Financial and Welfare Support guide

You can book an appointment with one of our Guild Advisory Officers face to face at Mt Lawley or Joondalup campuses, or via telephone to discuss your current situation, we can then see how we may be able to support you.

In the meantime, we have put together some information and useful links for students below.

Please note: During busy periods, wait times for appointments maybe be up to two weeks.
Walk-in’s will not be accepted at any time – the Guild Advisory Services are available via appointment only.

Whilst appointments are booked in blocks of 1 hour, appointment times are for 45 minutes.

Government Websites

Where possible we have linked to Government websites as this will be the most accurate and up to date. We suggest that you check these sites regularly.
Click Here to see the latest information from the Australian Government. This will give you great insight into what is available, breaking down and listing it directly.

Centrelink

Centrelink also administers one off Crisis Payments to students who are eligible and experiencing severe hardship. More information about Crisis Payments can be found here

Rent

We recommend students approach their Landlords if experiencing Financial Hardship. Speak to your Landlord about your financial situation and continue to pay as much as you can.

Tenancy WA has fact sheets and an advice line.

What are the current options when tenants are having trouble paying rent?

Due to loss of employment, some tenants may experience difficulties making their rent payments.
More information about ending a tenancy may be found at:
Lessor ending a tenancy
Tenant ending a tenancy

The most important thing during tough times is to keep talking to people to find solutions.

Food and community support

Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS) is administered by the Western Australian Government Department of Communities to assist people experiencing financial hardship to pay their utility bills. To access HUGS, students should contact their utility provider directly to request an assessment. Pending an assessment, students might receive financial assistance or establish an affordable repayment plan.

Students facing financial hardship can make an appointment with a Guild Advisory Officer to go through all support available.

Vinnies – Food or a voucher. Tel: 1300 794 054 Are you experiencing significant difficulties in meeting living expenses such as paying bills and having sufficient food and/or feeling socially isolated?
Support might involve having a friendly chat or it might include providing information, advocacy, food or food vouchers, clothing, furniture, budget support, assistance with utility bills or back to school costs.
If you require assistance in the Perth Metropolitan area please call our Call Centre on 1300 794 054 weekdays 9:00am to 1:00pm.

Salvation Army provide food, support with utility bills and other expenses if funds are available. They also provide financial counselling for individuals who are experiencing debt or are in financial distress. This support is only available for people on Centrelink (Austudy etc) and they must show a Centrelink Income Statement. Tel: 9279 4500

Margaret Court Community Outreach (MCCO) is one of the largest, self-funded welfare organisations in Perth. Their three MCCO centres exist to serve and support families and individuals who are facing food insecurity. Their support is available to anyone in need of practical assistance.

Entrypoint Perth is a free and voluntary assessment and referral service assisting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Western Australia to access accommodation and support options.

WA Connect is WA’s online hub for Emergency Relief and other financial support service. Students can use the site to search for services in their local area that can assist with food, rent, bills and Centrelink related issues.

MercyCare interest free loans MercyCare provides affordable and manageable interest free loans.
You can borrow between $100 – $1500 and negotiate your repayment term of anywhere between 6 and 18 months. Call us on 1800 268 472 for more information.

Anglicare WA and WA NILS administer the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS), which provides loans of up to $1,500 to assist with purchasing whitegoods, home utilities, equipment to assist with mobility, car repairs, some medical expenses as well as school related costs for students with children. More detail can be found online or by calling 9263 2199

Local Councils are a great resources and some provide local financial support services as well. Which council are you in? Find out here and get in touch to see what support they can provide you.

Wellbeing

If you need mental well-being support please access support through: ECU Counselling Services can be contacted at (61 8) 9370 6706 or booked online here.

ECU’s counselling services are free, confidential and available to all enrolled students.

ECU also has a Crisis Line for out of hours’ emergencies around health and wellbeing. The line can be contacted between 5pm-9am weekdays, or 24 hours on weekends. Call 1300 583 032 or via SMS at 0488 884 232

The Living Room is all about supporting your wellbeing and mental health while you study with us at ECU. The Living Room is a space where you drop in to have a relaxed chat with a trained peer who understands the journey you are going on as a student. Opening hours will be 9.00am – 3.00pm. Location: Joondalup Campus JO 6.201

CoMHWA’s Peer Pathways project is a free, WA-wide navigation service that assists people with mental health challenges find the supports needed to promote mental and physical wellbeing. Our Peer Navigators will assist you, your family and your carers to find services that suit you. Call 9477 2809 The Peer Pathways helpline is NOT a crisis line. If you are currently experiencing distress please call Lifeline on 13 11 14

Lifeline is Australia’s national crisis support and suicide prevention service. Lifeline staff can be contacted 24/7 at 13 11 14 and self-help tools can be found online at lifeline.org.au. Crisis Support chat groups are also run online at specific times – see the website for further details.

Beyond Blue is a 24 hour, 7 days per week free telephone support service for students who are stressed and need someone to speak with in confidence about their wellbeing. Web chat services are also available between certain hours or call 1300 224 636

Kids Helpline is also like Beyond Blue but specifically for young people aged 5 to 25. Go online or call 1800 551 800

Headspace provides tailored, holistic support to students aged 25 and under who need help with mental health, physical health, alcohol and other drugs or work and study support. Offices are located in Joondalup, Osborne Park, Midland, Fremantle, Armadale and Rockingham. Many resources are online and appointments can be made with a local centre through the website.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) is a 24 hour, 7 days per week free telephone support service for people who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, sexual assault, family or domestic violence. Students can also web chat with a trained professional. 1800 RESPECT can be contacted online or by calling 1800 737 732

Legal Aid WA provides free or low-cost (depending on your situation) legal services. Legal Aid’s Infoline can be contacted from 9am-4pm Weekdays on 1300 650 579

Specific Support for International Students

Visas and Immigration

Medibank student health and support line for International Students 24/7 line, providing support for international students in a variety of areas including; health, trauma and stress counselling, legal advice, travel document/visa issues, and general support for adjusting to living in Australia. Medibank OSHC members can call 1800 887 283

Red Cross Assistance Emergency Relief 1800 733 276
The Red Cross has been funded by the Department of Social Services to provide emergency relief payments to people on temporary visas made vulnerable by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information click here.

Homeward’s Assisted Returns Program provides students with assistance to return home voluntarily, including assistance with travel forms, organising travel arrangements, and financial assistance with travel related expenses. Students who are interested can contact Homeward online or on 1300 094 663

Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS) provides free interpreting services to people with limited English language proficient. TIS services can be used for Medical appointments, casework and emergency services, real estate agencies, local government authorities and trade unions. Contact TIS on 131 450 or online.

The Multicultural Services Centre have an informative webpage on the support available for international students and temporary visa holders.

For more information contact:

ECU Guild on 08 6304 2640 or check out our website for updates, FAQs and support services.