Services for Parents
University is different from school and a new University student will be different from the Year 12 school student you recently knew so well!
Whether you went to university yourself or not, it's difficult to imagine what it's like for your student. Sometimes your imagination can make you uneasy!
It's often hard to step back and let the student take full responsibility for their learning and their adjustment to this next stage in their life, especially when you may be fully supporting them financially!! However, now is the time to have confidence in the good work you have already done as a parent and give them the opportunity to develop responsibly.
It's normal for first year university students to test out new ways of being and they will be exposed to many new ideas, opportunities, people, experiences and ways of life. However, if you notice things aren't going well or you start to worry, please feel free to call the Counselling Service.
Our service is confidential, so we do not disclose information about attendance or the content of discussions.
For more information on this area, please follow the links below. We also have a downloadable brochure entitled "Tips for Parents of First Year University Students".
What's Happening?
Your teenager has just graduated from school to university after an exhausting final year. It's a time which is tiring, exciting and scary all at once. And not just for the teenagers! More information.
Letting Go
Schools provide many opportunities for parents to be involved and work in partnership in educating their children. There are lots of occasions when you can share experiences with your adolescents and other families. Many of you will miss this close connection now that they are uni students. More information.
What Helps
It can sometimes feel like you need tightrope walking lessons! There is no secret formula for this process. What helps is a balance between being interested, supportive and caring on the one hand, and leaving them alone, trusting and giving space on the other. More information.