University can be challenging: but you’re not alone.
SAS is a free, independent hub of support for you
Equipped with services and resources to empower every student to feel and do their best – beyond just academics. From Welfare and Wellbeing Support to Legal, Visa and Job Preparation help, we’re here to ensure you thrive, not just survive University.
We can provide you with assistance on matters relating to the following services:
- Academic
- Welfare & Wellbeing
- Visa
- Job Preparation
- Legal
SAS is:
- Free of Charge
- Independent
- Judgement-free
- Confidential
SAS appointment types
Welfare & wellbeing
Having difficulties at home or university? SAS can help with matters regarding stress, emotional support, Centrelink, finances and other pressures that can impact on your life while you are studying.
Book an appointment to discuss in confidence:
- Strategies for coping with stress
- Centrelink information
- Creating social connections and navigating university life
- Life hacks & tips for self care
- Financial assistance
- Sexual assault
- General wellbeing
Academic support
Get your studies back on track. Navigating your studies and balancing your workload can be super tricky, but the SAS team is here to help. Book an appointment to discuss in confidence::
- Appeals
- Grievance/complaints resolution
- Student misconduct allegations
- Withdrawals & grade changes
- Re-marks & assessment issues
- Removal of course
- Progression intervention notices
Job prep
Do you need help scoring employment? Knowing where to look for casual & part time jobs and writing resumes & cover letters can be confusing, frustrating and time-consuming, especially when you also have study to worry about. For many students, finding employment while you study is a necessity, and SAS can help you learn the skills to find work. You can book an appointment to discuss:
- How to apply for part time jobs
- Resume & cover letter assistance
- Mock interview practice
Legal
If you’re feeling stressed, nervous or anxious about a legal matter or are concerned about something and not sure where to go, SAS can help, with our solicitor ready to assist you. You can book an appointment to discuss:
- Intellectual property issues
- Civil disputes
- Consumer complaints
- General legal advice/referrals
- Residential tenancy matters
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Family law matters
Visa
Studying overseas is a whole new landscape with another language, new environment, different education style and plenty of challenges! SAS provides currently enrolled UQ students with confidential advice and professional support regarding your education and visa enquiries, ranging from enrollment and Visa issues to Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and enrollment compliance notices. You can book an appointment for one of the following:
- UQ Enrolment related Visa issues
- Practical student Visa advice
- Student Visa emergency assistance
- Student Visa extensions
- Other UQ Student Visa matters
2024 Bursaries
Each year, UQU and SAS offer bursaries to students facing financial difficulty. The bursaries program is an initiative run to support you through the ups and downs of student life. Bursaries can be a great help for students who are suffering from financial hardship, are on placement for their studies, undergoing gender affirmation processes, or need help to pay for resources required for their degrees, including textbooks or lab coats, for example. It’s a fully confidential system and is non-invasive on students’ privacy.
The SAS team can answer your questions and help you with your application. Check back on this page and follow @uqunion on Instagram and Facebook to be the first to know which bursaries will be on offer this year!
Students can apply for an emergency financial support payment for the purposes of obtaining a once-off payment, which will assist in covering expenses that will help to alleviate financial pressures and impacts of welfare-related stresses, therefore facilitating students to better engage their studies.
It is envisaged that these bursaries would be a one-off payment used in such instances as:
- To cover all or a portion of large or unexpected expenses which students are unable to pay themselves, as it would lead to financial distress due to a lack of income.
- Covering all or a portion of usual expenses including but not limited to bills and rent that cannot be paid due to extenuating circumstances.
- To cover all or some of the costs of items which are necessary to completing studies that the student would otherwise be using their own money to buy.
- Any other reason deemed reasonable in helping a student to engage in or complete their studies.
SAS Emergency Financial Support Payment FAQs
What are the eligibility conditions?
To apply for a UQU Emergency Financial Support Payment you must:
- Be a current UQ student.
- Be experiencing extenuating circumstances that will impact your ability to have financial stability during your studies. This may include, but is not limited to, the following: reduced work hours, experiencing extenuating circumstances that are causing financial distress, and/or having dependents while living on a reduced income.
- Provide evidence to build a case to show that you will experience, are experiencing, or have experienced financial hardship this semester.
How long will applications for this payment be open?
Students can apply for the emergency financial support payment at any time of the year by booking a welfare appointment with a SAS advocate.
Receiving money
Students will be asked to provide their banks details to receive this once-off payment. Once a student has successfully been approved to receive a bursary, they will be informed of a timeframe in which they can expect the bursary to be administered.
What’s the application criteria used to assess applications?
The criteria used to assess the student’s level of need will be:
- The student’s current income (e.g. employment, Centrelink payments, scholarships, other income)
- The student’s current expenses (e.g. rent, bills, unexpected expenses etc.)
