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Facilities and Services

The University of Newcastle offers students some of the best facilities and services in Australia.

Buildings

As a relatively young university (only 35 years old) the majority of our buildings are modern. Many of our recent buildings have won architectural awards for their innovative designs and their adherence to the principles of environmental sustainability.

Libraries

The University libraries house a collection of more than 1,000,000 volumes of books, journals, microfilms, audio-visual materials and CD-Rom installations.

A campus- wide, fibre optic information network provides access to several on-line specialist and public domain information services.

Sports

We enjoy fantastic sporting facilities. The Forum Sports & Aquatic Centre houses a state of the art 50m indoor heated pool, a 18m climbing wall (the second highest in Australia), a fully equipped gymnasium, two martial arts/aerobics studios and two competition indoor courts for sports such as basketball and volleyball. We also have a squash and tennis complex and of course there are a number of ovals.

The University of Newcastle has recently become a member of the national network of Elite Athlete Friendly Universities (EAFU).

Recreation

We offer a variety of eating places, bars, shops, banks, a hairdresser, medical and dental services, sporting clubs, social clubs, and entertainment such as regular markets, festivals, lunchtime music provided by local and interstate bands, dances and balls.

Disability Services

The Disability and Student Support Unit offers help in the form of note-taking, readers, library assistance, advocacy, FM systems, audio loops, sign interpreters, transcription services, back supports and ergonomic chairs. Exam and assessment assistance is also readily available.

Student Study Support

The Learning Skills Unit offers courses in essay writing skills, time management, reading and note-taking, public speaking, critical analysis, statistics and mathematics. However, if a student has a particular problem with some aspect of their learning, then staff are only too happy to put together a program to try and help them overcome it.

Our Adaptive Technology Centre provides a translation service for course notes, texts and research material, assistance to retrieve and access library resources and a photocopying service for students who are unable to do their own. Our staff are also happy to provide training and support in the use of the latest equipment and adaptive software housed in the centre, such as closed circuit television, voice activated and screen enlargement software, screen readers and braille embosser.

Counselling

The University Counselling Service is available to both students and staff, free of charge, on a confidential basis. It is staffed by psychologists and social workers whose function is to assist in clarifying and resolving a range of issues that might otherwise interfere with a student's academic or personal effectiveness.

Chaplaincy

The Chaplaincy Centre is also available to all students and is staffed by chaplains who are friendly and approachable. They are there to discuss anything of a spiritual, religious, ethical or personal nature and they also run regular discussion groups.