Public transport concessions for graduate students

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that Victoria is the only state in Australia that denies concession public transport entitlements to full-time graduate students.

Graduate students undertaking a master's degree, graduate diplomas, and PhDs face severe cost-of-living pressures with limited capacity to work due to intensive study, research, and mandatory placements. Many are training to become Victoria's next teachers, nurses, doctors and engineers, completing unpaid professional placements while paying full price fares to travel to campus, placement sites and work. High transport costs create financial hardship and inequity. Students from low-income backgrounds, those with caring responsibilities, international students, and those living in outer suburbs are hit hardest.

Every other Australian state and territory provides concession fares to graduate students. Victoria is falling behind.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to immediately extend concession public transport entitlements to all full-time graduate students.