AccessAbility Services ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability, AccessAbility Services can provide assistance, advocacy and reasonable academic adjustments.
Individual support
You are strongly encouraged to make an appointment with AccessAbility Services as early as possible. AccessAbility Services can provide practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University and ensure access to appropriate accommodations and services.
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, the University of the Sunshine Coast recognises that a disability may be permanent or temporary and may take the following forms:
- physical
- psychiatric
- sensory
- learning
- intellectual
- neurological
- a chronic medical condition (eg heart disease, chronic fatigue syndrome), or
- the presence in the body of disease-causing organisms
AccessAbility Services can also assist with support for students who are a primary carer for anyone meeting the above criteria or whom care for someone considered frail aged.
Please note: A carer is defined by the Carer Recognition Act 2010 as “an individual who provides personal care, support and assistance to another individual who needs it because that other individual (a) has a disability; or (b) has a medical condition (including a terminal or chronic illness); or (c) has a mental illness; or (d) is frail and aged… An individual is not a carer merely because he or she (a) is the spouse, de facto partner, parent, child or other relative of an individual, or is the guardian of an individual; or (b) lives with an individual who requires care.
You and your Ability Adviser will:
- discuss the impact of your condition or carer responsibilities on academic work and functioning
- develop a Learning Access Plan for you to provide to academic staff
Prior to your appointment:
- Have documentation concerning the nature of your disability or medical condition or role as a carer available from a medical or specialist practitioner. You can provide us with:
- your Health Practitioner Report (PDF 120KB)* or
- Students who are carers documentation (PDF 135KB)* or
- other documentation that contains the same information. For carers, a letter of confirmation from the Department of Human Services regarding your official carer status is also eligible.
- Keep AccessAbility Services up to date in relation to your disability related circumstances, needs and contact details.
* For PDF documents you must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded from the Adobe Download page.
Current USC students: Book online via the Student Hub
| Campus | In person | Tel: |
|---|---|---|
| USC Sunshine Coast | Student Central, Building C | +61 7 5430 1226 |
| USC Fraser Coast | Building A | +61 7 4128 5200 |
| USC Gympie | 71 Cartwright Road | +61 7 5456 5800 |
|
USC SouthBank |
Building A4 (SW1) | +61 7 5409 8600 |
|
USC Caboolture |
Level 1, J Block | +61 7 5430 1226 |
Office hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 8.30am-4.30pm
Wednesday: 10am-4.30pm
Email: AccessAbility@usc.edu.au
Skype and phone consults available upon request. Please contact AccessAbility Services for further information.
Thinking about studying at USC?
You’re welcome to meet with our Ability Advisers about studying at USC and finding out more about how we can support you.
Make an appointment by calling a campus close to you.
USC encourages disclosure by registering with AccessAbility Services for the purposes of seeking reasonable academic adjustments and appropriate study support. You can register if you have a disability, a learning disorder, an injury or illness, or if you are a primary carer for someone with a disability. The disability or health condition is kept confidential and the focus is on addressing the impact on your learning.
Ability Advisers recommend reasonable academic adjustments by creating a ‘Learning Access Plan’ to be shared (with your consent) with relevant USC staff members who can provide and/or permit these adjustments. Reasonable adjustments, can also be recommended for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and these can be negotiated in advance with your Placement Coordinator. Further information on disclosure can be obtained on the Disclosure as a student page on the Western Sydney University's website, developed by NDCO, the National Disability Coordination Office Program. Students are encouraged to use this resource to develop skills and confidence in talking about their needs.
Disclosure of information is voluntary. The information you provide is treated as private and confidential. No information is released without your written consent, except where required or authorised by law. You have the right to access any information that AccessAbility Services holds about you. Your Academic Record at USC does not contain any disability or health information, nor any indication of registration with AccessAbility Services. The University's Information Privacy Policy is on the USC website.
Disclosure of information is a personal decision however non-disclosure or disclosing only limited information may result in an inability to negotiate reasonable academic adjustments. Students will be encouraged to discuss (or allow the AccessAbility Services staff to discuss) the effect of their disability on their learning, with staff who are asked to make reasonable adjustments. AccessAbility Services have developed a Disclosure Script Worksheet (PDF 190KB) to help you decide what, when and how to disclose information.
Services and facilities
There are a range of disability support services and facilities available to you. For further information and to access these services, contact AccessAbility Services at your campus.
Every building and level on campus has wheelchair access. There are lifts in all buildings and Braille signage.
For vision impaired students, mobility training and assistance with orientation can be accessed through the local representative of the Guide Dogs Association.
A motorised scooter is available to students who have mobility difficulties for use on campus. To be eligible to access the scooter, you must be registered with the AccessAbility Service.
