The Orientation Day activities help new students to meet staff and returning students, and to settle into college life. New students are guided through all aspects of academic and campus life on Orientation Day, when they receive a library orientation tour, an IT, Zotero and PBC Online support tour, a Student Handbook, a Getting Started Guide for New Students, The Big Book of Answers containing IT support, Library, and PBC Online instructions for accessing course information and submitting assignments, and a Using the PBC Wireless instruction guide. 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:

• All students enrolled in an ACCS or SCD course are governed by their respective institution’s policies and procedures;
• SCD information being available for domestic students from https://scd.edu.au/current-students/;
• ACCS information being available for domestic students from https://www.ccs.edu.au/;
• referring SCD students to the SCD website for access to the SCD Handbook, policies and procedures from https://scd.edu.au/;
• contact details for associated responsible people for both SCD and ACCS;
• 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 is 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; and
• 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 mor information on the orientation program, please visit the Orientation Page.

PBC is committed to assisting students to successfully complete the units in which they enrol. Students needing additional academic support are often identified during the enrolment process. They may be enrolled provisionally; in which case they need to enrol in CE504 Study Ready.

This unit is also recommended to students who may benefit from them, even if they are not enrolled provisionally. This unit interacts with other first-year subjects to help students engage with those 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 researching for and writing assessments.

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

PBC also offers all students access to Studiosity. Studiosity is a free study support service with incredible benefits to you, whether you are an HD student or struggling to make sense of what to do. Studiosity offers core study skills and writing support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. You can either Connect Live for personal support or submit your draft essay for Writing Feedback within 24 hours. You can access Studiosity through PBC Online and find more information in the HELP Course (PBC Online: HELPME!).

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 it has resulted in failure of the unit.

If a student is identified as “At Risk” (for PBC students, see Student Course Progress Policy and Student Course Progress Procedure; for SCD students, see SCD Monitoring Course Progress of Overseas Students Policy and Procedures and SCD Students at Academic Risk Policy and Procedures; for ACCS students, see Progress, Completion and Attendance Policy and Procedure and Students at Academic Risk Policy and Procedure) they may be required to access support, as advised by faculty, to assist in improving their results. This may include meeting with their faculty Growth Group advisor, attending a study group, accessing tutoring, etc.

At the end of each semester, student progress is examined by the Dean of Studies. It is also the role of the Dean of Studies to re-enrol students, resulting in any academic issues that surfaced in the previous semester being discussed at this time, and recommendations to strengthen the student’s progress are explored.

Studiosity can also be useful for assistance with English, including support with grammar and punctuation.

Additionally, each Friday during semester time, Karrinyup Anglican Church – walking distance from the campus – offers free 3-hour long English tutoring sessions. These classes are suitable for anyone for whom English is an Additional Language (EAL) and who require support on a beginner, intermediate or advanced level. The focus during sessions is on improving speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Remember to bring $4 for coffee. This group also organises social events and excursions for participants.

As part of our commitment to train, equip and form people for effective Christian ministry, PBC is committed to pastorally caring for the students studying at the College. The designated first contact for all care matters is the Dean of Students, who will refer all matters appropriately. 

Pastoral care within the college environment is provided via:

1. Weekly devotions
2. One on one sessions as requested by students
3. One on one sessions as requested and available with the Dean of Counselling
4. One on one sessions as requested by faculty advisors
5. One on one sessions as required as part of a unit of study
6. One on one sessions as required as part of PBC’s Personal and Ministry Formation monitoring.

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 not only affect their studies at PBC, but also 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.

Students needing to be counselled on a professional and confidential basis will be referred by PBC to a Christian counselling service.

Perth Bible College strives to accommodate a variety of access needs for its students. Prospective students are invited to supply information on the Application for Admission form relating to any particular learning needs, disability, impairment or long-term medical condition which may affect their studies. They are given the option to receive advice on support services, equipment and facilities which may assist them. 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 outlines details on mental health support for PBC students. For SCD students, the SCD Health and Safety Brochure and SCD Student Disability Policy outline the relevant support systems available. For ACCS students, please refer to the Student Support Services Policy and Procedure, Diversity and Equity Policy and Procedure, and the Safe and Well Booklet.

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/.