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Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 44 No. 3. March 16 1981
[Introduction]
The chances are that most people who read this will have already applied for a Supplementary Hardship Grant (SHG), or will be applying in the next few weeks. Last year approximately one third of students receiving the Tertiary Study Grant also received an additional hardship grant This corresponds roughly with the numbers who were on the old unabated bursary' (at Victoria some 1200 students) although they are not necessarily the same people. This means that quite a size-able chunk of the student population can't survive on $23 a week, and if you aren't one of them you've either sold your soul to the trading banks or jeopardised your studies to take on a part time job.
Apart from your common or garden fresh from school full time student, there are increasing numbers of mature students applying for hardship grants, many of whom do not receive the TSG. Some of these receive better treatment than others. Solo parents with dependent children who are on the DPB have been receiving on average $16 to $25 hardship grant this year (although they don't get the TSG). However, the increasing number of mature students returning to full time study after several years in the work force are not exactly receiving red carpet treatment. It is the Education Dept's opinion that these students are expected to have saved enough from their brief working life to support themselves through any course of study they may wish to undertake.