Concessions & Discounts
- Student Concessions
- Victorian Public Transport concession
- Health Care Cards
- Other forms of assistance
- Parking concessions for students with a disability
- Bond Loan Scheme
Student concessions are a great way to save money. Discounts for students are available on goods, services and entertainment such as health care, public transport, airfares, movies, haircuts, Museum entry, computers, restaurants, art supplies, newspapers and the list goes on ………Check out your student diary for discount offers
How do you get student discounts?
The following cards will entitle you to concessions on goods and services
- Your Melbourne University Student card issued to you by student administration will assist in proving your eligibility for such things as cheap movie tickets, concession entry to the Zoo and various other retail discounts offered to students
- Students do not automatically receive concessions on public transport you will be required to purchase a Victorian Public Transport concession card (VPT) forms issued by student administration and purchased through metlink shops, cost $9.00 will entitle you to concession on all Victorian Public Transport, throughout the state. Most international student and students studying at a Postgraduate level including Masters and PHD are not eligible for concession. International exchange students are eligible.
- The (Low Income earners) Health Care Card issued by Centrelink, includes entitlement of free ambulance transport, health care entitlement, discount bills and a range of other benefits. The majority of student’s who are eligible for a Youth allowance, ABSTUDY, Austudy payment will be eligible for a concession card, which can be applied for when applying for a Centrelink payment.
Note: Even if you are not eligible for a Centrelink payment you may still be eligible for a Low Income earners Health Care Card, see below for more information.
Victorian Public Transport concession
To receive concession fares on public transport you must purchase a VPT concession card which costs $9.00. To be eligible you must be an Australian Citizen, permanent resident, have refugee status, an Ausaid student (ADS) or a student on exchange program.
How to obtain a Victorian Public Transport concession
- For returning students to The University of Melbourne, Central Student Administration will send out new transport concession forms to all eligible students at the beginning of each year.
- For new students who were not issued with a concession form on Academic Advice Day or did not receive a form in the mail you can collect your transport concession card form from your Student Centre.
All transport concession card forms will need to be taken to your closest major railway station, such as Flinders St Station or a MetShop store. Metshop is located at the Melbourne Town Hall, Corner of Swanston and Little Collins Streets, Melbourne.Open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5:00pm Saturday 9:30am to 12 noon.
For further information please contact Metlink
Note: Most International students including postgraduate Ausaid students are not eligible for Transport Concession.
Low income Health Care Card Holders are entitled to a range of benefits including public transport concession. - a concession card must be applied for through Centrelink.
Students on low incomes who do not receive a government benefit such as Youth Allowance/Abstudy/Austudy may be eligible for a Low Income Health Care Card (HCC) through Centrelink.
What are the benefits of a Low Income Health care card?
Commonwealth Concessions, (available Australia wide) may include; Health concessions and Telephone allowance. Examples of these concessions are:
- Medical – The Australian government provides assistance to all members of the public including New Zealand citizens through Medicare. Medicare will provide rebates on basic hospital cover and medical costs. Free treatment is available in public hospitals to all permanent Australian residents.
- Doctor’s consultation-If a doctor “bulk bills”, a HCC holder will be entitled to free consultation. If a doctor does not bulk bill then the HCC holder will be entitled to a 100% rebate on the scheduled fee through Medicare. (Doctor’s may charge more than the recommended Government scheduled fee.)
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
The Australian Government provides affordable access to a wide range of medicines for all Australians. To find out the types of medicines which are covered you can have a look at the schedule for pharmaceutical benefits, a list of all medicines available under the PBS
www.pbs.gov.au (The Schedule is updated monthly to include new listings and the latest changes) - Telephone concessions with Telstra through pricing plans, Bill Assistance Program
State Concessions (available only in Victoria) may include Energy concessions, Ambulance Services, Private transport, Public Transport, Rates, water and property charges and Recreation concessions. Examples of these concessions are:
- Motor vehicle registration
- Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV)
- Optometry through the Victorian College of Optometry (discount glasses and free eye tests)
- Winter energy concession- gas and electricity (The bill must be in the HCC holders name)
- Concession on water bills (The bill must be in the HCC holders name)
- Public transport concession–includes V-line Particularly important for Postgraduate students
- Recreation- includes government and private institutions; gym memberships, movies, Zoo, Museums etc
- Ambulance Services – FREE ambulance transportation. Services in Victoria are not free unless you hold private cover or a current HCC.
- Local council concession on pet registration
Financial assistance and emergency relief, Health care assistance, Housing assistance, Welfare, consumer and Legal Rights information. For full details please visit the Department of Human Services.
Parking Concessions for Students with a Disability
The University of Melbourne Parkville may offer to waive the cost of on-campus parking permit for students who have a disability and are in financial need.
To apply for a fee-waiver parking permit please make an appointment with Student Financial Aid, a medical certificate relating to the disability will be required.
Students who are on a low income may be able to apply for a Bond Loan from the Office of Housing in order to pay the bond on a rental property.
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