PUBLIC TRANSPORT CONCESSIONS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
Every other state gives grads a concession fare. Victoria doesn't. Let's change that.
Graduate students in Victoria are not entitled to concession public transport fares, which means they pay twice as much for public transport as undergraduates. Victoria is the only state in Australia that makes graduate students pay full price! It's not fair, and it's time to change that!
With the price of rent, groceries and bills rising all the time, making life harder for graduate students, affordable public transport is more important than ever.
Despite the Victorian Government's recent initiatives to introduce free public transport for a limited period (April-May 2026) and discounted fares later in the year, the MGA are lobbying the government to extend permanent concession entitlements to all full-time graduate students, both domestic and international.
CAMPAIGN UPDATES
PTV petition reaches major milestone
On 3 August, our PTV concession petition officially closed with 5,272 signatures. This is a fantastic result that demonstrates strong community support for extending public transport concession entitlements to graduate students.
The petition has now been presented to the new Premier of Victoria, Ben Carroll, and the new Minister for Transport, Vicki Ward.
While we didn't reach our initial target of 10,000 signatures, the campaign has achieved so much more than a number. It has brought together student associations, trade unions, local councils and community organisations from across Victoria, helping to build a broad coalition of support for this long-overdue reform.
Together, we've raised the profile of this issue and ensured it i firmly on the radar of government decision-makers.
A huge thank you to everyone who signed and shared the petition. Your support has helped build real momentum for change, and the MGA will continue advocating for fair public transport concessions for graduate students in the lead-up to the Victorian election.
O-Week activation
During O-Week, the MGA was out across our campuses speaking with graduate students about our campaign for fair public transport concessions.
We asked students what they would do with an extra $114 a month -- the amount many graduate students could save with access to a concession PTV fare. Their responses were a powerful reminder of why this campaign matters.
Students told us they would spend the savings on healthier groceries, catching up with friends, fitness classes and other self-care activities. Others said it would help them enjoy their studies more, reduce financial stres, or even save for the occasional trip.
These conversations reinforced that a graduate student concession isn't just about cheaper public transport; it's about easing cost-of-living pressures and giving students greater financial flexibility to support their wellbeing.
A big thank you to everyone who stopped by our stall to share their thoughts and support the campaign.
Support from Glen Eira Council
Earlier this year, the MGA met with Simone Zmood to discuss our campaign for fair public transport concessions for graduate students.
As the local council for our Caulfield campus, Glen Eira City Council recognises the important role graduate students play in the community. Following our meeting, the Council sent a letter of support to nine local state MPs, including the Minister for Public and Active Transport, calling for the introduction of a graduate studdent concession.
We are grateful to Glen Eira City Council for supporting this important reform. Read the Council's letter of support here.
Support from the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA)
The MGA is also pleased to have the support of the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), Victoria's leading public transport advocacy organisation.
The PTUA works to promote a more accessible, efficient and sustainable public transport network through research, public campaigns and government advocacy. Their support reinforces the importance of making public transport more affordable for graduate students and adds a respected voice to our growing coalition.
We thank the PTUA for standing with us as we continue to advocate for fairer public transport concessions.
Growing support for our petition
The response to our petition has been incredibly encouraging. Unions, student organisations and advocacy groups have helped amplify our campaign by sharing the petition with their members and across their social media channels, increasing awareness and driving signatures in support of extending public transport concession entitlements to graduate students.
Every signature brings us one step closer to demonstrating the widespread community support for this long-overdue reform.
Support from University Student Associations
The lack of public transport concession entitlements affects around 100,000 full-time graduate students across Victoria. Recognising that this is a statewide issue, MGA has been working with graduate student and student respresentative organisations across Victoria to advocate for change.
We are grateful for the support of the Deakin University Student Association and La Trobe Student Union, both of which have shared our petition with their communities to help build momentum for the campaign.
Together, we are demonstrating that students across Victoria support fair and equitable access to public transport concessions.
Support from the Victorian Greens
For our PTV concession petition to trigger a debate in the Victorian Parliament, it must be sponsored by a member of the Victorian Legislative Council (the upper house).
MGA has been engaging with state politicians from across the political spectrum to secure a sponsor for the petition, and we are pleased to announce that Aiv Puglielli has agreed to sponsor it. Aiv represents the North-Eastern Metropolitan Region in the Victorian Legislative Council and serves as the Victorian Greens spokesperson for young people and free university and TAFE.
