Monash University today announced a $15 million Student Compassionate and Hardship package for students suffering financial hardship.
Eligible students can apply in two stages:
- a $500 immediate emergency payment and
- payment of up to $7000 after April 14.
This package will be funded by existing University resources and philanthropic support.
The University’s senior executive team is deeply committed to supporting Monash students and this initiative and some have already donated personally to the fund.
This support package recognises how many students are part of the Monash community and the scale of the issue. Many students have lost their casual employment, have families experiencing job losses, and may also be far away from their loved ones.
Since the beginning of this global health crisis, Monash has been committed to protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of our students. This package is an extension of this so we are able to support our students financially while they continue their studies.
At this time, Monash University acknowledges the Australian Government’s increased support for eligible students with increases to AbStudy and Austudy. As the affects of this COVID-19 health emergency grow we are also urging them to consider further support for students who have been hit by rapid closures of many areas of employment for themselves, or for their families.
The Monash Student Compassionate and Hardship package will be available to any eligible students, including undergraduate and postgraduate – both coursework and higher degree research – who have been adversely affected by COVID-19.
RMIT Student Hardship Assistance
RMIT’s Student Hardship Assistance and Equity Scholarship funds have been expanded to provide up to $10 million in support to students impacted by COVID-19.
Students impacted by COVID-19 can now apply for two types of financial assistance from RMIT:
1. Emergency Financial Grant
To support students who are impacted by job loss, housing insecurity or other financial matters associated with COVID-19. This is for non-tech expenses, such as essential living expenses, textbooks, accommodation, healthcare, or food.
2. Technology Grant
To help students access essential IT equipment to continue studying remotely, including hardware, software, subscriptions, data, internet and digital materials. The Technology Grant is limited to up to $1,000 per student.
The University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne has has introduced a new needs-based COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund.
This new Emergency Support Fund is designed to provide assistance to students who have experienced financial hardship as a result of COVID-19.
The Emergency Support Fund has been created to:
- Support students from disadvantaged financial backgrounds who do not have access to and are unable to afford the costs of a computer and/or high-speed internet to support technology-enabled learning and/or contribute towards costs of home study for students (eg desk and chair)
- Provide emergency financial assistance to students who, as a result of COVID-19, have lost a secure source of income and can no longer pay for rent, food and similar necessities, where government support does not cover these costs
- Assist students who were on, or about to commence, an approved study overseas activity for Semester 1, 2020, who were required to abandon their overseas study plans as a result of COVID-19, and where travel insurance does not cover genuine, reasonable costs.
For coursework students, the overarching eligibility criterion to be considered for support from the Emergency Support Fund is that you must be currently enrolled in at least one subject in a coursework degree in Semester 1 2020. Graduate researchers may be eligible to apply for one or more categories (see further details under each category).
There are additional considerations for each of the support categories. If you are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate coursework degree, you can apply for assistance under multiple categories. Graduate researchers may be eligible to apply for one or more categories (see further details under each category).
- Category 1 – IT upgrade and study support
- Category 2 – Loss of income
- Category 3 – Cancelled overseas study
An overarching limit of $7,500 across all COVID-19 related support packages (including the COVID-19 student support grants) will be applied, which will take into account any other grants you have been awarded by the University and other forms of support.
However, the University also recognises that there may be some cases where students have reached the support limit but are still in dire financial need. If you fall into this category you will be able to request consideration of these exceptional circumstances.