Student Veteran Support Program

The Student Veteran Support Program (SVSP) provides ACU student veterans, who are current or former military personnel, with access to a range of support services and academic resources to help ease the transition into uni life. From the big exam to balancing your studies, we’ll be in your corner every step of the way.

The SVSP is open to ACU students who have completed or are completing a specific term of military service in either the army, air force, or navy, as well as those in the reserves. Students with international military service are also encouraged to apply. As an SVSP member:

  • You’ll be able to negotiate your study around your external or service commitments. ACU recognises military commitments and will work with you to maintain this.
  • Your requests to lecturers and course coordinators for academic adjustments will be supported (where evidenced) by the SVSP team.
  • You’ll have access to priority timetabling allowing you to better schedule your classes around your commitments. This is applied automatically upon enrolment within the SVSP.
  • If you have received final results for at least one semester in your course, you can apply to take a break (interrupt) your studies.
  • If you have a disability or long-term condition that impacts upon your studies, we offer support, special consideration, and flexible options such as exams deferral and online or part-time study.
  • If you are struggling to complete assignments, the SVSP can provide administrative assistance and advice.
  • You can develop your academic skills with help from the Academic Skills Unit (ASU). The ASU runs free classes and workshops throughout the semester and the SVSP is in the process of establishing student veteran resource sessions to provide students with a consolidation of academic skills prior to classes commencing.

If you are an Australian citizen you may be eligible for a variety of different options to help finance your study. A good source of information regarding these can be found through the ACU page linked below.

How can you fund your studies?

Additionally, as a current serving or ex-serving member of the military you may be eligible for study assistance through a variety of government and non-government agencies.

Department of Veterans Affairs

RSL Queensland

All students enrolled through the Veteran Entry Program are automatically registered to the SVSP and all of its benefits, with no further action required. Current ACU student veterans who did not enrol through the Veteran Entry Program can apply for the SVSP by providing their service record to the SVSP team.

Contact the team

If you have any questions about the SVSP or the application process, please contact the SVSP team.

Contact us

You might find yourself in need of additional services throughout your studies, the SVSP aim to be able to link you to the services that might be able to help you best. Some of these services include: 

  1. Soldier On: provide counselling services to current/ex-serving defence members and family. Provide volunteer opportunities for members to get involved/give back to the community. Provide assistance with resumes, navigating the jobs market, supporting individual's through the application process etc.
  2. Open Arms: provide assistance to current serving, ex-serving, and families of those members. This assistance can be through psychological support, workshops, programs and crisis accommodation support.
  3. Beyond Blue: provide a range of psychological support to both the defence and civilian communities. These services include crisis counselling, counselling, and support in finding the professional services you might require.
  4. Mates4Mates: provide a range of services for current serving, ex-serving members and their families. These services include: physical rehabilitation and wellbeing services, exercise physiology, group fitness, yoga, physiotherapy, counselling, and psychologists. Mates4Mates also offers employment services and a range of psychosocial opportunities.
  5. Australian Veterans Employment Coalition (AVEC): provides connections for serving and ex-serving defence members to employers looking for skillsets associated with military service.

Other support services

You will also have access to a variety of free student services and departments within ACU that aid in alleviating the stress of transitioning into student life:

  • ACU Health Clinic offers ACU student veterans an initial free physiotherapy assessment and treatment, as well as ongoing discounted treatment.
  • The Counselling and Disability Service provides free, confidential counselling and disability support to ensure you can participate fully in university life.
  • Campus Ministry are here to support you, connect you to the community, offer meaningful ways to explore life’s big questions, and provide you with unique opportunities to make a difference in the world.
  • The Career Development Service offers career planning, job search, application reviews, interview coaching and more.
  • The Student Advocacy Service is an information, advice and referral service that provides you with assistance to navigate University policies and procedures. The service is confidential, free and available to all current students.
  • ACU students get access to Wisewould Mahony Lawyers for basic legal advice at no cost. Wisewould Mahony Pty Ltd is an Australian law firm with over 150 years of experience in providing individual and corporate legal services.

Student Veteran Services programs

Student Veteran Exercise Lifestyle Program

This program is designed to help veterans manage injuries incurred during military service and improve general fitness and health.

Explore the program

Impact Award

We recognise our student veterans and the contributions they make to the university and wider community.

Discover the award

Tech Grant

Apply for a grant to help ease the financial burden of study.

Apply now
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