NIDA is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all students to thrive. Maintaining and developing a learning environment that is supportive, secure, and professional is a responsibility of all people in the NIDA community including staff, students, and guests. Student safety and wellbeing takes many forms, and below we’ve listed just some of the ways students can access support and student services.
NIDA’s Uncle-in-Residence Program embeds cultural authority and ensures our work is grounded in First Nations knowledge, safety, and perspectives.
Uncle-in-Residence: Matthew Doyle
Over 35 years in the performing arts as a dancer, composer, musician, songman, didgeridoo player, cultural consultant, and educator. Shares deep cultural knowledge and experience with students and staff.
All students have access to counselling support. Book a session with the NIDA Counsellors. Counselling sessions run for 50 minutes, and each student has access to 10 sessions per year. If you need more support or specialised therapeutic treatments the Counsellor will help connect you to a suitable service.
UNSW After-Hours Mental Health Line service is available from 5.00pm to 9.00am Monday to Friday and 24 hours on weekends and Public Holidays (including the university shutdown period). Students can call or text.
Phone: 1300 034 141
Text: 0485 826 595
If you need help now, you can get immediate support:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Wellbeing Hotline: 1800 959 500
Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511In an immediate, life-threatening situation, please contact 000 or attend the closest public hospital emergency department.
Neurokin:
Neurokin is a student led peer support group for neurodivergent students at NIDA. It offers a safe and inclusive space to build community, share experiences, and access wellbeing support. Students are welcome to join whether they are formally diagnosed, self-identified, or still exploring what neurodivergence means for them. The group meets once each term.
LGBTQIA+ meet ups:
As a recipient of the first round of Student Community Grants, students have begun an LGBTQIA+ lunchtime meet-up. This has helped create community and build cross-disciplinary connections between students. The group offers a welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ students to connect, share experiences, and support one another within the NIDA community.
First Nations and POC Network:
NIDA provides a network for students who identify as First Nations and/or as People of Colour (POC). POC student meetups and the Yarning circle offer a welcoming space to connect, share experiences, and build community with others who have lived experience of racialised exclusion.
NIDA adopts a First Nations First approach to learning and student support. This means we embed culturally informed, culturally safe, and respectful practices into teaching, learning and community life across the Institute. NIDA’s First Nations Team is available to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students throughout their studies. The team can provide culturally grounded guidance, advocacy, study support, wellbeing assistance and help navigating university life.
Sunflower Program:
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program reflects NIDA’s core values of inclusion and belonging. We adopted this initiative to offer a discreet way for students and staff with non-visible disabilities to signal that they may need support or understanding. It’s a simple but powerful step toward fostering a more compassionate and accessible environment, one where everyone feels seen, supported, and able to thrive.
The Student Council of NIDA (SCON) is run by a student committee, elected by the student body. The committee comprises second-year students from each undergraduate course, one MFA student representative and one Vocational student who represent the student body at meetings with the senior staff of NIDA. It is an association representing all NIDA students.In order to receive all the benefits of SCON, students have the option of joining and paying an annual membership fee. A member of SCON has a position on the NIDA Education Committee. The tasks and aims of SCON are to:
NIDA makes all reasonable efforts to support all students individual learning needs.
The Study Access Plan (SAP) is available to students with diagnosed learning needs. The SAP is a tool for students to use to negotiate arrangements for reasonable adjustments to their academic and environmental needs.
Access Rider
Access Riders at NIDA provide tailored support for students with disabilities or additional needs during our production seasons, ensuring they can participate safely and equitably in all creative processes.
Students can discuss their eligibility for a SAP with the Counselling service or Student Services.
Gendered violence has NO place at NIDA. NIDA is committed to working to prevent all forms of gendered violence, including sexual misconduct, on the NIDA campus.
NIDA policy frameworks and learning and teaching activities act to:
- Build a safe and respectful teaching and learning environment.
- Raise awareness of gendered violence.
- Provide opportunities for reporting gendered violence, including sexual misconduct.
- Encourage appropriate and safe bystander action.
It takes courage to reach out, but if you have experienced sexual harm, help is available.
Click here for more information on how to report, and access support and assistance.