Talking to someone who you may be in conflict or having issues with might be intimidating, especially if you have never done this before. How do you know what to say or what to do?
You could reach out via email, or request to have a phone call or meeting. It’s a good idea to prepare by:
- Making a list that describes the situation in dot points
- Considering what solution you are seeking, and what’s reasonable
- Checking if there are any policies or procedures you should be aware of
- Seeking support from the Advocates
Whether the conflict is in the workplace, your relationships or your university life, the Employability team offer many resources that may support you with navigating conflict. These include:
- Career Ready Ambassadors who are available via a drop-in service across the semester (check out their available days and times on the Career Hub events page) – they may refer you to the Australian Fair Work resources or a one-on-one appointment with a Specialist Career Consultant.
- On-demand E-learning resources via Career Ready OnLine – you can search the site to find specific information regarding conflict resolution.
- On-demand Career Ready Webinars – these provide information on workplace rights and responsibilities.
You may choose to seek advice from one of the student support areas. These teams may be able to provide you with advice on how to approach resolving your issue, and what options are available to you. You can find a full list of support options on the Student Support Policy webpage, and some of your options include:
- Academic Coordinators
- AccessAbility
- ASK La Trobe
- Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion
- Indigenous Student Services
- Safer Community
- Special Consideration
- Student Advising
There is also support available to you through the Advocates. Advocacy is free, independent from La Trobe, and available to students at all campuses.
While undertaking conflict resolution may be challenging and uncomfortable, it is an important skill to develop and build for your life. Practicing resolving conflict while you’re at uni may help you as an important skill set in your working life.
If you haven’t been able to resolve an issue at uni yourself, you may submit a formal complaint to the University. For more information check out our article on Raising concerns with the University: how to do it and why you might need to.