Moore, C. A., Renner, P., Ryder, A., & Seah, E. (2016). Students’ perceived needs and expectations from university counselling services: A qualitative review. JANZSSA: Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association, (47), 31–43. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.476526886174648
This study aimed to identify the personal, social and academic needs of students presenting to a
University counselling service. Responses were obtained from 641 students who completed an open
response quality assurance survey consisting of four questions. Qualitative results were analysed using
thematic and axial coding. Results indicated that students reported needs for connectedness and personal
guidance to enable traditional goals of academic success and intrapersonal/interpersonal/personal
development. Students also highlighted the need for counselling services to be professionally staffed,
accessible and affordable. Overall, the study suggested that students viewed counselling services as an
institutional resource providing objective, professional and trustworthy expertise at a time of unique
developmental challenges in their lives.