As we enter into 2025, the University of Melbourne Student Union will continue to advocate and fight for students on the issues related to the ongoing cost of living crisis being felt all across Australia.

The problem of rising prices in Australia

Whilst the issues of inflation are tied to macroeconomic changes in the Australian economy, the issue of how it impacts students at the University of Melbourne can be linked to the Howard Government’s removal of Universal Student Unionism in 2006:

“Since the Howard Government’s removal of Universal Student Unionism

In 2006, student unions have found themselves in a precarious position.

The effect of this was to deprive student unions of their independent streams

of income and thus render student representatives dependent upon the higher

education providers (HEPs) that collect the Student Service and Amenities

Fee (SSAF) and distribute a portion of this revenue to student unions. This is a

major problem, as HEPS have conflicting interests and may use the funds for

competing services, while the disbursement of SSAF funds is contingent on

student unions meeting conditions set by HEPs. This policy change introduced

inherent encumbrances for proper student representation.

The impacts of these changes continue to be felt on campuses around

the country. Student unions no longer have a seat at the table for larger

discussions about campus development and as a result, we now have many

campuses that prioritise commercial success over the wellbeing and health

of students.”^[1]

In 2024, in my role as Welfare Office Bearer alongside Divyanshi Sati,^[2] we developed A Campus in Crisis, a report into how students were suffering from the cost of living crisis at the University of Melbourne. Some of the key findings include:^[3]

• Over 88% of students responded that they earn an income equal to or below the poverty line
• Nearly 65% of students agree or strongly agree that they feel anxious about their student debt and its repayment.
• More than 48% of students either agreed or strongly agreed that they often have to deal with hunger in class because they cannot afford a meal on campus.
•  When asked if they agreed with the statement that they were scared about finding a job and the future after university, 54% of students strongly agreed and 25% of students agreed.
• When asked if they agreed with the statement that the current cost of living crisis was having a negative impact on their mental health, 76% agreed or strongly agreed.
• Over 66% of students agree or strongly agree that the cost of living crisis is having a negative impact on their physical health.
•  Just under 80% of students are experiencing ‘housing stress’, given they spend above 30% of their income on rent. 23% of these students indicated that they spend more than 80% of their weekly income on rent
• Just under 30% of students either agree or strongly agree that they have considered dropping out of university due to the cost of living crisis
• Over 90% of female identifying students reported an income below the poverty line compared to just over 80% of male identifying students.
• Nearly 95% of students that have accessed Union Mart in 2024 were international students
• Nearly 32% of international students report that they always avoid medical appointments and prescriptions due to the cost compared to the nearly 23% of domestic students.

How the University of Melbourne Student Union is supporting students

We recognise that students are suffering. Each UMSU representative is a student, just like you. We are faced with rising rent prices, rising grocery bills, more expensive meals, more expensive textbooks, and a myriad of other issues that make it hard, if not impossible, for a student to engage with their university experience.

In response to this, I have highlighted some of the key things UMSU is working on to support students in 2025:

1. The new University Canteen at Parkville and Southbank

Over 2024 and into 2025, I, alongside the UMSUi President, Welfare Officers have been placed upon an advisory group related to the new student canteen to be opened at Parkville and Southbank for semester one 2025. I was one of the few student attendants to be part of the taste testing and supplier feedback process and I am confident that the food offered will be appropriate for the diverse range of cultures that make up our community. All student representatives on this working group have fought to keep the price of each item at or below $5 per serving. This canteen will provide a multitude of employment opportunities for students, will operate five days per week during semester and for reduced hours during shoulder periods and certain breaks.

1. The re-opening of the Ida Bar

UMSU is proud to have re opened the Ida Bar to serve the community in 2025. Ida Bar is located on level 1 of the UMSU Building (Building 168) and provides a wide variety of low cost meals and drinks. Ida Bar is entirely owned and operated by UMSU ensuring that there is a food provider on campus without a commercial motive that aims to ensure students are able to afford a meal between classes. I have also worked with Ida Bar management to request a series of specials to be offered throughout the semester that are focusing on providing a large quantity of food at the lowest possible price.

1. Expansion of Union Mart

In 2024, Divyanshi and myself as the Welfare Officers expanded Union Mart to five days per week, expanded to Southbank on Tuesdays, introduced the Points System and the Reserve Fund, obtained a commercial fridge and freezer alongside growing our volunteer base to nearly 500 strong. We are proud to say that our replacements, Filia and Kunal, are planning further growth and expansion to serve students in the morning as well as in the afternoon, to provide pop ups at a greater range of locations around the Parkville campus, alongside expanding Union Mart to the Burnley Campus.