Financial Support

Financial Grant

Financial Grants are available to enrolled students who can demonstrate they are in financial hardship. This may include loss of job, unexpected medical expenses, risk of homelessness etc. Grants can be used to assist with education-related expenses and essential living costs such as:

• Bond, rental payments and/or rental arrears
• Phone, electricity and gas bills
• Medical and dental bills
• Laptop
• Placement expenses including uniform, travel and accommodation expenses
• Childcare arrangements
• Motor vehicle expenses

Financial assistance is NOT available to contribute to the cost of the following:

• Enrolment fees
• Tuition fees
• Voluntary HECS repayments (including SSAF- Student Services and Amenities Fees)
• Visa fees
• Costs related to units undertaken overseas
• Entertainment or holidays
• Purchase of cars or other such luxury items
• Gifts
• Repayment of an existing loan or credit cards

Approval for a laptop is limited to $750, while grant applications are limited to $1,000.

• Domestic students must be enrolled in at least one subject in the current session of study
• International students must be enrolled in 100% of subjects unless a reduced study load has been approved
• Documented evidence of financial hardship

How to apply
Complete the Financial Assistance application online and attach the following documents:
a) bank statements in PDF format showing up-to-date transaction history for the past three months for all accounts in your name (eg Everyday account and Savings account). Screenshots of bank statements will not be accepted.

b) proof of income (Most recent Centrelink statement and/or two most recent pay slips)

c) quote/ invoice for expense (eg overdue bills, rental arrears invoice)

d) Student Bank Details for Financial Assistance form

Please note: Incomplete applications will be rejected. If you’re unsure how to complete the application, please book an appointment with a Student Welfare Officer via 1300 668 370 (option 5) or email welfareservice@westernsydney.edu.au

Food Support

To provide students with food security, essential Item vouchers: are available to enrolled students in documented financial hardship to purchase essential items such as food, petrol, and medical items. To apply, book an appointment with Student Welfare via 1300 668 370 (option 5) or email welfareservice@westernsydney.edu.au

The Chaplaincy Team runs weekly Community Dinners during session. These provide a great opportunity to share a nutritious meal and get to know other students.

You can also enjoy free Community Breakfasts on your campus during session. Learn more by logging into WESTERNLife Events with your student details.

Textbook Support

Textbook Support electronic vouchers of up to $600 in value are available to students in documented financial hardship. These can be used to purchase textbooks from any of the following retailers: Booktopia; Thomson Reuters; Wolters Kluwer Australia; Jurisprudentia; Sanity; Routledge Taylor and Francis Group; LexisNexis, The School Locker; Pearson; Dymocks; The School Locker; Cengage; Wiley Direct; Vital Source; Elsevier; or The federation Australia.

Eligibility
- Enrolled in the current session
- Application submitted before relevant Census Date
- Prescribed textbooks
- Documented hardship: Income of less than $750 per individual, or $1400 per family, per week.

Apply here
- You are eligible to apply for support 2 weeks before the session starts, with applications closing on the relevant census date.
- Attach current proof of income i.e. Centrelink statement or two most recent pay slips. If you don’t receive Centrelink or an income, please provide up to date bank statements for all accounts in your name, showing up to date transaction history for the past three months in PDF format.

Maximum support
- $600 once per enrolled session.

Support for Placement

Commonwealth Prac Payment

Starting in July 2025, the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) will help students manage the costs associated with undertaking a mandatory placement (also known as a practicum) as part of a higher education course in teaching, nursing, midwifery, and social work.

Eligible students will receive $331.65 per week during their placement. This payment has been benchmarked to the current single AUSTUDY allowance and will be adjusted in accordance with changes to that AUSTUDY rate on 1 January each year. The payment will help students manage the costs associated with undertaking mandatory placements.

CPP applications will be assessed as follows:

• Your enrolment details will be confirmed, including CSP status and subject eligibility.
• Your financial need will be assessed according to the Department of Education’s criteria.
• If you apply under Exceptional Circumstances, the University will review your application and refer it to the Department of Education for a final decision.
• You will be notified of the outcome of your application as soon as practicable.
• Payments will not begin until your placement is confirmed in InPlace and the placement start date has been reached.

For further information, including eligibility criteria and link to the online application form please review the Commonwealth Prac Payment webpage.

Financial Grants

The Welfare Service can provide financial support to eligible students required to undertake placement as per their learning guides. Students who are experiencing financial hardship and are not eligible for the Commonwealth Prac Payment can apply for a Financial Grant to support costs associated with their placement.

Eligibility

• International students must be enrolled in 100% of subjects unless a reduced study load has been approved
• Domestic students must be enrolled in at least one subject in the current session of study
• Documented evidence of financial hardship
• Provide confirmation of an upcoming allocated placement and placement duration
• Students who have applied for the Commonwealth Prac Placement must provide evidence that your application has been declined

Nursing and midwifery grants

NSW Health are offering grants of up to $1,000 for clinical placements in a NSW public health facility for NSW student’s studying a Bachelor of Nursing or Bachelor of Midwifery degree. Grants are to assist with the accommodation and travel expenses associated with placement. Full details including eligibility criteria are available on the Undergraduate nursing and midwifery clinical placement grants webpage

Government Services

Centrelink - Offers a range of on-going payments to eligible students. If you're receiving a student payment, you can also access the Fares Allowance to attend compulsory activities linked to your studies and the Student Start Up loan

Revenue NSW -  A Work Development Order (WDO) can assist you to pay off or reduce a fine by up to $1000 a month by participating in an approved activity eg volunteer work; financial counselling. For more information, call 1300 138 118

Community Services

Ask Izzy - Access a range of support (such as food, housing, bills, No Interest Loans) from Community Services in your local area.

Welfare Rights Centre - Support for those experiencing issues with Centrelink.

The Salvation Army - Phone: 13 72 58

St Vincent de Paul - Phone: 13 18 12

Anglicare - Phone: 1300 111 278

Financial Counselling & Guidance

National Debt Help Line: Access free and confidential financial counselling to manage debt and get back on track.

Moneysmart: A government-run organisation providing information about financial literacy and services including financial counselling and crisis support.

Moneyminded: Access online resources to create a budget, reduce debt, and/or improve savings.

First Nations Foundation: Indigenous financial wellbeing organisation led by an indigenous-majority board, providing free financial literacy training via My Money Dream and more.

Financial Counsellors’ Association of NSW- Free and confidential financial advice. Phone: 1300 914 408

LawAccess NSW -  Access information to assist you with financial concerns such as FineFixer and Problems with Utilities

Insider Guides - Provide up-to-date information on matters relating to international students including webinars with industry experts.

Tax Help

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) provides a free Tax Help program to assist those earning under $60,000 to lodge a tax return. Learn more