About Student Success Coaches

Balancing life and study can be challenging sometimes, but Student Success Coaches are here to listen and help. 

Student Success Coaches support vocational education students to better succeed in their studies. We work with you to assess your individual needs. Our goal is to design strategies to help you overcome challenges and to access the right support, including Swinburne student services.

What is a Student Success Coach?
View transcript [PDF 103KB]

How we support students

We are available to meet and assist you with a plan if you experience difficulties that impact your study. This may include:

  • issues with your study program or finances
  • anxiety or stress
  • other issues that may need specialist support.

There are currently 10 Student Success Coaches across Swinburne's Hawthorn, Croydon and Wantirna campuses. We are available to talk face-to-face, by phone or online. You can also chat to us when we visit your class.

If you're not ready to speak to a Student Success Coach, you can browse our range of student resources.

We have created downloadable tools and videos designed to help you improve your knowledge and skills in three key areas: 

Meet your Student Success Coach

There are now 3 lead roles within the team. Apprenticeship Lead (David Clark), Digital Lead (Tracy Hall) and Partnerships Lead (Silvina Pechiar).

Select your study area to meet the coaches with expertise in helping students in your course.

Gail Goodwin

Gail can assist students studying:

  • Accounting and Bookkeeping

Gail is available Monday to Thursday.

0407 823 074
ggoodwin@swinburne.edu.au

Katherine Lorenzoni

Kate can assist students studying:

  •  Business
  • Event Management
  • Financial Services
  • Justice and Legal
  • Library and Information Services
  • Marketing
  • Project Management

Kate is available Monday, Tuesday & Thursday

0458 581 821

klorenzoni@swinburne.edu.au

Helen Pillay - Aquilina

Helen can assist students studying:

  • Arts
  • Design
  • Screen and Media

Helen is available Monday to Thursday.

0409 012 060
hpillay@swinburne.edu.au

Helen Pillay - Aquilina

Katherine Lorenzoni

Kate can assist students studying:

  • Training and Assessment

Kate is available Monday, Tuesday & Thursday

0458 581 821

klorenzoni@swinburne.edu.au

Kerry Morris

Kerry can assist students studying:

  • Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Education Support
  • Teacher Education Preparation

Kerry is available Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

0477 316 221
kmorris@swinburne.edu.au

Kerry Morris
James Thangman

James can assist students studying:

  • General Education
  • Migrant English

James is available Monday to Thursday.

0400 850 762
jthangman@swinburne.edu.au

Sherry Jiang

Sherry can assist students studying:

  • General Education
  • Migrant English

Sherry is available Monday to Friday.

0408 303 326
sherryjiang@swinburne.edu.au

Kerry Morris

Kerry can assist students studying:

  • Mental Health
  • Mental Health Peer Work

Kerry is available Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

0477 316 221
kmorris@swinburne.edu.au

Silvina Pechiar

Silvina can assist students studying:

  • Community Services
  • Disability
  • Youth Work

Silvina is available Monday to Friday.

0409 075 731
spechiar@swinburne.edu.au

Tracy Hall

Tracy can assist students studying:

  • Allied Health Assistance
  • Health Services Assistance
  • Individual Support 
  • Non-Emergency Patient Transport
  • Nursing
  • Emergency Health Care

Tracy is available Monday to Thursday.

0400 722 476
thall@swinburne.edu.au

Helen Pillay - Aquilina

Helen can assist students studying:

  • Cyber Security
  • Games and Development
  • Information Technology
  • Networking
  • Screen and Media

Helen is available Monday to Thursday.

0409 012 060
hpillay@swinburne.edu.au

Helen Pillay - Aquilina

Katherine Lorenzoni

Kate can assist students studying:

  • Science
  • Lab Technology

Kate is available Monday, Tuesday & Thursday

0458 581 821
klorenzoni@swinburne.edu.au

Gail Goodwin

Gail can assist students studying:

  • Hawthorn courses

Gail is available Monday to Thursday.

0407 823 074
ggoodwin@swinburne.edu.au

Bassel Saab

Bassel can assist students studying:

  • Electrical
  • Engineering
  • Bricklaying

Bassel is available Monday to Friday.

0437 788 540
bsaab@swinburne.edu.au

David Clark

David can assist students studying:

  • Building
  • Carpentry
  • Plumbing

David is available Monday to Friday.

0437 741 486
davidclark@swinburne.edu.au

Set yourself up for success resources

The Student Success Coach team has created a suite of resources to assist you in planning your studies and reaching your goals.

Time management

An effective time management system can help you balance the demands of study and life.

It involves having a clear understanding of these demands as well as intentionally planning how to use our time to achieve goals. This is a valuable skill we can all learn – it can help us succeed in life and in our career. 

Managing your time effectively
View video transcript [PDF 105KB]

Student resources to support effective time management

These resources can be used individually or in combination, depending on your needs.

Time management tools are also excellent resources for promoting self-care and motivation in relation to your studies.

Learn how Student Success Coaches support students to improve their time management skills by using planning tools in this workshop.

Managing your time
View video transcript [PDF 177KB]
Study and time management tips [PDF 576KB]

Download this printable resource to get practical tips to help you manage your time.

