In this episode, our Peer Learning Advisor, Devanshi, is joined by international students and Peer Support Advisors, Benny & Alisa, to talk about their experience with homesickness, how to stay connected with family and loved ones, how to deal with the difficult times and what you can do to bring a bit of home with you when you're studying so far away from what is familiar.

Listen to Episode 25 on SoundCloud

Resources mentioned during the episode:

• University of Sydney resources for international student support: Website
• University of Sydney Union: Website

Psst! want to know one of the best kept secrets to transforming your university experience?! Student leadership! (okay, well it’s actually not that secret - but still let this be your reminder to get involved) Join your host Life Coach Leyla and student guests: Benny, Priya, Vrishali, and Zoe as they reveal one of the most impactful experiences to their student world. Tune in and discover the art of volunteering and student leadership, where to get involved and how it will transform your career, and everything you know! But...how you say? press play to find out.

Listen to Episode 24 on SoundCloud

Recorded live at the USU pop-up on Eastern Ave, our Peer Learning Advisors Tom and Juan are joined by current students Rifah, Lukas, Katie, Joe, and Lucy to find out what students think about online vs face-to-face teaching: what has been gained, what's been lost and how students in both camps are planning to make the most of the new hybrid model of learning.

Listen to Episode 23 on SoundCloud

In this episode, our Peer Learning Advisor Devanshi is joined by Taylor (University of Sydney Quidditch Club), Jack (University of Sydney Food Adventure Society) and Matt (Sydney University Astronomy Society) to talk about what a student society is, and how joining one can enhance your student life.

Listen to Episode 22 on SoundCloud

Student societies mentioned in this episode:

• University of Sydney Quidditch Club: Website | Facebook | Instagram
• University of Sydney Food Adventure Society: Website | Facebook | Instagram
• Sydney University Astronomy Society: Website | Facebook | Instagram

PeerPod is back for 2021 and we're kicking off with a trip down memory lane as we discuss what we wish we'd known as a first year student.

For this episode, our Peer Learning Advisors Tom and Devanshi are joined by two current students: Jasmin from History and Advanced Studies, and Emily from Engineering and Architecture, to reflect on first year studies and pass along the advice they wish they'd received when they were new university students.

Listen to Episode 21 on SoundCloud

Services mentioned in this episode:

• Unit of study outlines
• Faculty peer mentoring services
• University of Sydney Union
• Student societies and clubs
• Lost On Campus
• Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
• The Learning Centre
• Mathematics Learning Centre
• Sydney Uni app

PeerPod returns for 2021!

We are the University of Sydney Library's Peer Learning Advisors: postgraduate students who are here to help our peers get the most from their student life.

This year we're looking for real students to join us on PeerPod. Do you have a unique student experience you'd like to share? Maybe an idea for an episode you'd like to pitch? Write to us at peerpod.pla@sydney.edu.au

Don't forget to subscribe!

Listen to Episode 20 on SoundCloud

End of semester, end of year, and we want to focus on what’s coming next! This week, we take time out and check in with some of the PLAs and PSAs, to see what they have planned for the break and what you could do with a summer in Sydney, NSW and hopefully Australia in general!

Listen to Episode 19 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• Manly NorthHead - hiking + conservation projects for bandicoots
• Blue mountains
• Minnehaha falls
• Royal National Park – figure 8 pools
• ACON Pride Training
• Dubbo – museums, observatories, western plane zoo
• Coastal walks - Bondi to Coogee
• Coastal walks - Coogee to Maroubra
• NYE fireworks
• Glebe Markets
• Surfing at Bondi
• Lillipad café Glebe – brunch
• Jervis Bay

With Trans Awareness Week starting on Friday 13 November and Intersex Awareness Day on 26 October, it’s a good time to talk about being an Ally! In this PeerPod episode, our host Tom spoke to Samantha Farrell, the University Library's LBTQIA+ Liaison Officer; and Daniele Gianotti, Deputy Co-Chair of the Pride Network, about the importance of personal pronouns and how best to be an Ally.