- The student’s personal circumstances (including but not limited to: whether the student’s ability to earn an income will be significantly impacted by engaging in their studies, the student has dependents, the student has large, unexpected expenses which will cause them financial distress, etc.)
The SAS welfare advocate that the student books an appointment with will assess the student’s level of need at the time of their appointment and will give the student an application form if they are deemed to be eligible. Once completed, the student’s application will be seen by a panel of SAS advocates where their circumstances will be taken into consideration to decide an appropriate amount of money to be given to the student for the bursary.
What evidence do I need to provide?
SAS advocates will discuss with students the appropriate evidence that may need to be provided. This may include:
- Any evidence which proves the student’s personal circumstances, e.g. invoices showing any unexpected or large expenses that may impact on a student’s financial situation during their studies.
- List of current living expenses.
Studying at university is a great experience, and having the opportunity to get hands-on learning while doing placement is the best way to develop practical skills that you can use in the workplace. But for some, doing placement can be a struggle as you may not be able to financially support yourself for daily necessities.
Student Advocacy and Support and the UQU Student Rights Collective have established the Placement Bursaries initiative to help students facing financial hardship from decreased work hours as a result of undertaking a compulsory placement.
Placement Bursary FAQs
What are the eligibility conditions?
To apply for a UQU Placement Bursary you must:
- Be a current enrolled UQ student (undergraduate or postgraduate).
- Be undertaking a placement.
- Be experiencing extenuating circumstances that will impact your ability to have financial stability during your placement. This may include, but is not limited to, the following: reduced work hours, having a disability that will make it difficult to work and engage in placement simultaneously, and/or having to relocate to complete the placement.
- Provide evidence to build a case to show that you will experience, are experiencing or have experienced financial hardship due to the placement.
- Must not have applied for a poverty on placement bursary within that same year. (Students may only apply for one poverty on placement bursary per year).
How long will applications for this bursary be open?
This bursary is currently closed. Keep an eye on this page and follow our socials to be the first to know when applications for Semester 2 open!
What’s the application criteria used to assess applications?
The criteria used to assess the student’s level of need will be:
- The student’s current income (e.g., employment, Centrelink payments, scholarships, other income)
- The student’s current expenses (e.g., rent, bills, unexpected expenses etc)
- The student’s personal circumstances (including but not limited to whether the student needs to relocate to do a rural placement, whether the student’s ability to earn an income will be significantly impacted by the placement, etc.)
What evidence do I need to provide?
Students will be required to provide evidence of their circumstances. These will include:
Compulsory evidence:
- Bank statements for the previous 3 months showing income and expenses
- Any evidence which proves their personal circumstances ( e.g. letters confirming placement)
- List of current living expenses
You can get financial aid for gender affirmation with the Gender Affirmation Bursaries!
The UQU Queer Collective established the Gender Affirmation Bursaries initiative to help UQ students facing financial hardship cover the expenses of gender affirming items, products, services, and care. This is a small one-off payment and requires a welfare appointment with a Student Advocacy and Support team member (this can be via Zoom or in person) to assess your suitability.
Examples for what this bursary could help with:
- Binders, gaffs, packers, and other gender affirming wear
- Hormones/HRT
- Clothing
- Medical appointments
- Voice training
- Legal name changes
- And anything relating to gender affirmation
Gender Affirmation Bursary FAQs
What are the eligibility conditions?
Unsure if you qualify? If you’re on Centrelink, you know you can’t afford to buy a new binder, you want to legally change your name but can’t due to the cost, or money continues to be a stressor for you, then you probably qualify! Book an appointment with SAS to discuss.
Please note, you must be a current UQ student to be eligible.
How long will applications for this bursary be open?
Students can apply for the Gender Affirmation Bursary at any time of the year by booking a welfare appointment with a SAS advocate. When booking an appointment, select ‘Financial’ or ‘Welfare’ for the appointment type.
What evidence do I need to provide?
Students may be required to provide evidence of their circumstances. This could include:
- Bank statements for the previous 3 months showing income and expenses
- Centrelink statements
- Any evidence which proves their personal circumstances
- List of current living expenses
Useful SAS info
We want to make sure SAS is accessible to all students who need our help. So please note:
Only currently enrolled UQ undergraduate and postgraduate students are eligible for this service.
Students may book only one SAS appointment per week (to ensure equitable access for all).
Appointments must be cancelled 24 hours prior to the appointment time. Repeat cancellations or no shows may mean you are ineligible for future assistance.
Currently, SAS does not have the capacity to provide counselling support. If you are looking for counselling services, you can call Student Services on 3365 1704. Additionally, your GP may be able to create a Mental Health Treatment Plan for you, or you can contact your local Headspace Centre.
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