Develop an understanding of how to use your time and plan for periods when you can concentrate on your studies.

How to use the weekly schedule
View video transcript [PDF 123KB]
Weekly schedule – example [PDF 140KB]

Download this example showing how our templates can be used to break your time into blocks and highlight work, leisure, daily activities and study using colour.

Weekly schedule – Word template [50KB]

Download a template in Microsoft Word to help plan your time.

Weekly schedule – Excel template [24KB]

Download a template in Microsoft Excel to help plan your time.

Learn how to approach breaking down a long assessment into manageable chunks and to set realistic time frames in which to complete them. 

How to use the assessment map
View video transcript [PDF 189KB]
Assessment map – Word template [44KB]

Download a template in Microsoft Word to help plan work on your assessments.

Assessment map – Excel template [21KB]

Download a template in Microsoft Excel to help plan work on your assessments.

Discover how you can use a weekly planner and assessment map in combination to improve your time management skills and reach your goals.

How to use time management tools
View video transcript [PDF 558KB]

There are some great free online resources to support good time management habits. Here are some we recommend.

  • Trello allows you to make lists in a visually pleasing way so that you can see what's going on. It's easy to use, colourful, and you can add users for group work.
  • Plan projects with calendars, charts and more with Asana. Another easy-to-use, colourful online tool that can be called on for group work. 

Self-care and mindset

The challenges of balancing competing priorities can take a toll on your health. 

Self-care can include prioritising and maintaining your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. Mindset refers to perceptions or beliefs we have about ourselves. These can influence our behaviour, our outlook on life and our mental attitude.  

You can incorporate practical strategies into your routine to maintain a healthy level of self-care and support a positive mindset. These can consist of: 

  • eating a balanced diet
  • regular exercise
  • engaging in positive activities
  • meditation
  • seeking support services when needed
  • maintaining a positive mindset. 

In combination, these can contribute to enhanced physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, as well as having a positive impact on your studies. 

Practicing self-care and a positive mindset
View transcript [PDF 113KB]

Student resources to support self-care

In addition to these resources, we encourage you to explore our time management tools – the weekly schedule and assessment map can support your self-care plan.

If you need more support, you can also browse Swinburne's health and wellbeing services.

Self-care plan – template [Word 92KB]

Download a template in Microsoft Word to help put in place strategies to look after yourself.

Helpful tips to prioritise your wellbeing [PDF 233KB]

Download this printable resource to get practical tips for taking care of yourself.

Here are some online resources to support your mental health and wellbeing that we recommend.

  • Headspace is a national organisation providing information and support for young people aged 16 to 25. Has an online support service where you can talk one-on-one with an eheadspace clinician via an online chat, email or over the phone.
    We also recommend the Headspace meditation and mindfulness app.
  • Beyond Blue is a national organisation that provides information and support for all ages. Also has an online chat service (3pm to midnight), phone and email support lines.
  • Black Dog Institute offers information, support and 'self tests' for a range of mental health conditions including depression and bipolar disorder.
    We also recommend the Black Dog Institute's self-care planning and wellbeing resources. Plus check out Bite Back, their mental health and wellbeing site for youth.
  • The Calm app offers tools for sleep, meditation and relaxation; their mission is to make the world a happier place.
    We also recommend their mindfulness resources if you're looking for more ways to be mindful.

Motivation and procrastination

Motivation and procrastination are common aspects of human behaviour. Understanding them can help you to gain insight into where motivation comes from and what drives us to set goals, as well as the reasons for delaying the completion of certain tasks.  

You can contribute to success in your studies by exploring practical strategies to put into practice, adopting meaningful goal-setting, and enhancing your time-management skills.

Finding motivation and tackling procrastination
View transcript [PDF 111KB]

Student resources to support motivation

In addition to these resources, we encourage you to explore our time management tools – the weekly schedule and assessment map can assist with understanding your goals and finding motivation.

Learn how Student Success Coaches support students to understand procrastination and to learn tips for motivation in this workshop.

A cure for procrastination
View video transcript [PDF 224KB]

Learn how to set targets that are achievable and motivating as you tick them off your list.

How to use SMART goals
View video transcript [PDF 170KB]
SMART goals – Word template [48KB]

Download a template in Microsoft Word to help you set achievable goals.

Still looking for motivation? Here are some free resources to help you navigate towards productivity.

  • Headspace work and study help provides 15- to 25-year-olds free support about work and study. You can access online resources, get one-on-one support or join a group chat.
  • The EnVision app allows you to creat vision boards. These can act as a daily reminder of your future vision and dreams, and help motivate you and establish a positive outlook.
  • Smart goal planner is a handy app that gives you the tools to set specific, measurable, realistic time-based goals.

Other student support services

As a Swinburne student you have access to some terrific services to support during your time here – all free of charge.

And, of course, your Student Success Coach!

If you’re not sure where to start, get in touch with your Student Success Coach to learn more about the support and resources available to you. 

Learn about Swinburne's student support services
View transcript [PDF 551KB]

Browse student services

Need more information?

Library and studentHQ is your one-stop shop on every campus and can help you access student support services for all your course enquiries.

Contact us