With the cost of living continuing to rise, every dollar counts. The good news? As a student, there are plenty of discounts, concessions and support options that can help you save money while you study.   If you are living with significant financial hardship, please reach out to our Student Life team. In addition to offering free counselling and mental health support, they can also provide short-term assistance to support you while you study with us.   🚆 Travel for less

If you're studying full-time, you may be eligible for a Victorian Public Transport Concession Card, giving you access to discounted Myki fares.

Tip: Always carry your concession card and student ID when travelling.

💳 Check if you can get a Health Care Card

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a Health Care Card through Services Australia.

A Health Care Card can help reduce the cost of medical services:

• Prescription medicine – bring your Health Care Card to the chemist when buying prescription medicines for a discounted price
• Dental treatment – bring your health care card to the dentist for free or discounted dental care (depending on what you're getting done) through public dental clinics in community health centres, rural hospitals and the Royal Dental Hospital in Melbourne
• Ambulance travel – Health Care Card holders get free ambulance and air ambulance travel anywhere in Australia in an emergency or on the recommendation of a doctor
• Eye care and glasses – free eye examinations and low-cost glasses are available for Health Care Card holders in Victoria (and their dependants under the age of 16 if they are listed on the concession card)
• Optometry and eye care service – the Victorian College of Optometry provides low-cost eye care for people with Health Care Cards
• Hearing services – a wide range of free and discounted hearing services are available to Health Care Card holders, including hearing tests and hearing aids.

It can also help you access additional savings, such as:

• Annual electricity concession – an all-year-round discount on household electricity bills
• Winter gas concession – a concession on household gas bills during winter
• Water and sewerage concession – a discount on household water and sewerage charges
• Utility relief grant scheme – provides assistance for households that are unable to pay utility bills because of a temporary financial crisis
• Discounted car registration – save up to 50% on the vehicle registration fee (the TAC charge remains the same).

It's worth checking your eligibility, especially if you're receiving government support payments.

☕ Take advantage of campus deals Don't forget to keep an eye out for student offers available on campus and through student-run training facilities. This includes:  

• Very affordable haircuts, hair colouring and beauty services at on Elgar campus barbershop or hair & beauty salons
• Discount grooming and vet care at Pets on Elgar
• Fabulous three-course meals from Fountains Restaurant in Box Hill or Yarra Valley Lakeside restaurant in Lilydale.

🛍️ Unlock student discounts Many retailers offer student discounts that can be stacked with sales throughout the year, such as:  

• Optus, Vodafone and Telstra
• Goodlife and Fitness First for gym memberships
• Officeworks and JB Hi-Fi for your tech needs

You can also check platforms like UNiDAYS, Student Edge and Student Beans for offers, but we recommend that you double-check fine print for any contract terms, membership fees or restrictive conditions.

We’re making a series of improvements across our Nelson and Elgar campuses to create more welcoming, modern and enjoyable spaces for students.

The flooring, painting and Nelson cafeteria upgrades will be delivered in stages from October 2026 to February 2027 to help minimise disruption. Here’s what you need to know.

Nelson campus works

Works at our Nelson campus will begin in October and include flooring replacement, painting and a full upgrade of the cafeteria*:

• Flooring replacement between the cafeteria and sports area, ground floor only: 19 October – 17 December. The music area is not included, to ensure minimal impacts on the music studios.
• Painting: 12 November – 9 December.
• Full cafeteria upgrade: October – December.

During the cafeteria upgrade, the existing microwaves and sink will be removed. A temporary microwave station will be available nearby, outside classroom B10.G067, known as ‘the igloo’.

Elgar campus works

Flooring and painting upgrades in buildings B1 and B2 will begin in November and continue into February*:

• B1 flooring replacement: 23 November – 15 January
• B1 painting: 11 January – 29 January
• B2 painting (ceiling): 16 November – 11 December
• B2 flooring replacement: 4 January – 5 February
• B2 wall painting: 1 February – 19 February.

The elevator in B4 will also begin replacement works in November, which means students at our Elgar campus who want to visit our IT Helpdesk or the Student Lounge will either need to use the stairs or the signposted detours via the B3 lifts. Find out more here.

What to expect

There may be some noise, dust and narrowing of walkways to facilitate the flooring replacement works. We’ve also selected a water-based paint to minimise any potential smells during painting works.

While the projects have been staged to help maintain access to classrooms and facilities wherever possible, we understand that works like these can cause some inconvenience.

We want to reassure you that we’ll do our best to minimise disruption and help keep you safe and supported while the upgrades are underway.

