Asylum seeker and refugee support
At Swinburne, we value the diversity of our students. We offer many support services for students from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds.
We know that students seeking asylum in Australia can face many barriers in work and study. Swinburne welcomes students seeking asylum and the diverse experiences they bring.
If you are looking for work, housing, help with your studies, or you are thinking about starting at Swinburne, you can contact our Equity Transition officers for support.
Scholarships and grants
You may be eligible to apply for one of the scholarships listed on this website. You can also explore the range of grants available to support your studies.
Swinburne Welcome Scholarships are open to students who are seeking asylum and hold one of the following visa types:
Bridging Visa ‘E’ (BVE’s) (subclass V050)
Temporary Protection Visas (TPV) (subclass V785)
Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEV) (subclass V790)
Temporary Humanitarian Concern (V786)
These scholarships are available to students enrolled in undergraduate and UniLink Diploma programs, as well as some Vocational Education Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas.
Access Scholarships give Australians from equity backgrounds the chance to study at university.
Access Scholarships are open to new students who are experiencing financial hardship and have one of these listed experiences:
Live in a low SES region
Have moved from a rural or regional area in order to study
Are a Permanent Humanitarian Visa holder
Have a care experience from an Australian state care or foster care program
The Asylum Seeker Vocational Education and Training (ASVET) program supports people seeking asylum who have temporary residence in Australia.
The program allows eligible students to study even if they do not meet the usual citizenship or residency rules. This means students can enrol in a government-subsidised Skills-First training course.
Support services
Asylum seeker and refugee students are entitled to use Swinburne's full range of student support services. Here are a few highlights:
Community and connection
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Peer Mentoring services
If you're finding it hard to adjust to university life or looking for someone to help you learn the ropes, our friendly team of student mentors is here to help. Whether you're commencing a bachelor degree or returning to study as a postgrad, student mentors can advise you on all things Swinburne.
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Clubs and student organisations
Join a club or student organisation and meet like-minded people, explore new hobbies and get involved with the issues you care about. Find your people. -
Spiritual wellbeing
If you need a peaceful place for prayer, meditation or quiet contemplation, or wish to speak to a Chaplain for spiritual care, head to Swinburne’s Multi Faith Centre.
Health and medical support
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Health and wellbeing
We offer comprehensive professional health and medical services to support the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of the Swinburne community.
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Medical Centre
Book an appointment with a doctor, nurse or specialist and find out about costs.
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Health information and advice
Mental health, sexual health, nutrition. Frank info, no holds barred.
Study and academic support
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Student systems, hardware and software
Swinburne has a wide range of student systems, applications and software you can use to help with your studies, including the Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office 365.
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Student Success Coaches (Higher Education)
Student Success Coaches (Higher Education) work collaboratively with higher education students, supporting them to perform at their best and navigate university life and learning.
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Student Success Coach
The Student Success Coach program is available to vocational education students to help them overcome difficulties impacting their studies.
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How to improve your English
We offer a range of English courses to help get you up to speed on written and spoken English to ensure you make the most of your studies.
Looking for employment advice?
At Swinburne, we have a designated careers team who can help develop your career and have a student-only job board where you can access all the latest employment opportunities. Make sure you also review your rights on the Fair Work Commission website, which is available in 30 languages.
External support organisations
There are also organisations in Australia that support refugees and people seeking asylum. These organisations are not part of Swinburne, but they may be helpful.
Refugee Council of Australia
The Refugee Council of Australia has a directory of services for refugees. The council is the national organisation for refugees, people seeking asylum and the people who support them. The council is a nonprofit and independent of the government and has over 1,000 members.
Refugee Legal Network
The Refugee Legal Network provides legal assistance to refugees and asylum seekers.
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre offers support for people seeking asylum. It is an independent not-for-profit organisation. The centre helps people improve their physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Foundation House
Foundation House provides support for refugees who have experienced trauma. The organisation helps improve health and wellbeing and works to support human rights.
Travel discounts
Victoria’s public transport is discounted by 50 per cent to asylum seekers who hold a valid concession card.
Need further assistance?
If you have questions about our programs or support services, contact the Student Equity team at [email protected].