Student Welfare
VU's Student Welfare service offers free and confidential support related to welfare, finance, and housing to improve your overall wellbeing. We listen to your situation and provide resources and referrals to support you.
Our aim is to empower you to overcome any personal challenge that may impact your studies at VU.
Our services
Community referrals
Our team can help you with everyday matters impacting on your life, and provide referrals to relevant support services within the community.
We can link you with support services for:
- drug and alcohol issues
- women’s support services
- family and domestic violence support
- tenancy issues
- tax help
- material aid
- legal issues
- financial counselling
- consumer affairs
- LGBTIQA and gender diversity support.
Financial literacy & money management
We can provide you with information about managing your finances, budgeting advice, provide emergency financial support, and more.
We can assist you with:
- Centrelink information
- advice about how to create a budget and the cost of living in Melbourne
- emergency financial assistance for needs such as groceries and clothing
- understanding VET Student Loans
- understanding HECS-HELP
- applying for grants and information about scholarships
- managing your study and living related costs
- coordinate a Free Tax Help service every year
- support and advice about utility providers, credit card debts, personal debts, mobile phone plans and fines.
Housing information
We can assist you with understanding your rights and responsibilities as a tenant in Victoria and advise you on housing supports and homelessness services if you are in crisis.
For general information about housing and accommodation in Victoria, please see the VU housing and accommodation page and document.
Exceptional circumstances fee extension
Our team can assess your personal and financial circumstances to determine eligibility for an exceptional circumstances fee extension.
ATO Tax Help Program
Victoria University hosts a free Tax Help Service from July until the end of October, in which a volunteer trained by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) provides one-to-one assistance and support to help students complete their tax return online.
The 2024 Tax Help program has ended, for assistance with tax issues please visit the VU Tax Clinic.
For the latest information about the Tax Help program, contact the ATO directly on 13 28 61 (or through an interpreter on 13 14 50).
