"For many students, university can be a time of emotional, social, and academic adjustment, coinciding with the peak age of onset for mental health problems. A considerable number of students require additional support to manage their mental health and maintain connection and community with their peers. There is evidence that many students don’t seek help, and those who do often experience prohibitive barriers to accessing and receiving help.
In 2021, in response to the pandemic and to address an increasing mental health crisis, a pilot project called The Living Room (TLR) was officially launched at The University of Western Australia (UWA). Believed to be the first initiative of its kind on a university campus in Australia, TLR provides students with a well-being ‘safe space’ that offers low-barrier, peer-to-peer support for students who are struggling with their mental health. The services are provided by student peer support workers and in-house clinical psychologists.
Development and Alumni Relations (DAR), working alongside the UWA Student Success and Wellbeing (SSW) team, secured the $700,000 pilot funding required to run the program. By taking a collaborative approach, DAR was able to reach its goal under 18 months through a variety of channels: major giving, COVID relief appeal, global alumni giving, and a subsequent student phone appeal.
The service reached over 3,000 students in need of specialist mental health services whilst providing a model for other universities to develop."
From the Judges
What a wonderful initiative and amazing production by The University of Western Australia! It was a wonderful application detailing the strategy and methods of the application.
