Peer Learning Advisors
Our Peer Learning Advisors (PLAs) are experienced La Trobe University students specially trained to assist other students with understanding assessments, study strategies and basic referencing.
PLAs offer face-to-face support at every campus library, as well as online. Our service is drop in; simply show up to the desk or connect online via chat to speak to a PLA.
How PLAs can help
Our PLAs offer general guidance on a broad range of topics related to your studies. This guidance does not replace any instruction provided by your teaching team.
PLAs can assist you with:
- basic referencing
- note-taking and study strategies
- study advice for new and returning students
- navigating library and study support
- planning/structuring assignments
- understanding and unpacking assessment tasks.
Note: PLAs are fellow students who strive to provide accurate information but cannot guarantee outcomes or take responsibility for errors. It is your responsibility to decide how to use their advice.
What PLAs cannot help with
The Peer Learning Advisors are trained to give you general information. As such, there are some things that they cannot help with. These include:
- discipline-specific advice/content
- tutoring
- proofreading entire assessments
- typing on or directly editing assessment documents.
Need further help?
PLA consults typically go for 15-20 minutes. If you would like more in-depth, longer assistance, the Library has a range of services available to help you succeed in your academic career.
- Academic Skills Advisors (ASAs) can help you with assessments, academic writing and further study habits.
- Librarians can assist with navigating databases and finding high-quality scholarly articles and resources.
- Library-run workshops and training can support your learning and offer tailored workshops for undergraduate, postgraduate and research students.
Want to know more about the Library?
Watch the video below to learn more about the Library and the services we provide.