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