Indigenous student services

Indigenous Student Advisers

To get in contact with an Indigenous Student Adviser, please email indigenousstudents@swinburne.edu.au or leave a voicemail on +61 3 9214 8481.  

Swinburne’s Indigenous Student Advisers can meet you on campus at Hawthorn, Wantirna or Croydon by appointment during office hours Monday to Friday. Please also feel free to email and schedule a call-back at a time that suits you. 

Academic skills 

The Indigenous Student Services team provides academic services for Indigenous students enrolled in higher education and vocational education.  

Indigenous students can apply to work with qualified tutors to assist with their studies as part of the Indigenous Academic Success Program. Eligible students receive two (2) hours’ tuition per unit of study per week. Additional tuition for exam preparation is also provided. The availability of tuition is based on funding and need. The program is provided free to eligible students.  

Students can also receive study and academic support by booking an appointment with a Swinburne LAS Advisor. LAS Advisors specialise in helping you to improve your study skills and get better marks on writing essays, reports and making presentations. LAS can also help you develop study and exam strategies and improve your maths and computer skills.

Indigenous Academic Success Program

All Indigenous students enrolled at Swinburne (including Swinburne Online) are encouraged to apply for the Indigenous Academic Success Program. Eligible students receive two (2) hours’ tuition per unit of study per week. Additional tuition for exam preparation is also provided.

Indigenous Student Lounge

The Hawthorn Campus also has an Indigenous Student Lounge located at TB 218. Please feel free to drop in and network with other Indigenous students in a quiet and culturally safe environment. For access to the Indigenous Student Lounge please email indigenousstudents@swinburne.edu.au and we will arrange swipe card access for you. 

Scholarships

A range of scholarships are available for eligible students studying at Swinburne. Some relate specifically to Indigenous people and others are open to all students. Swinburne and other organisations have established scholarships to encourage Indigenous people to engage in higher education and vocational education.

Indigenous student focused Scholarships

Swinburne Indigenous Bursaries

The Swinburne Indigenous Bursaries are sponsored by Position Promo, an independent, Aboriginal-owned and operated company. Established in 2020, the Swinburne Indigenous Bursaries support Swinburne Indigenous students to commence their education.

The one-off bursary payment allows Swinburne Indigenous students to purchase the support materials they require (such as textbooks, journals, laptops or computers, stationary or public transport passes) to ensure that they have everything they need to reach their full potential.

Indigenous Student Laptop Scholarship 

The Moondani Toombadool Centre will be supporting Indigenous undergraduate or postgraduate students with a Lenovo Notebook to assist with their course as they commence their first or second year at Swinburne. Successful students will be awarded a Lenovo Thinkpad L390.

Indigenous VET Transition Scholarship

The Moondani Toombadool Centre will be supporting an Indigenous student who has successfully completed a VET (Certificate I – IV, Diploma (including Unilink) and Advanced Diploma) course and is transitioning to a Higher Education course.

Indigenous Accommodation Scholarship

The Moondani Toombadool Centre will be supporting an Indigenous undergraduate or postgraduate student to assist with relocation costs or accommodation costs to begin their degree with Swinburne. Scholarships will be awarded in a one-off payment and recipient must not be in receipt of or eligible for an ICAS scholarship or Relocation scholarship.

VET Indigenous Relocation Scholarship 

The Moondani Toombadool Centre will be supporting a VET Indigenous student enrolled to commence a Diploma (including Unilink) or Advanced Diploma. This scholarship aims to assist with relocation and accommodation costs.

Swinburne also offers a wide range of university, government and privately funded scholarships for eligible commencing and current students.

Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships (ICECS & ICAS)

The Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (ICECS) aims to improve higher education access for Indigenous people, particularly those who need to relocate from regional and remote areas, through payments to assist with education costs.

Indigenous VET Digital Scholarship

The Indigenous VET Digital Scholarship provides a once off payment for Indigenous VET students who are experiencing financial hardship preventing them from having access to sufficient IT hardware e.g. laptop/desktop and/or contributes to connectivity costs in order to undertake the online requirements of course delivery.

Graduation for Indigenous students

Graduates who identify themselves as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander are eligible to have their graduation fee waived. The graduation fee covers:  

• Academic regalia hire for the ceremony
• Trencher (cap) and Indigenous stole to keep
• Two guest tickets
• Graduation ceremony program
• Refreshments post-ceremony for you and your guests
   

For more information, please feel free to contact the Indigenous Student Services team at indigenousstudents@swinburne.edu.au or +61 3 9214 8481.