Dedicated disability support services
If you’re a student with a disability, the universities that provide degrees through OUA offer alternative format study materials to support you. These can include:
- braille
- e-text
- DAISY format
- large print
- lecture transcripts
How to get support
Enrolment is the right time to let us know that you need support. Additionally, allow plenty of time to get your alternative format study materials and arrangements organised.
These steps in order are:
- Where possible, enrol at least one study term, or 10 weeks in advance.
- When you're enrolling, either online or with an OUA student advisor, complete the disability support questions and nominate that you need assistance.
- If you need a paper enrolment form, contact the OUA Disability Contact Officer, disability@open.edu.au.
- Reach out to the uni's disability contact that provides your degree or subject to organise your alternative study arrangements.
Arranging your exams
Reach out to the disability contact at your university to apply to have your requirements accommodated during your exams.
Alternative exam arrangements (AEAs) can include:
- Auslan interpreters or scribes in exams
- extra writing time
- rest breaks
- specialised equipment
- special seating arrangements
Note that AEAs are usually separate to any ongoing support you might have in place with your uni—so allow plenty of time to get these arrangements in place.
Disability and equity contacts
Australian Catholic University
Australian National University
Access and Inclusion
Phone: (02) 6125 5036
Email: access.inclusion@anu.edu.au
Website: Accessibility
Curtin University
AccessAbility Services
Phone: (08) 9266 7850
Email: Access.Ability@curtin.edu.au
Website: Disability & accessibility support
Griffith University
Student Disability and Accessibility
Phone: (07) 3735 7470
Email: disability-online@griffith.edu.au
Website: Student Disability and Accessibility
La Trobe University
Student Advising (Accessibility)
Phone: (03) 9479 2900
Email: access.ability@latrobe.edu.au
Website: Accessibility and Inclusion
Macquarie University
Disability Support Unit
Phone: (02) 9850 7497
Email: campuswellbeing@mq.edu.au
Website: Accessibility and Disability
Fax: +61 2 9850 6063
Murdoch University
RMIT University
Equitable Learning Services
Phone: (03) 9925 5000
Email: els@rmit.edu.au
Website: Equitable learning and disability
Swinburne University of Technology
AccessAbility Services
Phone: (03) 9214 5234 (Mon-Thurs)
Email: accessability@swin.edu.au
Website: AccessAbility Services
University of Adelaide
Disability Support team
Website: Disability Support
University of New England
Student Access and Inclusion
Phone: (02) 6773 2897
Email: accessinclusion@une.edu.au
Website: Student Accessibility and Wellbeing
University of Notre Dame Australia
Access and Inclusion
Email: accessandinclusion@nd.edu.au
University of South Australia
Disability Services
Phone: 1300 657 122 or (08) 8302 2330
Email: disability@unisa.edu.au
Website: Access and Inclusion
Fax: +61 8 8302 2363
University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
Accessibility Services
Phone: 1800 817 675
Email: accessibility.services@utas.edu.au
Website: Accessibility Services
Open Universities Australia Disability Contact Officer
You can get in touch with the OUA Disability Contact Officer by email.
Study support tips and guides
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Competing with procrastination? Here’s a practical guide to stimulate your next online study session.
And is it the end of the world if you don't get the score you wanted? Find out why the ATAR doesn't hold as much weight as it once did.
Student allowances explained: What payments can you get?
If you’re studying full-time, you may be eligible for income support. Find out about the three main types of Centrelink payments for students, Austudy, ABSTUDY and Youth Allowance.