1 in 3 uni students experience serious financial hardship. Could concession cards for all help?

GettyImages Carlos Barquero/Getty Images Last week, the peak body for Australian universities called on the federal government to introduce concession cards and further discounts to all domestic uni students.

Universities Australia says the measures would ease cost-of-living pressures for students.

Under the proposal, international uni students would also receive public transport concessions.

It comes after the peak body released data in June showing, since 2021, students’ basic living expenses jumped by 29%.

Universities Australia said this figure was “well above economy-wide inflation” of 24%.

How do concession cards work again? Concession card holders in Australia need to meet certain eligibility requirements in order to receive them.

These requirements might be based on low-income status, disability and age (for pensioners).

There are also various concessions for veterans offering different benefits.

Concession card holders receive discounts, subsidised by government, for everyday necessities such as medicines, public transport and utility bills and, in some cases, for car registration.

Some domestic uni students qualify for concession benefits through Health Care cards, Austudy, ABSTUDY or Youth Allowance.

However, enrolling in university alone does not mean a student qualifies for these discounts.

For uni students, eligibility for public transport discounts also differs between states.

The reality for students Many uni students have to juggle the costs of tuition, housing, transport and groceries usually while working casually or in a part-time role.

Research published in May found one in three surveyed Australian uni students experience serious financial hardship.