Student Services
Victorian Institute of Technology (VIT) Student Services provides a dedicated Student Services Officer who can help our students with all aspects of their academic life and any personal problems. To seek help in such matters just contact the Student Services Officer at VIT.
You can contact student services for the following reasons:
- Academic Assistance
- Accommodation Assistance
- Any difficulties with your study
- Computer Lab and Loan Laptops
- English Language Support
- Formal Letters
- General Enquiries
- Health Care
- Immigration Enquiries
- Internship Support
- Job Assistance
- Library
- Student Break out area
- Study Guidelines
- Tax File
- Visa Assistance
- Welfare Counselling
- Work Permit

VIT Welfare Counselling Service
- At VIT we aim to support our students emotionally and mentally so that you can achieve the best outcome for your future.
- Confidentiality and Privacy: Finding someone to talk to about serious or personal issues without worrying about what happens to that information is important. Mental health professionals are prohibited by law from sharing your confidential information with anyone. The only exceptions to confidentiality are:
- if you are considered at risk of causing serious harm to yourself or someone else
- if reporting of information is required by law
- if your file is subpoenaed by a court of law
- if mandatory reporting obligations apply, such as in the instances of child abuse and neglect
- Our services include:
- Face-to-face sessions from our fulltime staff: Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM
- Telehealth through video or phone consultations
- Counselling enquiries and appointments:
- Melbourne:Â [email protected]Â or call on +61 452 577 235
- Sydney:Â [email protected]Â or call on +61 481 033 379
Meet our VIT Welfare Counselling team

Kim Billington – Part-time Welfare Counsellor (Melbourne : Wed 12PM-4PM)
Kim is a registered Counsellor with PACFA, ACA and AAOS. Kim has many years of experience with crisis support, relationship counselling, grief and loss and generalist counselling, as well as counselling training and supervision.

Himanshi Bhola – Full-time Welfare Counsellor (Melbourne : Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM)
Himanshi graduated with a Master of Counselling degree from Monash University and is a registered Counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). Himanshi has previous experience providing individual counselling to diverse population. Himanshi believes that every individual is unique, therefore she aims for an eclectic mix of therapeutic approaches that can foster the individualistic needs of the clients. She has an experience of working with clients to facilitate positive lifestyle, anger management, behaviour change and addiction management. She aims to provide a safe, non-judgemental, and comfortable space for staff and students at VIT.
Languages spoken other than English: Hindi and Punjabi

Benel Lee – Full-time Welfare Counsellor (Sydney : Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM)
Benel is a registered counsellor with ACA and has graduated with a Master of Counselling degree from Morling College. He has studied his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology and Graduate Diploma in Psychology at University of Sydney. Benel has previous experience working with students from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
Languages spoken other than English: Cantonese.

Nazifa Ansari – Part-time Welfare Counsellor (Sydney : Thu 9AM-1PM)
Nazifa is a registered Counsellor with PACFA and she has many years of experience with relationship counselling, anxiety counselling, psychotherapy, psychology education, developmental and growth counselling. Nazifa also has experience in individual and group counselling and running workshops. She is currently studying for her Masters.
Welfare Counselling

Individual Support
VIT provides one-on-one counselling sessions to help cater to personal, academic, social and psychological concerns that students may be facing during their time at university. These issues can have minor to major impacts on your life and it is important to have someone you can talk to in a private and confidential manner.

Self-Help
If you have been subjected to sexual violence or are aware of someone going through it, seek support and practical advice from our VIT Counsellors. However, if you do not feel this is the path, talking to someone without having to see them is also an option.

Sexual Assault and Harassment
Victorian Institute of Technology (VIT) takes a zero-tolerance approach to sexual assault and sexual harassment and other forms of harmful misconduct. VIT is committed to providing a safe environment for students and staff.

Workshops at VIT
VIT provides group counselling sessions, also known as workshop sessions, to help our VIT students equip themselves with skills to cope with their personal, academic, social, and psychological concerns that one may be facing during their time at university.
Emergencies
Mental health emergencies
- Emergency Services: 000
- Campus Security Melbourne: 0408 306 795
- Campus Security Sydney: 0412 888 614
Sexual assault
- Sexual Assault Crisis Line:1800 806 292 or 9349 1766
- Centre Against Sexual Assault:Â 9635 3610
- MensLine:Â 1300 789 978
24-hour services
Anxiety, depression or suicide
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Suicideline:Â 1300 651 251
- Kids Helpline (5 to 25-year olds): 1800 551 800
- MensLine:Â 1300 78 99 78
Drugs, alcohol and gambling
- Turning Point:Â 1800 888 236
- Gamblers Help:Â 1800 858 858
Grief and loss
- The Compassionate Friends:Â 1800 641 091 or 9888 4944
- GriefLine:Â 9935 7400 (12 PM to 3AM)
First Aid Officers
VIC Campus
Locations | Name | Contact No. | |
123 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Yamile Cardenas | [email protected] | |
Natalie Duong | [email protected] | 0401 371 235 | |
Jim Milioulis | [email protected] | ||
Nada Chebib | [email protected] | ||
Nguyen Vo | [email protected] | ||
235 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Jenny Diggens | [email protected] | |
Shamim Ahmadi | [email protected] | 0452 577 235 | |
Nguyen Vo | [email protected] | ||
118 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Jim Milioulis | [email protected] | |
413 Johnston Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067 |
NSW Campus
157-161 Gloucester Street, The Rocks, Sydney 2000 | Surender R Etikala | [email protected] | 0450 057 710 |
Lingling Zhang | [email protected] | ||
Benel Lee | [email protected] | 0433933502 |
SA Campus
14 Adam Street, Hindmarsh SA 5007 | Salman Javaid | [email protected] | 0456549257 |
Location of First Aid Kits:
- Reception, Level 3, 118 Queen Street, Melbourne
- Reception, Level 14, 123 Queen Street, Melbourne
- Reception, Level 6, 235 Queen Street, Melbourne
- Adjacent to kitchens – Ground floor and 1st Floor, 413 Johnston Street, Abbotsford
- G.03 Student Services Room, Ground floor 157-161 Gloucester Street, The Rocks, Sydney 2000
- Room 2.03, 157-161 Gloucester Street, The Rocks, Sydney 2000
- VIT Kitchen, 14 Adam Street, Hindmarsh, SA 5007