We have also received support from the leader of Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, as well as Katherine Copsey and Anasina Grey-Barberio, who have all shared our petition on their social media accounts.
We sincerely thank Aiv and Katherine for their support. While we appreciate the Victorian Greens' backing of this campaign, we do not view this as a party-political issue. Extending public transport concession entitlements to graduate students is a practical and common-sense reform that would simply bring Victoria into line with every other Australian state and territory. We will continue engaging constructively with representatives from all sides of politics to advocate for this important change.
Building a coalition
Achieving our goal of extending public transport concession entitlements to graduate students requires broad community support. As part of this campaign, MGA has been building a coalition of like-minded organisations to strengthen our collective voice.
We have engaged with several trade unions to seek their endorsement of the campaign and support in promoting our petition. We are pleased to have received endorsements from the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), Australian Education Union (AEU), Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) and National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).
The Australian Education Union, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and National Tertiary Education Union have also shared our petition with their members, helping to raise awareness and demonstrate strong community support for this proposal.
(See letter of support from the Australian Nursing and Midwives Federation)
These organisations have backed our campaign in recognition of the importance of educational equity and the need to support the next generation of professionals while they complete their studies. Their support reflects a shared commitment to making higher education more accessible through fairer and more affordable public transport.
We sincerely thank these organisations for their ongoing support of our campaign.
Meeting with the Lord Mayor of Melbourne
MGA Parkville Representative and Vice President Yannee Liu represented MGA at the official launch of the GSA's Fares Fair campaign. During the event, Yannee had the opportunity to speak with Nick Reece about the importance of extending public transport concession entitlements to graduate students.
Lord Mayor Reece has been a strong advocate for improving transport affordability for students, including supporting the extension of concession entitlements to graduate students and expanding Melbourne's Free Tram Zone.
MGA Vice President Yannee Liu with Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nick Reece and GSA President Ethan Chou
Seeking support from local government
In May 2026, the MGA met with Frankston City Council and the Mayor of Glen Eira City Council, which are home to Monash's Peninsula and Caulfield campuses. During these meetings, the MGA highlighted key issues impacting graduate students, including the rising cost of public transport.
Mayor of Glen Eira Council, Simone Zmood, with MGA's Campaigns Officer, Jack Kennedy.
Mayor Simone Zmood (pictured above) expressed strong support for the campaign. As a current PhD student at Monash and a parent of two Monash graduates, she brings both personal and professional insight into how transport costs affect students' financial wellbeing.
Collaborating with other universities in Victoria: Campaign Forum
In April 2026, the MGA took part in a roundtable with representatives from six Victorian universities to align on a coordinated campaign for graduate transport concessions. The discussion focused on combining efforts and resources to strengthen our collective voice -- particularly in the lead-up to the November state election.
MGA General Representative, Jingrong Wang, and Campaign Officer, Jack Kennedy, at state-wide PTV roundtable.
Building support and momentum
We are working to build broad support for graduate student concessions, starting within Monash University. Two undergraduate student organisations, MONSU Caulfield and MONSU Peninsula, have already endorsed the campaign and shared our petition with their members. They highlighted the importance of solidarity between undergraduate and graduate students, noting that this issue has wider relevance - particularly as many undergraduates will go on to postgraduate study in the future. Thank you, MONSU Caulfield and MONSU Peninsula!
Beyond the unversity section, we are also strengthening community support by partnering with Friends of the Earth and the Public Transport Users Association. Both organisations advocate for improved public transport and have agreed to circulate our petition among their networks and continue collaborating as the campaign develops.
The research driving the campaign
To strengthen our case for graduate transport concessions, the MGA undertook detailed research and developed a comprehensive policy report. The report identifies key weaknesses in the government's position that graduate students do not require discounted travel, and outlines the inequity of excluding postgraduate students from the same concessions available to undergraduates.
This research was completed prior to launching the campaign to ensure our advocacy is grounded in clear, coherent, and evidence-based arguments when engaging with policymakers and key stakeholders.
If you're facing financial hardship, please know that the MGA offers a Welfare Assistance Program and other support programs to assist you. We also have a range of support guides with lists of resources for financial, mental health, and academic success to support you through your graduate studies journey.
Have questions, contributions, or ideas for lobbying? Get in touch with our Campaigns Officer, Jack Kennedy (jack.kennedy@monash.edu) to get involved in our advocacy efforts.