Resources for graduate students

- COVID-19 is a rapidly changing situation. Please ensure you are up to date with the latest advice from the links below.
Support for graduate students during COVID-19
What will happen with my course?
Contact Stop 1 for information on your course.
Ensure that you are in contact with your relevant coordinators and supervisors for updated information on how your course will be affected. There is also the Student services directory for a range of topics.
How is GSA representing me to the University during COVID-19?
- Read about GSA’s ongoing advocacy actions here: COVID-19 advocacy summary
- If you have advocacy-related feedback for us, fill out our feedback form here: Tell us how COVID-19 is affecting you
- If you have concerns that you would like your grad representatives to voice and discuss at University Committee meetings, please get in touch with our Representation Team at representation@gsa.unimelb.edu.au.
If you have been affected by sudden job loss, or unexpected costs due to COVID-19.
- University of Melbourne Financial Aid can offer a range of support for grad students in the forms of COVID-19 Student Support Grants and a COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund (applications open Monday 6 April).
- GSA has also collaborated with Campus Community to support graduate students in need by providing vouchers for groceries. These vouchers are distributed according to the assessments of Student Connect consultations.
- The Careers and Employability Service helps students to develop skills and experience while they study. The job notice board provides information exclusive to current UoM students.
- Centrelink has information and services to help you if you’re affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) or are looking for more details.
- The National Debt Hotline offer free, confidential financial counselling including advice for if you are having trouble paying energy, internet and phone bills, rent, and house or car loans. They can be contacted on 1800 007 007.
- If you require Urgent Money Assistance a number of charity and community organisations have relief services to help with food vouchers and parcels, transport vouchers, chemist vouchers, part-payment of utility bills and more. There is a full list of emergency relief services on the Department of Social Services Grants service Directory.
- The Victorian Government is offering a range of job opportunities for those who have lost work due to COVID-19.
- Relief grants for paying overdue energy or water bills are available to low-income Victorians experiencing unexpected hardship.
I am an international student. What support is available for me?
International students are eligible for the support outlined on the University’s Coronavirus (COVID-19): student advice and support pages.
The Victorian Government has announced an International Student Emergency Relief Fund for students facing financial hardship due to coronavirus. International students will be able to apply for a one-off relief payment of up to $1,100. You can register your interest here, and be notified as soon as applications are open for this fund. This relief payment is independent to the Victorian Government’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) rent relief grant, which international students are eligible to apply for if they are experiencing rental hardship.
International students who can legally work in Victoria are eligible to apply for the Working for Victoria program.
Study Melbourne has put together a number of resources and information packs including frequently asked questions, information on health, education, wellbeing and mental health, housing and accommodation, employment and finances, and travel, visa and consular assistance.
Where can I get housing advice during this time?
- UMSU Legal can be reached via their online contact form
- UMSU Advocacy can be reached through their online contact form
- University Housing offers information on university housing and assistance with private rentals.
- Tenants Victoria: email advice will be answered Monday–Friday.
- City Of Melbourne Housing Call 1800 825 955 to speak with a housing and support worker.
- Crisis Support Short term housing managed by non-for-profit organisations.
How can I look after my mental and emotional health?
The University’s Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has a range of resources on managing mental health and wellbeing as well as ways to cope with the added stress of COVID-19 and referrals to further support. You can book an appointment online or call +61 3 8344 6927.
Other resources that are available include (but are not limited to):
- Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Headspace
- Family Drug Support Australia 1300 368 186 (for information and support)
- Gambling Help Online 1800 858 858 (for information and support)
- Switchboard Support for LGBTIAQ+ friends, families and allies. Online chat and phone support 1800 184 527 3pm to midnight every day.
- Counselling Online free online counselling service for those affected by drugs and alcohol
- Grow – Grow runs small, structured support groups on a self-help model for people seeking to improve their mental health and resilience. All groups are held via Zoom and are moderated by Grow. These support groups are free and are intended to complement other mental health interventions.
I have a family of my own. What support is available?
There is a range of information on the Australian Government Services Australia page regarding family payments and child support if you are affected by COVID-19.
The Red Cross released a tip sheet to help families during isolation. If you have further ideas, GSA would love to hear them and share them with our community.
Red Cross also provides advice when talking to children and young people about COVID-19.
What if I am in danger while at home?
Avoiding public spaces and working remotely can help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but for many survivors, staying home may not be the safest option. There are several services available.
- National domestic violence Hotline: 1800 799 7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522 or chat online 24/7
- 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
- Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277
- MensLine Australia: Phone or online counselling for those having relationship or family problems
Are GSA elections affected by COVID-19 restrictions?
GSA elections are conducted online, so people can nominate and vote in complete safety. In other years we’ve held in-person information sessions for potential candidates, as well as events for students to meet candidates. Under the circumstances, such interactions will also be moved online. Consequently, there is no danger of the elections increasing the spread of COVID-19.
What is GSA doing to help with student isolation and community?
Check out our Facebook Group, ‘Connection in Isolation @GSA‘, where you can stay in touch with the rest of the graduate student community. Share your own experiences and questions!
- Check out our blog – we’ve got audio interviews on student issues and recaps on events, news and representation.
- Browe all our upcoming events – they’ve all gone online! There’s trivia, speed friending, parenting chats, Q&As and more.
- Check out A Grad Group Guide to Keeping Active During COVID-19
I’ve still got questions that you haven’t answered!
- Call our freecall hotline: 1800 GSA HELP (1800 472435).
This hotline is open 9am–5pm, Monday–Friday. Feel free to call us if you need advice on any graduate student concerns, whether related to COVID-19 or not. - We’d also like to hear your experiences. Visit our feedback form here to tell us how COVID-19 is affecting you.
