Our friends from Lyre’s Spirit Co are coming along during O-Week to teach you how to make vegan, low calorie, alcohol free versions of your favourite cocktails! They’re also giving you the chance to WIN one of their cocktail sets!
For your chance to win, tune in to their tutorials on Thursday July 30th, and then fill in the form on this page.
Studying is hard enough without the added stress of a global pandemic, a looming recession, racial discrimination and- okay this isn’t helping. Basically, we want to know YOUR BEST study tips so we can share them with current and incoming students during Semester 2, O-Week. Anything that can make the studying process easier or more effective we’ll count as a tip (as long as it’s ethical).
Be as broad or specific as you would like, but try to keep it under 200 characters / 40 words. Our top 3 favourites will all receive a $20 Wish Gift Card, and the others will be shared in a list of study tips during O-Week.
Please note that this information about Home Internet and Data Support is correct as at 3 April 2020. Please check each carrier’s website for further and up-to-date information, including any changes made to their policies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Until 30 April 2020, Telstra are providing unlimited data for all personal and small business customers with home broadband plans (ADSL, NBN and Cable). Data will be automatically provided to you, at no extra charge. No action is required.
Customers can register for 25GB of extra data to use in Australia within 30 days if they register via the Telstra 24×7 or My Telstra apps.
Customers with an active recharge of $40 or more can register for 10GB of extra data to use in Australia via the Telstra 24×7 or My Telstra apps.
More information is available at www.telstra.com.au/covid19/supporting-you-during-covid19
For the months of April and May, Optus are providing Home Broadband Customers with an unlimited data allowance (not available for 4G or 5G Broadband services). Data will be automatically provided to you, at no extra charge. No action is required.
Post-Paid mobile customers are eligible for a one-off add on of 20GB bonus data per service which can be activated through the My Optus app. The data is valid for 30 days from activation.
Prepaid mobile customers will receive a bonus 10GB additional data when they recharge $40 or more during the month of April 2020.
Late payment fees, disconnections, and credit collection activities will be waived until April 30th.
At the time of writing this letter, Optus have announced that they will be waiving their Post-Paid Mobile Access fees for Registered Healthcare workers for three months. They will release more information about specific eligibility criteria, and the application process, shortly.
More information is available atcwww.optus.com.au/about/media-centre/coronavirus-support
Vodafone is providing a one-off 10GB bonus data allowance for prepaid mobile customers. The offer will be sent to these customers via an opt-in SMS from 31/03/20, with customers required to opt-in by texting the word ‘BOOST’ to 1263. Data will be applied within 72 hours. Data for use in Australia only and expires 30 days from receiving. You must redeem by 30/04/20. Customers who recharge their prepaid service before 30/4/2020 will also receive a bonus 3GB data.
Post-Paid mobile customers will receive an additional 5GB of data. That data will be added to all plans by 27/03/20, and can be used over the next month. Customers won’t need to do anything to activate this bonus data.
Have unlimited standard national calls until the end of April.
To ensure unrestricted access to essential health information, accessing Federal Government Department of Health and State and Territory Health Department websites won’t contribute to the data usage of customers on the Vodafone network. Vodafone is not charging any late payment fees, suspending services or chasing debt collection for overdue accounts. This will continue from 26 March until at least 30 April 2020.
At the time of writing this letter, Vodafone have announced that they will be waiving their Monthly Access fees for Registered Healthcare workers for two months. Pre-Paid customers will receive two times the value of their current Pre- Paid recharge. Vodafone will release more information about specific eligibility criteria, and the application process, shortly.
All plans will be automatically upgraded to include unlimited data between the hours of 6am and 6pm. NBN 12 Customers will be upgraded to NBN 25 Speeds at no extra cost.
All broadband plans will be upgraded to include unlimited data until 30 April 2020.
Until 15 April 2020:
$10 plans will receive 10GB bonus data. $20 plans will receive 20GB bonus data. $30 plans will receive 20GB bonus data. $40 plans will receive unlimited data. All plans will be updated to unlimited talk and text.
All existing customers will automatically receive unlimited data until 31 May 2020.
Existing Foxtel and Foxtel Now subscribers will have access to TV channels and on demand libraries across Drama, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Documentary, and Kids categories until May 31st Sports subscribers will have access to all ten movie channels until June 30th.
At the time of writing this letter, Virgin Mobile, TPG, Dodo, iPrimus and iiNet did not appear to have a COVID-19 arrangement or offering of additional data.
Swinburne Student Union is aware that the outbreak of the coronavirus COVID-19 has impacted students in varying ways. It is understandable that during times like this, people may be feeling worried, anxious and/or overwhelmed by the constantly changing environment that has been brought about due to the spread of the virus. It is clear from our Student Impact Survey that students are concerned about their mental health and the flow on effects that this may have on study, grades and relationships.
Feeling stressed due to financial hardship? Worried about your on-campus living situation in light of the current Government advice around social distancing? Feeling anxious about being away from family during this time?
Any student who breaks their lease during this time will not be penalised. Contact residences@swin.edu.au to discuss your options surrounding on-campus accommodation.
Swinburne has made the decision that students who fail this semester will not have their fail grades recorded on their academic transcript and any fail grades this semester will not have an impact on your grade point average (GPA).
Please note: you will need to repeat the unit that was failed if it is a core or pre-requisite unit, and you will be charged fees for the unit. More info around enrolment can be found here.