Listen to Episode 18 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• The University of Sydney Pride Network
• twenty10
• minus18
• TransHub
• ACON Pride Training
• OUT for now Canvas page
• Pronoun badges

October is all about smashing the stigma surrounding Mental Health!

Peer Pod Episode 17 brings to you Susanna Scarparo Pro Vice Chancellor Student Life, updating us on all that the university is designing and redesigning to cater to the mental wellbeing of our student family here at the University of Sydney, Susanna is passionate about catering to student needs from the very moment they step into university life, and so Susanna along with her team are working to create a single entry point that would provide students with a program to cater to their mental wellbeing without hesitation. What more could we ask for at this time when the pandemic has increased mental health issues within the student community? Support from the University to smash the stigma and work together as a family looking after each other is the agenda we are headed towards. Our second speaker for this episode is Lachlan, who is one of us- a Usyd student! He is part of the Batyr program, a mental health program designed to help students smash the stigma and spread awareness about mental health. Lachlan is inspiring in his devotion to help other students work together and break the barriers around mental health and address their needs, especially now.

We are hopeful that this episode will help us all begin the much needed conversation to smash the stigma surrounding mental health!

Listen to Episode 17 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• The University of Sydney Health, Wellbeing and Support Services
• Mental Health Month at The University of Sydney
• USYD Student Wellbeing ono Instagram
• Batyr @ USYD on Instagram
• Batyr @ USYD on Facebook
• Batyr Australia

From using the wrong citation style to hiring someone to write your essay, Lucy and Colette give us a tour of the academic integrity rainbow; how students find themselves in hot water, what happens once you are, and how to avoid it all together – especially in the current climate. We’re also reminded that if you do find yourself in trouble, the academic integrity team are primarily here to help and make sure we understand how to give credit to the authors whose work we rely on for our own.

Listen to Episode 16 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• Citation guides
• PLA events including: Plan your semester and Focus and Study (Pomodoro)
• Learning Centre
• Writing support
• Write Site (on Canvas)

2020 has served up a bunch of extra hurdles, as part of Disability Inclusion week, we speak with Jack and Max about Disability Support Services; what they can do to assist with invisible disabilities and the positive impacts reaching out can have on your studies. To alleviate some of the stress and anxiety COVID has introduced into your life – get involved in Disability Inclusion week. The team will be posting tech tips on university socials and hosting academic / staff / student discussions on the perks and pitfalls of online learning.

Listen to Episode 15 on SoundCloud

Upcoming events for Disability Inclusion Week:

• Pros, cons and tips for inclusive teaching and learning in the online environment – Staff and student perspectives
• Disruption and Diversity: Future ways of working that are truly inclusive of people with disability

Useful links:

• Disability Support

2020 saw the introduction of the Student Charter at the University of Sydney – bringing about the beginning of a new relationship between students and the University. PeerPod newbie Tom, gets the run down on the document from two figures instrumental in its establishment; Associate Professor Peter McCallum and former student representative Clare Birch. We talk; community, maintaining Sydney’s larrikin culture, the shifting needs in our communal spaces and cheeky examples of where students have already called on the charter to defuse sticky situations. We also cover the need to knows: what is the document and where am I going to find it.

Listen to Episode 14 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• The Student Charter

While lockdown sure ain’t no mountain yoga retreat – here at PeerPod we are still attempting to rediscover ourselves in lockdown. Join your host Life Coach Leyla, and guests Insightful Iyat and Meaningful Melly on a journey into the mind, body, spirit? No? okay, just join us for our introspective and at times existential discussion about how lockdown has shaped us and our tips on how to overcome the many mental challenges.

Listen to Episode 13 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• PeerConnect
• Peer Learning Advisors
• Counselling and mental health support

Student life has taken on a science fiction feel to it lately with our university experience confined to tech world in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, your host Life Coach Leyla is joined by Gameboy Juan and Forecaster Jesse for a round table discussion about our student experience coping with WFH and whether we feel that student life as we know it will be changed forever! Did somebody say robots?(ooOOo ominous).

