Student and Campus Services

Students are guided through accessing the Student Portal, which makes a variety of support services and systems readily available to them.

Additionally, during Orientation Day, students are made aware of:

• the respective institution’s policies and procedures that govern all students enrolled in an SCD course
• SCD information that is available for domestic students from https://scd.edu.au/
• the designated first-contact for students being the Dean of Students
• the designated contact for all students who need academic support, being the Academic Tutor
• the need to discuss academic concerns with the Dean of Studies as regularly as required and that referral to third-party services are an option
• PBC’s reciprocal arrangement with Murdoch University, giving students free access to their library
• the different options available for pastoral care when required
• travel arrangements: PBC students are walking distance from the Karrinyup Shopping Centre and bus stops close to the campus; therefore, it is possible for students to get around Perth without the need for a car.

For more information on the orientation program, please visit the Orientation Page.

This unit interacts with other first-year units to help students engage with various assessments. There is also a free, timetabled weekly Study Ready Tutoring session made available to all students who may be struggling with understanding how to approach research and writing assessments.

In addition, lecturers are readily available for appointments, and students can contact them at any time for academic assistance.

Students who fail assessments are given the opportunity to resubmit them, having gained the benefit of written lecturer feedback.

As outlined in the Student Assessment Policy, students are also given the opportunity to re-sit an exam if failing the exam has resulted in failure of the unit.

If a student is identified as “At Risk”*, they may be required to access support, as advised by faculty, to improve their results.

The Dean of Studies examines student progress at the end of each trimester.

The Dean of Studies work with the Dean of Students when students re-enrol for the next trimester, which provides an opportunity to review any academic issues that surfaced in the previous trimester and includes discussions and recommendations to strengthen the student’s progress.

*for PBC students, see Student Course Progress Policy and Student Course Progress Procedure; for ACCS students, see Progress, Completion and Attendance Policy and Procedure and Students at Academic Risk Policy and Procedure).

PBC also recognises that an additional source for the pastoral care of students is the local church and that we are called to operate in partnership with the local church.

As part of this partnership, PBC requires each student to nominate a local church and a leader in this church who will be responsible for their pastoral care in their church setting.

As personal issues in the lives of students may affect not only their studies at PBC, but their ministry in the local church, PBC must retain the right, where deemed appropriate, to share the communication of students with the student’s nominated local church leader, or other faculty members at PBC.

If it is deemed that the communication of the student is required to be shared with either other faculty or the student’s nominated local church leader, the student will be informed by PBC that this will be the case prior to any notification of the third party.

Students wishing to be counselled on a professional and confidential basis may ask to be referred by PBC to a Christian counselling service.

PBC will refer students needing to be counselled on a professional and confidential basis to a Christian counselling service.

The Dean of Students liaises with all other relevant third parties to ensure individualised care plans for academic and emotional support are implemented and maintained for those where special learning needs, mental health or specific physical health issues are identified.

The Student Support Policy and the Mental Health Strategy and Implementation Plan further outline details on mental health support for PBC students.

Additionally, students can contact the Mental Health Emergency Response Line on 1300 555 788 (Perth metropolitan) or Disability Services online on https://www.blackswanhealth.com.au/.

PBC, therefore, believes that members of this community will feel safe and respected, thereby contributing to both preventing sexual assault and sexual harassment and dealing in a caring manner with incidents that may occur.

The practices, policies and procedures that underwrite this belief are outlined in the Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Policy and its associated procedure, with students completing a mandatory online SASH Module via the online learning management system.

After-hours emergency assistance can be sought from the Business Manager on 08 9243 2002, the Principal on 08 9243 2003, and/or the Property Manager on 08 9243 2004.

Students can also access the Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) at http://www.wnhs.health.wa.gov.au/ or on 1800 199 88 or 08 9340 1828 for free medical, forensic and supportive care, including a free counselling service and an Aboriginal Liaison Officer.

Students are made aware that campus life is a privilege and is to be seen as an integral part of their and their family’s spiritual and ministry formation. In many ministry situations, community living is part of the work situation.

All students are encouraged to treat College units as they would someone’s private dwelling and respect the privacy of residents.

This includes not entering these units without the invitation of the residents.

Student units contain a lounge area for the relaxation and recreation of the students living in that unit. Single students are free to invite visitors of the same sex to their units and use the lounge area for entertaining provided that the other occupants are not inconvenienced, e.g. through loud talking during study times, etc.

When a single student wishes to invite a person of the opposite sex to visit their unit, whether that person be part of a group or by themselves (e.g. their mother or father), the permission of the other members of the unit is required.

A single student is not to be alone in the unit with another person of the opposite sex, nor is a person of the opposite sex to be in a student’s bedroom.

Residential students require the prior approval of the College Administrator for a visitor (guest, friend or family member) to stay at the College overnight.

Tolerance

Because PBC is inter-denominational, students and staff need to be tolerant and understanding of the denominational doctrinal distinctives, policies and practices of all students.

We should all seek to edify others and not pull them down. (1 Cor 8:1, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”)

Complaints & appeals

PBC implements the following policies and procedures for all internal complaints and appeals:

• Admissions Policy and procedure
• Complaints, Appeals and Opportunities for Improvement Policy and procedure.
• Enrolment – Domestic Students Policy and procedure
• Enrolment – Overseas Students Policy and procedure
• Student Transfer Policy – Overseas Students and procedure
• Academic Freedom Policy

For SCD students, please refer to the following policies and procedures:

• Admission Policy
• Appeals Policy and Procedures
• Student Grievance Policy and Procedure
• Transfer between the registered Providers Policy
• Refund and Withdrawal Policy

Continuing students receive the Graham D. Michie Scholarship and the Overseas Student scholarship annually.

Students can apply for a study grant from the Concerned Christian Growth Ministries Charitable trust under the guidance of their lecturer.

The Scarborough Christian Service Fund allows PBC to use interest earned on an investment loan to be distributed to deserving students to provide funds towards college fees.

Career

Employment rights & conditions

You can access information on your employment rights and conditions in Australia and how to resolve workplace issues through the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website at https://www.fairwork.gov.au/.

Career exposure

During study, students may be involved in ministry practicum.

In ministry practicum, students are expected to be involved at a leadership level.

This might include involvement with a coordination or leadership group for a ministry area, regularly leading a ministry area, planning and running an event, etc. These activities form a framework for the discussion of the student’s spiritual development and service and provide a reference to future employers.

Ministry Forums are often held throughout the semester and can consist of either a visiting missionary or ministry worker sharing their experience and about the ministry they are involved in, a panel discussion about varied areas of ministry, or a small devotion.

These forums not only provide a broad overview of what God is doing in the world but also provide contacts from a range of areas that may offer employment opportunities.

Additionally, PBC is continuously seeking partnerships with external organisations to ensure industry relevance and provide avenues for graduate success.

Accommodation

The PBC facilities include a number of self-contained units.

These units are either one, two or three-bedroom units and can be supplied with or without furnishings. PBC can accommodate single students (typically shared living arrangements, one student per bedroom), married students and families, depending on the availability of units.

PBC can provide basic furnishing for units if desired. Furnishings include a washing machine, refrigerator, cooking facilities & implements, essential kitchen items (crockery and cutlery), beds, lounge chairs, built-in wardrobes and a study desk. Residents do need to provide their own bedding and personal items.

For more information, see the PBC Campus page.