Help with fees

Monash Connect

Negotiate payment of tuition fees via instalments with Monash Connect. Make these arrangements before the deadline and remember you must pay before graduation.

Faculty Support

Inquire with your faculty about funds for some sort of scholarship. If you are performing well academically, the faculty may be persuaded to help or offer you advice on finding help.

Help with living costs

Contact Monash Connect for a $500 emergency financial grant

This grant does not need to be repaid and there are strict criteria to qualify, but it is worth checking your eligibility.

Consider a Monash Connect Loan

Monash offers short term (up to $750) and longer-term (up to $3000) interest-free loans for both domestic and international students. Loans must also be repaid before graduation. Find out more here.

Apply for an MGA food voucher

For those students who need support for groceries and other essential items, the MGA Advocacy team provides food vouchers.  Applications for food vouchers will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and students must meet the eligibility criteria below. To apply for a food voucher, please click here.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply you must:

• be a currently enrolled graduate student through a Monash Australian campus;

• currently reside in Australia;

• be unable to afford basic groceries;

• be experiencing financial hardship.

You may be required to provide:

• proof of course enrolment (a screenshot or PDF of WES enrolment);

• evidence of financial hardship (30-day bank statements of all your accounts);

• any other relevant documentation the MGA advocate may require in order to process your application.

If you have any questions about the MGA food vouchers, please get in touch with an MGA Advocate.

Contact The Department of Health and Human Services (domestic students)

This department offers an interest-free Bond Loan Scheme to permanent residents that meet the eligibility. Find out more here.

Check your eligibility for a Low Income Health Care Card (domestic students)

This card entitles the holder to cheaper health care and discounts, including cheaper medicine, bulk billed doctor visits and discounts on water, gas, electricity, public transport and motor vehicle registration. Check your eligibility.

Help for international students

Contact your embassy/consulate

Some nations offer financial aid to their students studying in Australia. Ask your embassy/consulate if they can do this for you.

Contact community groups

Some community groups and associations offer support to people from the same background as themselves. Check online, with friends or via social media.

Contact Study Melbourne

Study Melbourne sometimes offer financial assistance or have scholarships. If you have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please contact the Study Melbourne Student Centre. Further info here.

Australian Government workplace rights online toolkit

This resource aims to help international students learn about their workplace rights while studying here in Australia. Have a look here.

Red Cross Emergency Extreme Hardship Support Program

This program aims to meet urgent basic needs, food, medicine or shelter for temporary and provisional visa holders during COVID-19 pandemic. Further information here.

Help for residents

Many local councils offer financial aid and/or food packages for their residents. Check below to see what is available in your area. Most places, with the exception of the CBD centres, require proof of residence and Student ID. Some also require that you are an Australian citizen or resident, and/or current Centrelink ID. Please contact your local centre to check eligibility.

CBD

• Hamodava Café/The Lighthouse Café (website)
  Free meals
  a: Level 1, 69 Bourke Street, Melbourne
  t: 9653 3299
• Study Melbourne Student Centre (website)
  Food vouchers, financial assistance
  a: 599 Little Bourke St
  t: 1800 056 449

Camberwell

• Camcare Inc (website)
  Food vouchers, financial assistance, counselling, health services
  t: 9831 1900

Carlton

• The Couch International Student Program (website)
  Safe lounge space for international students to socialise, relax, study, and seek assistance.
  a: 324 Drummond St, Carlton Victoria
  t: 0451 374 507

City of Casey

• Cornerstone Contact Centre (website)
  Meals, crisis assistance
  t: 0481 186 323

City of Glen Eira (including Caulfield)

• Community Information, Glen Eira (website)
  Food vouchers, food parcels, clothes, travelcards, phone cards
  t: 9571 7644

Clayton

• Monash Oakleigh Community Support & Information Services (website)
  Food, food vouchers, op shop, caseworker assistance
  a: 25 Downing Street, Oakleigh
  t: 9568 4533

Coburg

• Coburg Community Information Centre (website)
  Financial assistance
  t: 9350 3737

