Our Australian based campuses will be closed over the holidays – how to get support if you need it
Happy holidays! We hope you have a relaxing and safe festive season, full of delicious food, good company and fun times!
Our campuses in Australia will be closed from Wednesday 24 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026. We’ll reopen for 2026 on Monday 5 January 2026. The following Deakin services will be unavailable during the main closure period, with some variations to reopening dates. See all onshore University opening dates and public holidays online.
If you have received an offer to study at Deakin in 2026 and need to respond or defer your offer to study, please visit Respond to your offer and find out how.
***Please note that the GIFT City Campus will remain open during this time but will be closed on Christmas Day, Thursday 25 December 2025. See all GIFT City University opening dates and public holidays online.***
Student Central
Student Central will be unavailable from 4pm on Tuesday 23 December 2025. Over the break, you can still ask a question or submit an online enquiry. When we reopen at 9am on Monday 5 January 2026, we’ll start working through all of these and respond as soon as possible.
Health and Wellbeing Centres
The Health and Wellbeing Centres available on Burwood and Waurn Ponds will be closed from Wednesday 24 December 2025 and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
The Deakin Medical Centre on Waterfront campus will close Wednesday 24 December 2025 and appointments reopen on Thursday 8 January 2025.
The Warrnambool Health and Wellbeing Centre will close Wednesday 24 December 2025 and appointments reopen on Thursday 22 January 2026. Campus Nursing service will be available from Tuesday 27 January 2026.
The email askanurse@deakin.edu.au and the Ask Counselling blog will not be monitored during the closure period. Find out more about Deakin’s Health and Wellbeing services.
After-Hours Mental Health Support Line – This service offers students immediate relief and emotional support between 5pm–9am weekdays, and 24hrs across weekends, public holidays and University shutdown.
- Call 1300 239 002
- Text 0485 829 309
Prayer rooms
The Burwood and Waurn Ponds prayer rooms will remain open across the closure period.
- Burwood: Building EC from 7am–11pm, 7 days per week, and
- Waurn Ponds: Building IK from 7am–11pm, 7 days per week.
The Deakin prayer rooms at the Waterfront and Warrnambool campuses will be closed from Wednesday 24 December 2025 and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
Library
The campus libraries in Burwood, Warrnambool, Waterfront and Waurn Ponds will be closed from 5pm on Tuesday 23 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
Library Chat, phone services and online enquiries will also be unavailable during this closure period.
Check the Deakin Library website for specific opening hours for each campus.
DeakinACTIVE
DeakinACTIVE Burwood, Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool gyms will be closed from Thursday 18 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 12 January 2026.
The Waterfront gym is currently closed, and will also reopen on Monday 12 January 2026.
Don’t worry about missing your workouts over the break – you can still access our online classes via the DeakinMOVES app and on social media. Check the DeakinACTIVE website for opening hours, class times and other information.
IT Service Desk
The IT Service Desk will close at *5.30pm on Tuesday 23 December 2025*. It will reopen at 8am on Monday 5 January 2025. During this time, you won’t be able to call the IT Service Desk for assistance.
You can still send a support ticket to report an issue or make a request, but these will not be consistently monitored. Any non-urgent issues reported during this time will be handled when the IT Service Desk reopens.
Where to get help over the break
Medical support in Australia
Call your local GP to see if they’re open or visit Health Direct to find a service or get free health information. Your local pharmacist may be open and able to help you with minor ailments.
You can also contact NURSE-ON-CALL (1300 60 60 24) at any hour for professional medical advice. Call 13SICK, National Home Doctor (13 74 25) if you need a doctor to visit you at your home or place of accommodation (including at Deakin’s residences) after hours, on weekends or during public holidays.
In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) or go to the emergency department at a hospital. You can also call the Victorian Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) for specialised help.
Mental health support in Australia
Christmas can be a stressful and lonely time. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember to look after yourself and get support. The best way to do this is to reach out and talk to someone – there’s a range of after-hours helplines available, including:
- Lifeline (13 11 14) – or to chat to a Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter, call 13YARN (13 92 76) to yarn in a safe way without judgement.
- SuicideLine (1300 651 251).
- Beyond Blue (1300 22 46 36).
- Switchboard Victoria (for LGBTIQ+ support, 1800 184 527).
You might also find it helpful to read about other students’ personal or study-related experiences on Ask Counselling. Browse by topics like anxiety, loneliness or family problems. You may learn some coping techniques or find solace in the fact that you’re not the only one feeling this way. The blog will not be monitored for new questions during the closure period.
Are you located at GIFT City and need support? See how you can access health and wellbeing services.