The bigger picture

These works are part of our broader investment in student facilities, which has already delivered many upgrades across our campuses. These include:

• Improved and more secure student Wi-Fi
• Upgrades to more than 400 student-use computers and laptops
• A new sandpit in the Elgar Trades building
• Renovations to the Pets on Elgar pet grooming teaching space, and
• Upgraded facilities and equipment for dental assisting, nursing and individual support teaching spaces.
• New student kitchenette in B7
• Upgrades to 32 classrooms in B1, B2 and B10, including new furniture and blinds refreshed. 

Thank you for your patience while we complete these improvements and create better learning environments for our students.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact customer.care@boxhill.edu.au as we’re here to help.

* Please note that all dates are estimates and may change during project delivery.

Starting 24 November 2026, we will begin works to replace the elevator in building B4 at our Elgar campus. 

During these works, the elevator will be temporarily unavailable for approximately four months. Access to upper levels will continue via stairs in B4 or the elevator in B3.

A signed detour route for each floor will be in place throughout the project.

Key information

When will the elevator be closed?

The elevator will be unavailable from 24 November 2026 until approximately February 2027. Please note that these dates are estimates and may change during project delivery.

Why is the elevator being replaced?

The works are being undertaken to upgrade the existing elevator and ensure reliable access for students, staff and visitors into the future.

How do I access upper levels of B4?

The stairs will be fully accessible for the duration of works for those wishing to use them. If you have any accessibility concerns or would prefer an alternate route, signed detour routes will be available from the B3 lifts to each floor.

How will I know where to go?

Wayfinding materials will be installed throughout B3 and B4, including:

• Floor decals
• Wall and glass decals
• Directional posters
• Elevator notices
• QR codes linking to maps and information.

Will classrooms and services remain open?

Yes. Classes, services and facilities will continue to operate during the works.

The only change is that the B4 elevator will be temporarily unavailable.

How much extra time should I allow?

If you are using the detour via the B3 elevators, we recommend allowing a few extra minutes to get to your destination.

What if I require elevator access?

Alternative elevator access will be available via B3 throughout the project.

Students who have accessibility requirements or concerns about accessing campus are encouraged to contact the Student Life Accessibility team.

Where can I view the detour route?

Please bookmark this post as the detour maps will be posted below in the coming week.  

Wear It Purple Day 2026 – Friday 28 August

Friday 28 August is Wear It Purple Day, a day to recognise and support our LGBTIQA+SB community.

We are celebrating Wear It Purple Day at Nelson campus with live entertainment, skittles and cupcakes!

Friday 28 August | 11am to 1pm

Nelson cafeteria

The Victorian TAFE Association will also be hosting a live webinar discussing some of the challenges faced by members of the LGBTQIA+SB community and their allies. We’ll be hosting a watch party to watch the live webinar from 12:00pm.

Click here to register for the watch party.

Come join us at the Nelson campus cafeteria from 11:00am to 1:00pm and show your support for our LGBTQIA+SB community here at Box Hill Institute.

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Donut Keep It All In: R U OK? Day – 10 September

This R U OK? Day, take a moment to check in with a friend and remember that you don't have to face challenges alone.

Join us for R U OK? Day and enjoy a free hot jam donut while learning more about wellbeing, connection and supporting the people around us.

Thursday 10 September | 11am to 1pm

 Elgar and Nelson cafeterias

Whether you're catching up with friends or learning more about how to support someone who may be struggling, everyone is welcome.

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BHI libraries for all students

Our libraries are located across all campuses to support the teaching and learning needs of students and staff.

They have a range of physical and digital resources, from books and magazines through to music, online videos and toys.

In addition to the wide range of resources available, our libraries offer academic support services, to help students with things like:

• ·       Essay and assessment writing
• ·       Reviewing your work to ensure it meets the task requirements
• ·       Getting guidance on how to approach your assessments
• ·       Checking for spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Our drop-in academic support services can be found at the following locations:

• ·       Elgar campus, Thursday 11:45 am–12:45 pm
• ·       City campus, Wednesday 11.45am-12.45pm

If you can't make these drop-in times, chat with our friendly librarians to learn about other support options that can help you meet your educational goals.

To see the full range of materials available, plus library locations and open hours, visit the library page on StudentWeb.

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Reminder: smoking or vaping is not allowed on any BHI campuses

We are committed to maintaining clean, welcoming campuses for all students, staff and visitors.

Under the Student Code of Conduct, smoking or vaping is not permitted on BHI property, within 5 metres of a campus boundary, or during approved off-campus learning activities.

Students are expected to follow the Code at all times, and failure to comply may result in disciplinary action under Institute policies and procedures.