Accessibility support at QUT

Do you have a disability, injury or health condition?

QUT students can access a range of support to help them throughout their learning journey. Knowing where to find the right support is an important part of your success as a student, particularly if you’re living with a disability or mental health condition.

At QUT, accessibility means creating learning environments where you feel supported, included and able to participate fully in your studies.

For Olivia, a second‑year Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) student, having access to the right support has been an important part of her university experience while managing anxiety.

Jump to:

• What accessibility means at QUT
• What kinds of support are available
• Olivia’s experience of support
• Accessibility in the Faculty of Health
• Contact our teams

Accessibility at QUT recognises that students engage with university in different ways and at different points in their lives. Disability, injury and health conditions can be ongoing or temporary, and they can affect learning, assessments and participation.

Accessibility focuses on flexibility and fairness. Students don’t need to fit into one way of learning. Instead, QUT works to remove barriers so you can show your knowledge and capabilities without disadvantage.

Accessible learning environments benefit all students, not just those who formally register for support.

What kinds of support does QUT offer?

QUT offers a range of accessibility supports for students with disability, injury or health conditions, including mental health conditions. Support is tailored to your individual needs and circumstances. This may include learning adjustments or more flexible approaches to assessment.

You don’t need to have to have everything figured out before you reach out. Support services can help you explore your options and work out what will support you best.

Starting conversations early and having clear information can reduce stress and help you feel more confident as you navigate university life.

Olivia’s experience of support

Olivia is in her second year of the Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology). She chose to study psychology because it combines her interest in science with a strong desire to help others. QUT’s focus on practical learning and real‑world experience at an undergraduate level also influenced her decision.

Living with anxiety presented challenges at university, particularly when managing assessments and the wider demands of student life. Olivia reached out to student support services and worked with a disability officer to develop an Access Equity Plan. This plan supports her learning and wellbeing as she continues her studies.

Olivia explains how access to support helped her manage university life:

"QUT has a wonderful support system for students with disabilities or mental health struggles. As a student with anxiety, the university provided me with incredible support through my disability officer.

Student support helped set me up with an Access Equity Plan, which allowed me to get support on things like my assignments, exams and uni life. My Access Equity Plan meant that I could thrive in university, knowing that I had support."

Accessibility within the Faculty of Health

The Health Faculty plays an important role in modelling inclusive and accessible practice. Many students prepare for careers in psychology, nursing, counselling and other health‑related professions. In these fields, understanding individual needs and providing proper support are essential professional skills.

Teaching and learning within the faculty embed accessibility in practical ways. This supports students during their studies and helps them develop the values and capabilities they will take into professional practice.

Olivia has particularly enjoyed the counselling aspects of her course:

"Being able to practically apply theories we’ve learnt into real-life scenarios has helped me build so much confidence in communicating and supporting others effectively.

I remember when I came to a breakthrough with my ‘client’. We had been working on implementing CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) practice with clients, and I had identified an “Automatic Negative Thought”. In doing so, I helped my client come to a realisation about how this impacted her personal life, and I came away from the session receiving really positive feedback from her about my practice."

Learning environments where students feel supported benefits academic engagement, confidence and wellbeing.

For Olivia, opportunities to apply theory to practice through counselling‑focused units and hands-on learning experiences have reinforced her career goals and strengthened her sense of purpose:

"My plan is to go onto to do my master's and become a Clinical Psychologist. For me, clinical psychology has been my goal since early high school. I’ve always wanted a career that helps others, and when I was diagnosed with anxiety, I got exposed to the psychology pathways. The idea of helping someone, who struggled like me, is a really rewarding career pathway."

Accessibility at QUT continues to grow through student feedback and lived experience. By making it clear where to find support and encouraging students to reach out with confidence, QUT supports learning environments where everyone can thrive.

Contact our teams

To learn more about accessibility support you can visit QUT’s Accessibility Services website or contact a student support adviser by phone (07) 3138 2019 or email.