Listen to Episode 12 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• PeerConnect
• Coffee in the Cloud
• Ready Study Go!
• Peer Learning Advisors
• Counselling and mental health support

"Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are" - Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1826)
"The man is what she/he eats" - Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach (1836)
"Eat healthily, even when you are hangry" - Anika and Alisar (2020)

Did you know that you can eat healthily even if you are a student on a budget? And it does not even take too long to prepare a healthy meal. Two birds with a stone. Well guys, this means there are no more excuses for none of us! PhD candidate at Sydney University and dietitian Anika Rouf (Twitter @anika_rouf, Linkedin) and Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) Alisar Kanjrawi are our PeerPod guests in this brilliant episode devoted to food and nutrition. Their conversation is all about the importance of healthy eating and how easy(and tasty!) it is.

Listen to Episode 11 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• The Staples Bag
• SuperNature

Need help?? – Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. In today’s episode your host Leyla is joined in the studio by student guests: David, Jordyn, and Arkady, discussing the subtle art of asking for help at University, and the most helpful resources available to you to assist your studies and give you that academic edge! So tune in, we think you’ll find it very helpful!

Listen to Episode 10 on SoundCloud

Where you can get help:

• The Library's live online chat, Chat Now!
• Academic Liaison Librarians
• Peer Learning Advisors (PLAs)
• Student Representative Council (SRC)
• Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA)
• Disability Support
• Academic Progress
• Counselling and mental health support
• Learning Centre
• Academic advice

Disclaimer! This episode is about sex and consent. If you have been victim of rape and family violence, please refer to Rape and Domestic Violence Australia - or call NSW Rape Crisis at 1800424017

If you feel threatened, dial 000 to seek help.

Roses are red Violets are blue You should ask for consent And I should too.

Well guys, it might not be the most exciting poem you've ever read, but here it is: yes means yes, no means no.
Let's break a taboo: asking for consent does not kill the mood. Find a way to ask it, and make sure you do it all the time. If you don't want to give your consent, don't give it. If you gave your consent before, but now you changed your mind, that's ok. You don't owe anything to anyone. It is always your right to chose whether you want to be involved in a sexual relationship.

This episode is all about mutual respect in sex and relationships (including everything from one night stands to casual dating or commited relationships). It's important that all parties involved understand the importance of consent. You would not want someone to be forced into having sex with you, as much as you wouldn't force them into having tea (if it's still unclear, please refer to this video).

In cases of emergency or urgent medical attention is required, please attend to your local hospital’s emergency department or call emergency services on 000 immediately.

Listen to Episode 9 on SoundCloud

• University of Sydney Sexual Assault information
• University of Sydney Sexual health and Consent information
• University of Sydney Student Sexual Misconduct Policy 2018
• Student Liaison Officers (Available Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm)
  Email: safer-communities.officer@sydney.edu.au
  Phone: 8627 6808 OR 1800 SYD HLP (1800 793 457) to report incidences of sexual assault/harassment. Press option 2 then 1.
• 1800Respect –National Sexual assault, domestic family violence counselling service (Available 24/7)
• NSW Rape crisis service (Available 24/7)
  Phone: 1800 424 017
• Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Sexual assault service (Available 24/7)
  Phone: 02 9515 9040

Welcome to PeerPod podcast 2020! We are Peer Learning Advisors and postgraduate students at The University of Sydney helping peers navigate through Uni life.

Listen to Episode 8 on SoundCloud

Subscribe so you don't get FOMO!

You have just refreshed your uni portal so many times, but the truth is there and it makes you feel lost, and scared, and lost again: you've failed that exam. Guess what? We have too. PLAs are postgraduate students (coursework and research) who also have failed their exams, so here we are to share some tips on how to cope with failure and, even better, how to get the best from this experience. Listen to the wise words that our life-coaches Leyla, Juan and Lady Sarah share with us. Don't forget to send all your love and requests to peerpod.pla@sydney.edu.au

Listen to Episode 7 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• Student Representative Council
• Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA)
• Disability Support
• Academic Progress
• Counselling and mental health support

Thinking about extending your study experience and maybe considering a postgraduate career at Sydney Uni? Leyla, Mel and Rengen share some advice, tips and their personal experience with us! In this episode, they discuss the importance of dedication, networking and mental health. Don't miss it!
Write us at peerpod.pla@sydney.edu.au and remember you can find us, Peer Learning Advisor, at The Quarter (postgrad coursework only), Bosch, Dentistry, Camden, ThinkSpace.

