Advocacy Service

Advocates can:

• Listen to your issue and explain what your options are
• Inform you of your rights and responsibilities
• Explain and help you understand La Trobe's policies and procedures
• Encourage you to act in your own interests or where appropriate, act on your behalf in pursuit of your interests
• Assist you to present your case in writing and/or verbally. For example:
  • Unsatisfactory Progress Committee form
  • Student complaint letter
  • Response to allegation of academic misconduct letter
  • Special consideration application
  • Remission of debt (fee refund) application
• Upon request, help you discuss and resolve issues with your lecture/college administration about your course
• Help you understand the processes for complaints and grievances
• Support you through the process of lodging a complaint of harrassment or discrimination
• Attend University hearings and meetings with you
• Provide you with information on other services available to you at La Trobe and refer you to outside bodies where appropriate

Student Advocates will:

• Act in good faith
• Attempt to reach informal outcomes before proceeding to formal processes
• Maintain your confidentiality and information privacy in accordance with privacy and health records legistation

• Academic Misconduct (including plagiarism)
• Graduate research student advocacy
• Academic progress (including Unsatisfactory Progress)
• Assessment issues
• Special consideration
• Remission of debt
• Appeals
• Problem with on-campus residential arrangements

To get an appointment, you need to complete the Advocacy Sign Up Form by clicking 'Enquire Now' above and email it to us. Once an Advocate has assessed your case, they will be in touch to set up an appointment. Appointments are free, confidential and take place in a private office space/over the phone/over video call. There may be one or more follow up appointments required, but this will be determined following your first consultation.

Please ensure you bring: 

• Your student ID card 
• Bring all relevant correspondence and information (e.g. emails & letters) relating to your issue
• A friend or support person, if required

Help and support is never far away, reach out to one of the services below.

1800RESPECT

Phone and online counselling for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse, available 24/7.
1800respect.org.au or 1800 737 732

Lifeline

Phone and online confidential crisis support, available 24/7.
Lifeline.org.au or 13 11 14

QLife

Phone and online support and referral service for LGBTIQ+ people, available 3pm to midnight in your time zone.
qlife.org.au or 1800 184 527

MensLine Australia

Phone and online counselling service for men, available 24/7.
mensline.org.au or 1300 789 978

Beyond Blue

Phone and online mental health counselling and advice, available 24/7.
beyondblue.org.au or 1300 224 636

Translating and interpreting service (TIS National)

Translation service for non-English speakers, available 24/7.
tisnational.gov.au/en/Non-English-speakers or 131 450

National Relay Service (NRS)

Service for Deaf people, available 24/7.
Teletypewriter (TTS): 133 677
SMS relay: 0423 677 767
NRS Chat (formerly known as Internet Relay): nrschat.nrscall.gov.au

La Trobe University Services

Link to La Trobe University Student Support Services.

Relationships Australia

Broadly, Relationships Australia advocates and promotes the importance of respectful relationships with respect to positive individual mental health outcomes and general community outcomes.
relationships.org.au/contact

Victoria Legal Aid

Victoria Legal Aid helps people with their legal problems. We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most.
www.legalaid.vic.gov.au

Bravehearts

Bravehearts provides industry-leading child protection training and education programs, specialist child sexual abuse counselling and support services, as well as research and lobbying.
bravehearts.org.au

CASA - Centres Against Sexual Assault

The Victorian CASA Forum is the peak body of the 15 Centres Against Sexual Assault, and the Victorian Sexual Assault Crisis Line (after hours). Together we work to ensure that women, children and men who are victim/survivors of sexual assault have access to comprehensive and timely support and intervention to address their needs.
casa.org.au