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.