The Shaping Futures Hardship Fund provides crucial assistance to students facing emergency situations such as a personal crisis, natural disasters including bushfires and floods or those impacted by COVID-19.

The Shaping Futures Hardship Fund provides support through $500 hardship grants, $750 laptop grants and $100 food vouchers.

If you are in a position to, please consider donating. Your generous donation will support our most vulnerable students. 100% of your tax deductible donation will go directly to students in need. Every donation helps!

Video: A message of thanks from our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky AO

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A message of thanks

The University is heartened by the response from staff, alumni and the community who came together to support students facing extreme hardship due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. So far over $155,000 has been collectively donated to support our students.


Here are just some of the heartfelt responses from students who benefited from your generosity.

"This grant is going to help in ways that many people couldn’t imagine. Being able to buy myself a laptop for study will make my situation so much easier and I can get back to focusing on my studies. During this time the financial stress and anxiety has meant that my study has been suffering. I’m excited about being able to have access to resources again, to give myself the best opportunity possible to pass my courses this year."

"I struggle to put into words how much this grant means to me during this time. The generosity truly means the world to me. Having this support has provided so much relief and will be truly cherished."

"There were genuine discussions I had about potentially taking a leave of absence from the university until the crisis is over because studying at home was becoming so difficult. However this grant means that I can stay enrolled and go on to complete the semester."

"Thank you so much for your generosity! Thank you for making a big difference!"