All lecture theatres have hearing loops for students with hearing impairment. Talk to an Ability Adviser about options for better hearing on campus.
USC provides parking for people with a mobility disability at a number of designated disabled parking spaces across the campus at no cost.
The University no longer issues its own Disability Parking Permits. If you require accessible parking at USC, you must obtain a permit from Queensland Transport or another state or territory issuing authority.
For more information refer to parking at USC.
Students with mobility difficulties may be eligible for swipe-card access to the bottom of the lecture theatres and for after-hours lift access.
Wheelchair accessible toilets are available in all buildings. Building D contains a parent's room, with a fridge, chair and ample sink and bench space, which can be used for taking medication in privacy.
Training and support in the use of specialised software, hardware and peripherals can be arranged for eligible students.
Course materials and exams can be made available in alternative formats for students with vision impairment or print disability.
The University can make available:
- extra time for assessments or examinations
- assessment via different modes, such as oral or electronically
- personal assistance such as a scribe, Auslan interpreter or reader
A limited pool of equipment such as digital voice recorders, a laptop computer and hearing loop equipment are available for loan to eligible students.
Lockers are available for students with mobility or other access issues. Please contact an Ability Adviser to discuss.
Auslan interpreter support can be arranged - with advance notice, for students who have severe hearing impairments.
Note-taking can be arranged for students who experience significant difficulty with accessing lecture material, for example, due to a hearing impairment or manual dexterity problem.
Note-taking is provided each semester by peer students who agree to share their notes. It may take a couple of weeks to identify a peer, and there will be some variation in the timeliness and style of notes.
Adjustments may be made to standard exam arrangements for eligible students. These include provisions such as extra time, scribes/readers, use of a computer, provision of exam paper in alternative format and ergonomic furniture.
The Library provides services for students with a disability including retrieving materials from shelves and extended loan periods.
Every building and level on campus has wheelchair access. There is a lift in B Block which provides access to level 2 in B and C Block. There are wheel chair friendly tables in both A and B lecture theatres, and an adjustable height desk in B Block.
For vision impaired students, mobility training and assistance with orientation can be accessed through the local representative of the Guide Dogs Association on student request.
All lecture theatres have hearing loops for students with hearing impairment. Talk to an Ability Adviser about options for better hearing on campus.
USC provides 4 dedicated disabled parking bays for people with a mobility disability at no cost.
If you require accessible parking at USC, you must obtain a permit from Queensland Transport or another state or territory issuing authority.
For more information refer to parking at USC.
Wheelchair accessible toilets and shower facilities are available in all buildings. Each of these rooms also contain a baby change table. A Block also contains a dedicated private parent feeding room with a comfortable chair.
Training and support in the use of specialised software, hardware and peripherals can be arranged for eligible students.
Course materials and exams can be made available in alternative formats for students with vision impairment or print disability.
The University can make available:
- extra time for assessments or examinations
- assessment via different modes, such as oral or electronically
- personal assistance such as a scribe, Auslan interpreter or reader
Auslan interpreter support can be arranged - with advance notice, for students who have severe hearing impairments.
Note-taking can be arranged for students who experience significant difficulty with accessing lecture material, for example, due to a hearing impairment or manual dexterity problem.
Note-taking is provided each semester by peer students who agree to share their notes. It may take a couple of weeks to identify a peer student, and there will be some variation in the timeliness and style of notes.
Adjustments may be made to standard exam arrangements for eligible students. These include provisions such as extra time, scribes/readers, use of a computer, provision of exam paper in alternative format and ergonomic furniture.
The Library provides services for students with a disability including retrieving materials from shelves and extended loan periods.
Every building and level on campus has wheelchair access. There are lifts in all buildings and Braille signage.
For vision impaired students, mobility training and assistance with orientation can be accessed through the local representative of the Guide Dogs Association.
The lecture theatre has hearing loops for students with hearing impairment. Talk to an Ability Adviser about options for better hearing on campus.
USC provides parking for people with a mobility disability at a number of designated disabled parking spaces across the campus at no cost.
The University no longer issues its own Disability Parking Permits. If you require accessible parking at USC, you must obtain a permit from Queensland Transport or another state or territory issuing authority.
For more information refer to parking at USC.
Wheelchair accessible toilets are available in on the ground floor of the USC Gympie building this toilet also contains a baby change table, shower and fold down bench space, which can be used for taking medication in privacy.
Training and support in the use of specialised software, hardware and peripherals can be arranged for eligible students.
Course materials and exams can be made available in alternative formats for students with vision impairment or print disability.
The University can make available:
- extra time for assessments or examinations
- assessment via different modes, such as oral or electronically
- personal assistance such as a scribe, Auslan interpreter or reader
A limited pool of equipment such as a laptop computer and hearing loop equipment are available for loan to eligible students.
