Who We Are
The Students with Disabilities Officer represents all students living with a disability (including mental illness, neurodivegency, developmental illness, physical disability) on the Student Representative Council. Our aim is to ensure that all students have a positive university experience, free from disadvantage or discrimination and to maximise the support systems available.
We do this by listening to any issues, concerns, or complaints that you may have, and making sure University policies meet their requirements. As well as this, we advocate for students living with a disability and provide discrimination support, promote disability-friendly events such as film nights, awareness days, campaigns and more.
It's our mission to provide all the support we can to make sure students with disabilities are given every chance of reaching our full potential and enjoying our time at university.
Get Involved
The best way to get involved is to come visit the Students with Disabilities Space! Collective meetings (virtual and online) run on Wednesdays from 2 pm to 3 pm (noodles, crackers, and juice provided, alongside the kitchen facilities in the Space).
If you don't want to dive straight into meetings or you have a specific concern, you can contact the Students With Disabilities Officer, Michael at disabilities.officer@arc.unsw.edu.au or attend my virtual and in-person and consultation periods on Wednesdays from 2pm to 4pm.
Another way to get involved, show your support, and keep abreast of news and upcoming events would be joining our Facebook group (just email or message to be added!) or message the Facebook page.
The department has established affiliations with key organisations which may be of interest to you. These are:
Australasian Network of Students with Disabilities;
Disability Advocacy and Information Service;
Women with Disabilities Australia;
Physical Disabilities Council of Australia;
National Ethnic Disabilities Alliance;
UNSW Students with Disabilities Collective
Safety, Support & Confidentiality
We also have a Disability and Welfare Space - a safe space for any student living with a disability or welfare concern to hang out, relax, and have a chat. Some of the facilities include a couch, basic food preparation facilities, table and chairs, stimuli toys, a computer, sanitisers, magazines and emergency packs with dish soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, pads, tampons, diapers, clothes and more. If you have an 'invisible disability' and you're worried about being seen going into Space and others wondering if you have a disability, don't worry. Any student with a Welfare concern is welcome in the Space, and that could mean pretty much anyone.
The Disability and Welfare Room is located in the Arc Precinct, Baxter College, off Basser Steps (next to the Women's Room) and is open Monday to Friday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.
