Supporting Students, Sustaining Ourselves A Self‑care Approach for Third‑space Practitioner

Working in a front‑facing student support role is deeply rewarding, but it also places staff at the emotional centre of university life. Every day brings a mix of student needs, expectations, and challenges, and the ability to respond with patience, clarity, and empathy depends heavily on the wellbeing of the staff themselves. This presentation explores why self-care is not a luxury in student support work, but a professional necessity.

The session will begin by highlighting the importance of self-care and examine the unique pressures of student-facing roles in the third space, where academic insight and professional expertise is required. Staff are often the first point of contact for students experiencing stress, uncertainty, academic pressure, or personal difficulties. While this work is meaningful, it can also be emotionally demanding. Without intentional self‑care, these pressures can accumulate, leading to fatigue, reduced resilience, and a diminished capacity to offer high‑quality support.

The presentation will highlight an example of a practical initiative which units within the Student Affairs Division at the University of Limerick have recently implemented. A team self-care hour has been introduced within two of the student front-facing teams which aims to promote the importance of self-care within the workplace.

This session aims to reframe self‑care as an integral part of professional practice. By investing in their own wellbeing, student support staff not only enhance their personal resilience but also strengthen the overall support ecosystem of the university.