Student resources by topic
Academic support resources
- Stop 1 advice
- Academic Skills – Phone: 136 352 or email academic-skills@unimelb.edu.au
- GSA’s Study and Work resources
Career Support
Cyber security
- Cyber security @ Melbourne
- Report phishing, spam and other suspicious activities – email: spam-report@unimelb.edu.au
- The University of Melbourne Academic Skills – Time Management resources
- Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)
- Scam Watch
- Stay Smart Online
- Scam information
- Check to see if your email address has been compromised
- What is Cyber Security?
- Sans Security Awareness Blog
- Webwise
Family Violence resources
- National domestic violence Hotline: 1800 799 7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522 or chat online 24/7
- 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
- Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277
- Relationships Australia Victoria
- MensLine Australia: Phone or online counselling for those having relationship or family problems
- No to Violence – Men’s Referral Service
- Safe Steps
- Women’s Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE)
- CASA – Victorian Centres against Sexual Assault
- In Touch – Multicultural Centre against Family Violence
Financial Hardship
- UoM Covid-19 Financial Support – 136 352
- National Debt Hotline – 1800 007 007
- Centrelink – Phone contact
- Explainer: Centrelink support for Australian PhD students
- International Student Emergency Relief Fund
- Stop 1 financial aid
- Scam information
- Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) loans and credit cards information
- Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) Hardship Thresholds – Hardship Variation information
- Moneysmart – Managing Debt
- Department of Health and Human Services Utility Relief Grants – 1800 658 521
- UMSU Financial Counselling – Phone: 03 8344 6966 or email vanessa.stanton@union.unimelb.edu.au
- Read GSA’s Top 9 tips for buying on a budget
Government Agencies
Health and Wellbeing Resources
- Free mental health resources for students
- Health services in Australia
- University of Melbourne Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
- Beyond Blue – multilingual resources available
- University of Melbourne Health Service
- Health Direct – multilingual health resources
- Co-Health Collingwood – interpreter service available. Women’s service available
- Lifeline
- Community Health Directory (from health.vic.gov.au)
- CAPS Webinars
- CAPS appointments – Phone: 03 8344 6927
International students
- Australian Government Immigration and Citizenship: Getting a Visa
- Migration referral information
- Resource pack for downloading/printing
- Stop 1 – University of Melbourne
- Ask Izzy – Food relief organisations database
- Justice and safer community family violence information
- Safe Steps – family violence response centre
- Relationships Victoria
- In Touch Multicultural Centre against Family Violence
- Victoria Legal Aid
- Consumer Affairs – Information on what to do if affected by the travel ban
- City of Melbourne
- International Student Emergency Relief Fund
Housing
- Tenants Victoria – multilingual information available
- UMSU legal
- Housing Victoria – multilingual information available
Health Insurance
Please refer to your individual policy about coverage.
Parenting
- Parents Victoria
- Parents Australia
- Department of Education and Training – For Parents and Carers
- Victorian State Government – website to find government schools local to you
- Australian Schools directory
- Setting Parental controls on Apps
- Youtube Kids
- eSafety parents
- Australian Institute of Family Studies – Online safety
- The Raising Children Network – Information on online safety based on age
Respectful behaviour
- Campus Security – Phone: 03 8344 6666 or 1800 246 066
- The University of Melbourne – Respect Taskforce
- The University of Melbourne – Respect at the University
- The University of Melbourne Safer Community Program – Phone 9035 8675 or email safer-community@unimelb.edu.au
- Universities Australia Respect.Now.Always
- Worksafe Victoria – 1800 136 089 / 9641 1444 or email info@worksafe.vic.gov.au
Graduate researchers
- University of Melbourne FAQs for graduate researchers
- University of Melbourne Research Gateway – Helpline: 03 8344 0999
- Graduate Research Hub
- Graduate Researcher Network Facebook Group
- Academic Skills – Make an Appointment
- Faculty Research Contacts
- University wide research contacts
- Special consideration
- Scholarships at the University of Melbourne
Parenting – Creating a routine for children
- Raising Children Network – Routines
- Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services – Importance of Routines
- Petite Journey: Importance of daily routines
- Printable daily schedule
- Raising Children Network – Newborns: Sleep
- Raising Children Network – Babies: sleep
- Parenting Science – Baby sleep tips
- Raising Children Network – Toddlers: sleep
- Raising Children Network – Preschoolers: sleep
- Raising Children Network – School age: sleep
- Sleep Hub – Sleep resources
- Health Direct – Personal Hygiene for Children
- Better Health Channel
- Lael Stone – Parenting resource
Time management resources
- Health Direct – Goal setting
- Reach Out – Goal setting
- The University of Melbourne Academic Skills – Time Management resources
- Skills you need – Time Management Skills
- Time management matrix
- Informa Australia – 6 steps to prioritise tasks efficiently
- Australian Institute of Business: How to combat study procrastination
- LinkedIn – a range of documents and training available
- Life Hack – 10 Practical Ways to Improve Time Management Skills
Student Support – Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS)
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
- Responses to Covid-19
- Melbourne Medical School clinical schools
- Melbourne Medical School support
- Dedicated Medical School Health and Wellbeing Service
- Medical School Clinical Placements Update
- Dental School Clinical Placements Update
- School of Health Sciences Clinical Placements Update
- School of Psychological Sciences Clinical Placements Update
- Alternative exam arrangements
- Assessment options for semester 1
- University of Melbourne exam information
- University of Melbourne manage your course exam information
Library
- Library website (currently open Virtually) – email: library-feedback@unimelb.edu.au
- Interlibrary loans – email: ill-library@unimelb.edu.au
- Library Guides
- Researcher @ Library