Listen to Episode 6 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• USYD postgraduate courses
• USYD postgraduate research
• Some scholarships for International students (BA/Hons, postgrad coursework, postgrad research)
• Some scholarships for domestic students (BA/Hons, postgrad coursework, postgrad research)
• Academic Liaisons Librarians
• Postgraduate workshops at the Learning Centre
• Counselling and mental health support

What being resilient really means? And how can we cope with failures during our most stressful times? Our Peer Learning Advisors Leyla, Sayan and Betta reunited in our ThinkSpace One Button Recording Studio to discuss how to move on after a failure. In this episode Betta talks about her personal failures and Sayan and Leyla share some precious advice to help understand how failures make us stronger and braver. Feel free to write us at peerpod.pla@sydney.edu.au

Listen to Episode 5 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• Student Representative Council
• Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA)
• Disability Support
• Academic Progress
• Counselling and mental health support

It's Wellness Week guys, and we're trying to do our best to keep a healthy life style. When everyone seems to say that work-life balance is the key for a successful study experience, we often think "yeah, whatever, you wouldn't say it if you knew about all my deadlines". But with a little bit of an effort, we can make it happen :) In this episode, Leyla, Sayan and Betta share tips on how to improve your study life and how to cope with an overwhelming study load. Do you want to share your tips too? Write to us at peerpod.pla@sydney.edu.au

Listen to Episode 4 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• University Health Services
• Counselling and mental health support
• 5 tips to study effectively for your exams
• Academic Liaisons Librarians
• Focus and Study - Every Wednesday 1-3pm on lv 5, Digital Scholarship Studio, Fisher Library (everyone welcome)
  Every Wednesday and Saturday 1-3pm at The Quarter (postgraduate coursework)

Have you wondered how students make their choice when it comes to choose their degree and career path? In episode 3 our life-coach Leyla, Lucy and Sayan discuss the importance of transferable skills, having multiple plans, open-minded attitude and how to face future with a positive attitude.

Listen to Episode 3 on SoundCloud

Useful links:

• Sydney Careers Centre
• Postgraduate Studies Week (8-11 October 2019)
• Postgraduate research

If you have a topic you would like us to cover or if you want to be our guest, write to us at peerpod.pla@sydney.edu.au

In this episode our life-coach Leyla, Sayan and Lucy discuss a number of potential ways to find new friend at Uni or outside Uni. Whether you are an International or domestic student, you might find some useful tips to apply in social contexts and making new friends.

Listen to Episode 2 on SoundCloud

Find out about Sydney University Library events such a Coffee and Croissants, Speed Meet and Chats and much, much more.

Coffee and Croissants are held bi-month (during semester) at Bosch Commons and The Quarter and monthly at Nursing Library, The Consevatorium of Music and Health Sciences Library.

Other link from this episode:

• USU Student Societies
• Meetup Sydney
• Social anxiety support

Do you have any tips on how to find friends too? Email us at peerpod.pla@sydney.edu.au

This week the POD is upgrading your University experience with tips on how to start your semester right, and stay right! Here in Episode 1 we are all about gearing ourselves up to plan our semesters, talking strategies, feels, healthy student advice, and that it’s never too late to bounce back, start over, and be a better student at any point along the way. Join your POD for this episode: your trusty host Life Coach Leyla, joined this week by Sayan the Go Getter, and Betta, she’s not just good she’s better! as they share their pro-tips and take you on a romantic-comedy-high-action journey of self-discovery towards making you even better than you were last semester.

Listen to Episode 1 on SoundCloud

Listen to Episode 0 on SoundCloud