1997 Swinburne Higher Education Handbook

Austudy offers a voluntary loan scheme which is referred
to as the Austudy Supplement. Ask your financial adviser
on campus for more information before taking up the
Supplement option.
ABSTUDY
ABSTUDY provides financial help for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander students who want to do secondary
or tertiary studies.
Department of Social Security Benefits (DSS)
There are various benefits from DSS that may be available
to students, such as Family Allowance Supplement, Sole
Parent Pension, Unemployment Benefits (part-time
students) and Health Care Cards.
Students who qualify for Austudy may be eligible for a
Health Care card, enabling them to receive a range of
concessions.
Rent Assistance
Rent Assistance may be available to certain DSS
beneficiaries and students in receipt of the Student
Homeless Rate.
Bond Assistance Scheme
If you are looking for a place to live and you can't afford
the bond, the Department of Planning and Development
may be able to help. Ask your housing officer on campus
for more details.
Scholarships
There are various scholarships, prizes and trusts that may
be available to students. Ask your financial adviser and
your Divisional office for information and check in this
handbook for details under the heading 'Scholarships and
Awards'.
Tutoring
Tutoring assistance may be available to you. Ask at
Student Services.
Travel Concession
If you are a full-time student and wish to travel on the
metropolitan transport network at concession rates you
can purchase a Transport Concession Card from Met
outjets. Also ask aboit concession cards for country and
interstate rail travel. Application forms are available at
Student Administration.
Student Loans
With the approval of the Loans Fund Committee, full-time
students may obtain financial assistance from the following
funds:
Commonwealth Help for Needy Students Fund
Special Assistance for Students Program
Student Aid Fund
Rotary Swinburne Loan Fund
Overseas Student Loan Fund
Emergency short-term loans are available to full-time and
part-time students from the Student Union Aid Fund. For
all loans, ask at Student Services on your campus.
Concession tickets
Concession tickets are available for travel to and from
Swinburne on public transport. Students who wish to
purchase these tickets should go to the Student
Administration Office to complete the necessary forms.
Only full-time students are eligible for fare concessions.
Concessions are not available to full-fee paying overseas
students. Students must present their student card when
applying for a concession form. Australian Airlines and
Ansett Airlines concessions are available from the Contact
Centre. Student Union. or from STA Travel Aeencies.
'l
Full-time students are also eligible for an international
student card, available from the Contact Centre, Student
Union.
Student Union
Brief description
The Student Union is the primary body offering support
services to students at Swinburne, as well as playing an
important role in facilitating the representation of student
interests to the University. It is a legally incorporated
company which all students contribute to through the
payment of their General Service Fee to the University. In
1996 members hi^ of the Student Union was free and
involved filling out a Union membership form.
Membership of the organisation entitles students to stand
and vote in elections; and all students are entitled to use
services, whether they are members or not.
The Student Union has a solid history of achieving gains
for students in the educational arena, through contribution
to the University policy making process and assisting
individual students who are experiencing problems. In
1995 considerable emphasis was placed on the development
of student-friendly academic policy and regulations,
workable processes and support programs where required.
At the same time a wide variety of services are offered to
students on all campuses, which strive to offer quality at an
affordable price and in many instances are free.
Organisational aims
The purposes for which the Union is established are:
to advance the social, educational and general welfare
of the student body of Swinburne and to provide
services for the student body;
to represent and safeguard the students in matters
affecting their interests and privileges and to afford a
recognised means of communication between the
students and the authorities of Swinburne and other
educational bodies;
to promote, encourage and coordinate the activities of
student committees and societies;
to strive for wider recognition and greater appreciation
of the standard of all academic awards of Swinburne.
Management
At the time of writing, the representative structure of the
student body is undergoing a thorough review with
Swinburne University of Technology 1997 Handbook 3 1