Auslan interpreter support can be arranged - with advance notice, for students who have severe hearing impairments.
Note-taking can be arranged for students who experience significant difficulty with accessing lecture material, for example, due to a hearing impairment or manual dexterity problem.
Note-taking is provided each semester by peer students who agree to share their notes. It may take a couple of weeks to identify a peer student, and there will be some variation in the timeliness and style of notes.
Adjustments may be made to standard exam arrangements for eligible students. These include provisions such as extra time, scribes/readers, use of a computer, provision of exam paper in alternative format and ergonomic furniture.
The Library provides services for students with a disability including retrieving materials from shelves and extended loan periods.
Every building and level on campus has wheelchair access. There are lifts in all buildings and Braille signage.
For vision impaired students, mobility training and assistance with orientation can be accessed through the local representative of the Guide Dogs Association.
Infrared emitters are installed in learning and teaching spaces for students with hearing impairment. Talk to an Ability Adviser about obtaining a belt pack for use with the infrared emitters and options for better hearing on campus.
USC provides parking for people with a mobility disability at a number of designated disabled parking spaces across the campus at no cost.
The University no longer issues its own Disability Parking Permits. If you require accessible parking at USC, you must obtain a permit from Queensland Transport or another state or territory issuing authority.
For more information refer to parking at USC.
Students with mobility difficulties may be eligible for swipe-card access to the bottom of the lecture theatres and for after-hours lift access.
Wheelchair accessible toilets are available in all buildings.
Training and support in the use of specialised software, hardware and peripherals can be arranged for eligible students.
Course materials and exams can be made available in alternative formats for students with vision impairment or print disability.
The University can make available:
- extra time for assessments or examinations
- assessment via different modes, such as oral or electronically
- personal assistance such as a scribe, Auslan interpreter or reader
A limited pool of equipment is available for loan to eligible students.
Auslan interpreter support can be arranged - with advance notice, for students who have severe hearing impairments.
Note-taking can be arranged for students who experience significant difficulty with accessing lecture material, for example, due to a hearing impairment or manual dexterity problem.
Note-taking is provided each semester by peer students who agree to share their notes. It may take a couple of weeks to identify a peer student, and there will be some variation in the timeliness and style of notes.
Adjustments may be made to standard exam arrangements for eligible students. These include provisions such as extra time, scribes/readers, use of a computer, provision of exam paper in alternative format and ergonomic furniture.
The Library provides services for students with a disability including retrieving materials from shelves and extended loan periods.
Every building and level on campus has wheelchair access. Each multi-storey building is accessible via a lift.
For vision impaired students, mobility training and assistance with orientation can be accessed through the local representative of the Guide Dogs Association.
All lecture theatres have hearing loops for students with hearing impairment. Talk to an Ability Adviser about options for better hearing on campus.
USC provides parking for people with a mobility disability at a number of designated disabled parking spaces across the campus at no cost.
The University no longer issues its own Disability Parking Permits. If you require accessible parking at USC, you must obtain a permit from Queensland Transport or another state or territory issuing authority.
For more information refer to parking at USC.
Students with mobility difficulties may be eligible for swipe-card access to the bottom of the lecture theatres and for after-hours lift access.
Wheelchair accessible toilets are available in buildings D, J and K.
Training and support in the use of specialised software, hardware and peripherals can be arranged for eligible students.
Course materials and exams can be made available in alternative formats for students with vision impairment or print disability.
The University can make available:
- extra time for assessments or examinations
- assessment via different modes, such as oral or electronically
- personal assistance such as a scribe, Auslan interpreter or reader
A limited pool of equipment such as digital voice recorders, a laptop computer and hearing loop equipment are available for loan to eligible students.
Auslan interpreter support can be arranged - with advance notice, for students who have severe hearing impairments.
Note-taking can be arranged for students who experience significant difficulty with accessing lecture material, for example, due to a hearing impairment or manual dexterity problem.
Note-taking is provided each semester by peer students who agree to share their notes . It may take a couple of weeks to identify a peer student, and there will be some variation in the timeliness and style of notes.
Adjustments may be made to standard exam arrangements for eligible students. These include provisions such as extra time, scribes/readers, use of a computer, provision of exam paper in alternative format and ergonomic furniture.
The Library provides services for students with a disability including retrieving materials from shelves and extended loan periods.
Disability Action Plan
The purpose of the Disability Action Plan is to assist the University in providing equal access to quality education for the whole community, improve the teaching and learning environment for students and staff, and to raise awareness of disability issues and responsibilities as a foundation for good practice in equitable service provision.
More information
- Contact AccessAbility Services at Student Wellbeing.
- Additional information and study resources are available through external organisations.
- Disability access map
* For PDF documents you must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded from the Adobe Download page.