Money matters

Financial assistance
Textbook vouchers
Food vouchers
Budgeting and managing money
Centrelink support
Tax Help

Financial assistance

We offer a range of financial assistance to assist students with education-related costs and basic living expenses.

Financial assistance available to UWS students includes:
  • Interest-free Student Loans - Student Loans of up to $500 that must be repaid within 12 months
  • Student Grants - Student Grants of up to $1000 to students who are experiencing financial hardship
  • Textbook Grants - Textbook Grants of up to $1000 to students experiencing financial hardship who have significant course-related textbook costs

Eligibility and applications

Students requesting financial assistance will need to complete an application form and meet with a Student Welfare Officer who will assess their application. Financial assistance applications will be assessed on a case by case basis.

As a general guide, students are eligible for financial assistance if they can demonstrate that their capacity for continued study may be in jeopardy due to financial hardship. However, financial assistance is not intended as a form of income support.

Financial Assistance application form [PDF 714Kb]
Financial assistance FAQs

Textbook vouchers

Textbook vouchers for use at uwsconnect Books are available at the beginning of both Autumn and Spring Sessions.

Applications for Autumn 2013 have now closed.

For more information please visit the Textbook voucher FAQ page.

Food vouchers


Students who are struggling financially may be eligible for food vouchers (available for Woolworths or Coles). Vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash or be used to purchase alcohol, cigarettes or pet food.

If you would like to know more about the food vouchers, or if you need one, please see the welfare officer on your campus.

Centrelink support

Students can get help with Centrelink matters - head to the Centrelink and study at UWS page for information.

Budgeting and managing your money while at uni

Learn how to create a budget, find help with Centrelink, learn about debt and many more useful money tools with these fact sheets.
For more information make an appointment with the Welfare Officer on your campus.

Tax Help

Need assistance completing your tax return? Tax Help volunteers who have been trained by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) are available on campus to assist you with your tax return.

Tax Help Volunteers can help you complete your tax return online via the ATO's e-tax system. There is no cost to access this service.

The ATO limits the availability of the Tax Help service to those with a genuine need for it. To be eligible for assistance you must have a taxable income of $50 000 or less (Centrelink benefits are a source of income).

Tax Help volunteers cannot assist you if:
  • you were employed as a contractor (for example a contract cleaner or taxi driver)
  • you owned a business, including being a sole trader or partner 
  • you sold shares you sold an investment property
  • you owned a rental property
  • you received royalties
  • you received distributions from a trust other than a managed fund
  • you received foreign income other than a foreign pension or annuity

How to access Tax Help

Appointments are available between 1st July and 31st October.

If you are eligible for this service you can make an appointment by emailing welfareservice@uws.edu.au.

Alternatively you can speak to your campus Student Welfare Officer.