At SCEI-HE, we are committed to providing you with a safe and inclusive environment. We take incidents of discrimination, harassment and bullying very seriously. If you have been impacted by these issues, please get in touch and we’ll provide you with support and advice. Talk to our counsellor or a lecturer.

What you can do

• Know your rights
• Lodge a complaint – refer to our complaints and grievances policy and process
• Contact the Fair Work Commission – 1300 799 675
• If you feel safe and confident, approach the person who is bullying you and tell them that their behaviour is unwanted and not acceptable
• Ask a friend to help you talk to the bully

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission offers free, impartial confidential information. They are located at Level 3, 204 Lygon Street, Carlton, VIC 3053.
You can also contact them using the details below :

Advice Line  1300 292 153
TTY 300 289 621
Email academic.support@scei-he.edu.au

Website www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au

SCEI-HE is committed to supporting the wellbeing of our students. You can access our free and confidential counselling service whenever you need. Our counsellor is experienced in supporting people with a variety of issues.

We all have to work through our problems at various stages in our lives. Talking to someone can help you overcome or better deal with your issue so you can get on with enjoying life and your studies again.

When should I see a counsellor?

Whenever you decide that you are ready. It is your decision to share your personal challenges to a trained professional. The first session can be just about getting to know the counsellor’s work and setting up a goal on what you would like to work on.

Some appointments can be a one-off, and the counsellor would ask the student if they would like a follow-up session to check on progress.

Sometimes problems creep up and it’s difficult to know what to do. You may find it difficult to talk to your friends or family about it. In these situations, talking to a counsellor is highly beneficial. If you’re beginning to feel stuck, uncertain, worried, or have any other personal issue you want to discuss with an impartial and supportive professional, you can make a free appointment to see our counsellors.

Personal Issues

Our counsellor can help with personal issues such as study stress, family and relationship problems, domestic violence, grief & loss, feeling homesick, loneliness, advice about making an important decision and much more.

Careers and job search support

While you are still a student with us, our counsellor can provide additional support for your mental health as you plan and apply for job vacancies. We can help validate the stress you may be experiencing and provide you with support in managing your anxiety or response to the interview or application outcome.

SCEI-HE offers a quiet room at its campuses for students to use.

The four key steps SCEI-HE uses to address Student Complaints, Grievance and Appeals are as follows: 

1. Local-level resolution– Wherever appropriate and applicable, student complaints should be addressed locally through:

• The department, or service area of SCEI-HE; or
• Your international agent
  Note: SCEI-HE acknowledges that there may be instances where this step is not appropriate or applicable, for example, if a student does not feel comfortable doing so.

2. Written Complaint – If resolution at a local level cannot be achieved or is not appropriate or applicable, you may lodge a Complaint.

• Lodge a complaint using the HEFOR12 Complaint Form and send to student.support@scei-he.edu.au
• You will hear from a relevant staff member within 10 working days.
  Note: If a complaint is submitted anonymously, it will impact SCEI-HE’s ability to seek further information and to progress the complaint.

3. Request an Internal Appeal– If after the complaint has been investigated and you are not satisfied with the process or outcome of the decision, you can request an internal review of the decision by a senior staff member.

• Send an email to student.support@scei-he.edu.au within 10 working days of the date of the decision along with the HEFOR68 Appeal form.

4. Request an External Appeal – If you are not satisfied with the process or outcome of the internal appeal, you can request an external appeal by an independent body – The Overseas Students Ombudsman International student complaints | Commonwealth Ombudsman

• Once an external appeal is lodged, send an email to student.support@scei-he.edu.au with reference or case number within 10 working days of the date of the internal appeal decision.

• HEPP03 Student Complaint and Grievance Policy and Procedure
• Student Complaints and Appeals Procedure

You can seek support and assistance throughout the student complaints process from the following sources :

• Teaching staff can provide information about the Student Complaints and Appeals Policy & associated Procedure
• Student Services can give you information and advice about the complaints process
• Counsellors and Academic Support can give you information and advice about the complaints process, offer can offer confidential emotional support (our counsellors do not provide legal advice)

A Support Person can accompany you to any meetings (however, this person does not act as an advocate). This can be a friend or a family member.

• All parties are entitled to confidentiality in a complaints process, and it is important that you do not publicly name the person you have lodged a complaint against.
• Please consult the information in our Student Complaints and Appeals Policy and the associated Student Complaints and Appeals Procedure (see also roles and responsibilities of a Student Complainant, as outlined in Appendix C of the procedure).

You can access our policies and procedure here : Policies and Procedures