Dandenong

• Dandenong Community Advisory Bureau Inc. (website)
  Food vouchers, petrol vouchers, advocacy services
  t: 9791 8344
• Cornerstone Contact Centre (website)
  Meals, crisis assistance
  t: 9794 5654

Keysborough

• Dandenong Community Advisory Bureau Inc. (website)
  Food vouchers, petrol vouchers, advocacy services
  t: 9791 8344

Frankston

• Community Support Frankston Inc. (website)
  Food, meals, housing, medical, clothing and whitegoods
  t: 9783 7284

Mount Waverley

• Mount-Waverly Community Support & Information Services (website)
  Food vouchers, food parcels, clothing, white goods and furniture
  t: 9807 9844
  t: 9827 5996

Oakleigh

• Oakleigh Service Centre – drop-in centre
  Food, food vouchers, op shop, caseworker assistance
  a: 3 Atherton Road, Oakleigh
  t: 9518 3555

Help for all students

Notting Hill Neighbourhood House

Located only a 20-minute walk away from Clayton campus at 37 Westerfield Drive, Notting Hill, the Notting Hill Neighbourhood House aims to enhance the wellbeing of the community through a wide range of programs, including weekly free bread for residents and a food relief program targeted at Monash students.

Foodbank and other Community Relief Welfare Providers

Foodbanks around Melbourne offer food items and pantry hampers, along with other forms of emergency relief. Find local services near you.

Kasih Project

The Kasih Project arranges food and essential items by appointment. They preferred contact via WhatsApp: +61 430 903 366. Find locations on their Facebook page.

Askizzy

This website operates as a search engine for many forms of community assistance around Melbourne, as well as other supports including housing, food, health, employment and many others. Check out their website here.

Empower Food Relief Centres

These centres are open across Melbourne on weekends to anyone facing serious food insecurity. View their website here.

Study Melbourne

Study Melbourne provides numerous forms of community and government assistance and support. Check out their website here.

Frankston Community

Did you know the Frankston community offers free food services for everyone to enjoy? It’s a great assistance for students to help cover the cost and time buying and preparing meals. Why not go with a friend and grab some free food together!  

Brekky club

• Chisholm Institute, (Building N) Bunurong Cafe
• 7:00am-8:00am (5 days a week), take-away only
• Free cooked breakfast and a hot cuppa

Theodora’s Cheerful Givers

• 1/12 Govan Street, Seaford
• Phone: 0413807763
• 10:00am-4:00pm (5 days a week)
• Free food hampers and frozen meals

Salvation Army, Carrum Downs

• 1265 Frankston-Dandenong Road, Carrum Downs
• Phone: 9775 1915
• 10:00am-2:00pm (Tuesday-Friday)
• Registration over the phone and clients can pick up their items contactless. Offering fresh food (where available), food hampers, clothing, baby items, toiletries, basic household items

Peninsula Christian Care

• 250 Frankston-Flinders Road, Frankston
• Phone: 5971 4877 or 0435 954 185 (must phone for appointment)
• 10:00am- 2:00pm, Tuesday Food Pantry

Community Support Frankston

• 35 Beach Street, Frankston
• 12:00-4:00pm (4 days a week)
• Free take away meal (pick up only)

John Paul College Food Van

• Young Street Carpark (next to Tasman Meats)
• Tuesday 5:00pm – 7:00pm
• Toasted sandwiches, soup, noodles, tea, coffee, milo, food parcels

Connect Community Care

• Phone: 0400 492 335
• Call to arrange Emergency Food Parcels available every Tuesday

Sikh Volunteers Australia – Free Food Van

• Young street Carpark (next to Tasman Meats)
• Wednesday 7:00 – 7:30 pm
• Free freshly cooked vegetarian take-away meal

Life-Gate Inc 

• 1a Olsen Street, Frankston
• Phone:  9770 0595
• Wednesday 10:00am – 2:00pm
• Food hampers and frozen meals available for pickup

Wildpath

• Located in the Ambassador Chapel, 51/325 Nepean Highway, Frankston
• Phone: 9785 7229
• Wednesday 10:00am – 2:00pm
• Fresh food, fruit and vegetables, frozen food, toiletries