On top of the Australian Government’s Coronavirus Supplement payment, Swinburne has established their own Student Emergency Fund for students who have been impacted by an emergency, including COVID-19. Eligible students will be able to access a one-off grant of up to $1,000. You can submit your application online. Please note that if you are currently receiving ABSTUDY, Austudy or Youth Allowance you will not be eligible.
The SSU are acutely aware of how important it is for students to not only be able to manage their mental health, but to also be supported professionally and personally throughout their education. We have put together a list of resources that are currently available in Australia and we encourage anyone experiencing any distress, anxiety, depression or other changes to their mental health to seek out support.
If you are unsure about how to define the term mental health, or think you may be experiencing changes in your own mental health, then check out Headspace. They have a whole section dedicated to explaining the different ways in which young people may be affected by mental health, explanations of various disorders, and helpful tools for coping.
Lifeline have put together a great list of mental health and wellbeing tips to help you look after yourself and others during these difficult times. Some of our favourite tips include:
Show compassion and kindness to one another
Connect with family and friends
Create a daily routine that includes things you enjoy, and projects that you have been putting off
Limit your news and media exposure
For a full list of handy wellbeing tips, check out their page.
Beyond Blue is currently building a dedicated COVID-19 Mental Health Support Service. This service will offer free counselling by mental health professionals for all people in Australia 24/7, both online and over the phone. Keep an eye out for this service via their website.
If you’re having concerns over something unrelated to COVID-19, you can also check out this comprehensive list of available support services, with listings for support including mental health, multicultural communities, sexual assault, domestic/family violence and more.
The Victorian Government Health Information site also allows you to search for mental health services located near you, including maps and descriptions of services.
Swinburne University also offers student support through Wellbeing at Swinburne, as well as the Out of Hours Crisis Line – which is available from 4pm – 10am weekdays and 24hours on weekends and public holidays. Call 1300 854 144 or text 0488 884 145 to access this service. For International Students, Swinburne’s International Student Advisers can be reached via email or phone including 24-hour urgent assistance.
To find out answers to other Frequently Asked Questions or to ask your own, visit our COVID-19 FAQ page
Saving money as a university student doesn’t have to be all about making your own lunch or buying cheaper textbooks. There are actually heaps of fun ways to save money that can also help you become more involved in your university culture!
There are loads of discounts available for students, from discount card companies to independent student discounts, you just need to spend a bit of time searching to take advantage. Check out UniDays, Student Edge and Student Beans to access a directory of student discounts for fashion, travel, technology and health brands. For more local discounts, have a look at your university clubs or check out our discounts and deals page!
If you check out the upcoming events of your university, student clubs and student union, you’ll find there are free food days almost every week of semester. The SSU runs welfare services like free breakfasts and BBQs which you can rock up for every week. It’s also worth making a note of any on campus events during the semester even if they seemingly have nothing to do with food (eg. O-Week, RU OK? Day, Wellness Week) as more often than not you will find a free lunch provided. Don’t forget to participate in student club nights either! It’s not unusual to find free pizza or discounted drinks provided at parties of club events.
If you’ve got time between classes that you aren’t using to study, consider volunteering with one of Swinburne’s volunteering group. Food and other benefits are often provided on the day of volunteering, you can even rack up points which they can use on rewards like free merchandise and free training programs (like barista and RSA training), not to mention it’s a great way to meet new people and make friends!
There are countless businesses that offer freebies and discount on your birthday if you sign up to their members club. There are too many to list here, but some of our favourites are: Free Muffin from Muffin Break, Free Spud or Salad from Spud Bar, Free ice-cream from Baskin Robbins and two free games of bowling at AMF!
Tip: Make a separate email account to sign up for these membership clubs so your student email doesn’t get clogged up with advertising.
Alcohol in Australia is seriously expensive, but if parties are on your university bucket list don’t fret. Most bars and clubs are well aware university students tend to be pretty cash poor, so they offer discounted drinks and entries to parties, events and pub crawls organised by university clubs or associations. Keep an eye out around campus for event posters and check your student email for invites.
Exams are just around the corner, if you’re looking for tools than can help you remain focused, motivate yourself to achieve your study goals and wake up early on the day of your exams, check out our list below!
If you find yourself constantly checking your phone when you should be studying then we’ve got the app for you. Forest is a simple app available on IOS and Android which uses visual stimulation to encourage you to stay focused.
Whenever you want to focus, plant a virtual tree in the game and set the time it will take for the tree to grow (between 10 minutes and 2 hours). If you leave the app within the time set, your cute little virtual tree will die. If you succeed you’ll be able to build a forest that visually represents your focused time.
Overtime your virtual forest can even help you plant a real tree! Once you gain 2,500 coins in the app Forest donates real money to Trees for the Future, a charity focused on planting fast growing tress in Africa to replace the trees lost by food systems.
If you’re a fan of RPGs or just a bit bored of the regular to-do lists, check out Habitica. With both app and web functionality Habitica encourages you to build good habits and increase your productivity. The initial set up can take a bit of time, but it’s also a good way to ‘brain dump’ all the tasks you need to get done before your exams.
After you’ve completed one of your habits, daily goals or to-do list items, check them off to level up your avatar and unlock in-game features such as magic skills, quests and pets!
If your biggest fear is missing your exam from hitting ‘snooze’ too many times, check out Walk Me Up App. Walk Me Up is an alarm clock that won’t stop ringing until you have completed a certain number of steps. Don’t even think about trying to trick it by shaking your phone, it’ll know and punish you for cheating!
