Action Plan.
- Creating Accessible Learning Environments – This page provides information on accessibility and many links to useful resources
Instagram pages to follow
- @_somebodydifferent by Inclusive Australia
- @sanapowell.lpc – therapist, author and educator covering mental health, relationships and healing
Podcasts
- Choice and Control – Meet people with disability from across Queensland, and discover their stories, achievements and contributions to their communities.
- The Art of Inclusion by Diversity Council Australia
- The Parenting Spectrum – If you’re one of the millions of people globally with an autistic family member The Parenting Spectrum is your guide, your community and your support network.
- Disability Rights in Australia – In episode 25 of Griffith’s The Gender Card podcast, guests examine how far we have come, and how much more there is to achieve for disability rights in Australia.
Videos
Events
Throughout the year we host a wide range of events to cater to everyone. Our aim is to foster social connections, build awareness and educate on important topics. Currently, with PANDA (Physically and Neurologically Diverse Association) we co-host a coffee catch up for students living with disability each trimester.
Check out what’s on via our Diversity & Inclusion events calendar HERE
Clubs & Societies
PANDA (Physically and Neurologically Diverse Association)
