Housing and financial support

Monash University is deeply committed to ensuring all students are supported during their studies. We have a range of services available if you're experiencing homelessness or financial difficulty.

Homelessness includes, but is not limited to, any situation where you're struggling to maintain stable housing, couch surfing, sleeping in your car, staying at friends’ houses, or sleeping rough.

Where to get help

Rental accommodation services

• Monash University Accommodation provides on-campus accommodation options and advice on renting off-campus. If you're looking to rent off-campus, we have helpful information and tips to ensure you're aware of important things like how to search for accommodation and associated costs.
• Vincentcare includes a variety of support services, including rental for Northern and Western Melbourne, and for those with a mental health diagnosis.

Emergency accommodation

There are a number of external services that can assist you in finding emergency accommodation.

• St Kilda Crisis Contact Services is a generalist service for assistance, vouchers, referrals, Centrelink and housing planning.
• Safe Steps provides emergency housing for women and children fleeing situations of domestic violence.
• Melbourne Youth Support Services is a statewide homelessness access point for housing.
• Front Yard Youth Services provides youth homelessness supplies and services in Melbourne’s CBD.
• Hope Street Youth Support Service provide assistance in accessing accommodation, employment and health for young people in the North and North-West Melbourne.
• Homeground Real Estate is a not-for-profit property management and real estate agency.

Financial services

Monash has a range of services available for students facing financial difficulties, including access to short and long-term loans and emergency grants.

Find out more on the financial assistance website.

Food services

On-campus

• Free BBQs occur on various days around campus. Check the Facebook group that posts about these events
• And there's a range of low cost food options on-campus.

Caulfield

• Free breakfast every Tuesday during semester, from 9.30am to 11am on the Caulfield Decking Area
• Free lunch every Wednesday during semester, from 12pm to 2pm on the Caulfield Decking Area
• Free groceries from MONSU.PANTRY, accessible online and in-person for eligible Caulfield students.

Clayton

• Free breakfast on Wednesdays, from 8.30am to 10am at Sir John’s Bar, Level 1, Campus Centre
• Free lunch MSA BBQ on Wednesdays, from 12pm to 2pm on the Lemon Scented Lawns
• Free dinner on Mondays, at 7.30pm in Wholefoods, Level 1, Campus Centre
• The MSA Survival Centre at Level 1, Campus Centre (opposite Wholefoods), is open to all students and contains donated packaged foods.

Graduate students

The MGA regularly hosts events with free food for graduate students. Use the filters on the what's on page to easily find options such as free lunches and groceries.

Off-campus

There are many organisations in the Melbourne CBD and surrounding suburbs that provide free food services.

For details see:

• City of Melbourne Helping Out Guide
• Community Food Guide.

Health services

Monash University provides a range of services on campus, providing medical, dental, counselling and other health services.

Visit the University's Health and wellbeing website for details and locations.

Struggling with your course?

If you're struggling, contact your lecturers and/or tutors to explain your current circumstances, so that they are aware of your situation and potentially take this into account.

Alternatively, you can contact your student association for advice and support about your rights and options:

• MSA (Clayton)
• MONSU (Caulfield)
• MONSU Peninsula
• MGA (graduate students on all Australian campuses).

Legal services

Need assistance with legal matters? Struggling to pay infringements or fines?

There are many services throughout Victoria which provide free legal advice to those who cannot afford legal services, including those who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

Visit our legal services page for help.

Family and domestic violence

Family or domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness amongst women and children within Australia.

The Family Violence Protection Act 2008, defines domestic violence as any behaviour intended to “control or dominate” a family member which causes them to fear for their safety, or for the safety of another family member. This can include physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial abuse between individuals. It also includes any behaviours, which would cause a child to hear, witness or otherwise be exposed to family violence.

Monash University takes domestic violence very seriously and offers a range of support services through the Safer Community Unit.

Show your support

If you’re someone who isn’t personally experiencing the effects of homelessness but still want to help those in need, there are plenty of ways to show your support both on and off campus!

Launch Housing

• This is an incredible organisation that provides support to many vulnerable women. If you’re interested in donating to them visit the website. All donations above $2 are tax deductible.
• Alternatively, you can also donate luggage carry bags to them directly, preferably with wheels for them to disperse.

Salvation Army

• You can support the Salvation Army and all the work they do supporting homeless Australians by donating to the Red Shield Appeal.

Community Health Services

• You can donate backpacks to CoHealth for them to distribute at any of their three locations in the City, Fitzroy or Footscray.
• Alternatively, if you come across someone experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, then direct them to this page so they can receive support.