Student Emergency Fund

Support students in crisis

The Student Emergency Fund is a vital lifeline for Adelaide University students facing unexpected financial hardship. When crises such as illness, family trauma, natural disasters, or rising living costs threaten to disrupt their studies, this fund ensures students can continue their education without sacrificing their wellbeing.

Through hardship grants, students receive timely support for essentials such as rent, food, medications, and textbooks – critical needs that often determine whether they can remain enrolled. Each year, countless students reach out for help during times of crisis, and the need for this assistance continues to grow.

The Student Emergency Fund exists thanks entirely to the generosity of our donor community. Every gift, no matter the size, has a direct and immediate impact – providing stability, security, and hope when it is needed most. By supporting this fund, you are helping students safeguard their future and pursue their studies with confidence.

Makie’s story

Makie, a Bachelor of Veterinary Bioscience student, faced a significant blow to her health and savings when she was kicked by a horse at work.

Airlifted to hospital, Makie described her diagnosis as “lucky” when the doctors confirmed she had received lacerations to her liver and kidney and would need 12 weeks off work to heal and recover.

“A kick from a horse can shatter bones or even be fatal, so I was very lucky to sustain only a few organ lacerations. It could have been a lot worse,” Makie said.

A self-funded student, Makie works part time as a trackwork rider with racehorses to pay her tuition fees, rent, and cover daily expenses.

“After the accident I was able to continue with my studies, but I wasn’t able to work. It was a really stressful time not knowing how I would cover my rent and groceries. There was a real concern about the possibility of deferring – until I received a grant from the Student Emergency Fund.

"If I had ignored medical advice due to financial stress, I could have risked further harm or worse. The fact that I didn't have to compromise my health to continue studying is something I deeply appreciate," Makie said. 

Sage’s story

When Sage was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD more than a decade after dropping out of school, it sparked a journey of personal healing and deepened their motivation to pursue a passion for the environment and addressing climate change.

Enrolling in the Bachelor of Environmental Policy and Management, Sage completed their first year of study with an impressive 7.0 GPA in 2024, though this did not come without its challenges.

As an adult entry student, Sage juggled two part time jobs to combat the cost-of-living crisis.

“I was struggling with burnout and feared I wouldn’t be able to complete the semester or maintain my academic performance, which could jeopardise my aspirations of pursuing honours and a PhD. I needed urgent support to be able to get through the rest of the year,” Sage said.

“When I received the Student Emergency Fund grant there are no words for what this did for my nervous system. I felt like I could breathe for the first time all year.

“I’ll never be able to express in words the gratitude I have for the support but, hopefully, sharing the impact will help others to know how meaningful this support is.

“Once I have completed my studies, I am determined to pay this kindness forward and provide scholarship support to other students like me, so the ripple effects of generosity will create more ripples into the future,” Sage said.

History

In response to the financial challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, both the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide established student support funds in 2020. The funds existed to provide timely financial support to students facing unexpected or unforeseen circumstances that threatened their ability to continue their studies. The funds ensured that short-term crises – such as sudden job loss, housing insecurity, medical emergencies, or family hardship – did not become insurmountable barriers to students continuing their education.

The Adelaide University Student Emergency Fund is the coming together of these two invaluable and similar grant offerings provided via the foundation universities.

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