Ways to Pay

Payment of Fees

You can pay your fees by credit card over the phone or with cash, cheque, credit card or EFTPOS at any Customer Service Centre. If paying through the post, send your payment (please do not send cash) to 154 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo VIC 3550

Help with paying your fees while you are studying at Bendigo TAFE. 

 

1. Payment Plans

Bendigo TAFE offers eligible students the option of paying their course fees over time by setting up a payment plan.

Many people find the payment plan a great way to break the cost of their education up, making it more manageable over the length of the course. If you use a payment plan, you will need to pay a $250 deposit and can then spread the remaining tuition, student services, materials and consumables fees over time. You can opt to make either weekly or fortnightly instalment payments. There will be a 5.5% administration fee added to the payment plan amount.

• Fees, Charges and Refunds Policy

How does a payment plan work?

When you’re enrolling, you’ll need to pay a $250 deposit which is deducted from the total cost of the course (tuition, student services, materials and consumables fees). The remainder of the fees can be paid on a payment plan with our partner Debitsuccess in either weekly or fortnightly instalments over the duration of the enrolment period. When you enrol, you will need to complete and sign an electronic form provided to you our Customer Service Officer to set up the plan and provide your bank or credit card details. A 5.5% administration fee will be applied to the payment plan amount.

We accept payments from savings, cheque and credit card accounts; however AMEX and Diners cards are not accepted. All payments must be completed two weeks prior to the end of the course.

Repayments

When enrolling, you will need to provide your bank account or credit card details and sign an electronic form agreeing to the terms and conditions of Debitsuccess. If you are under 18 years of age you’ll need to have a parent/guardian with you at the time of enrolment to sign the electronic payment plan. The parent/guardian will need to fill and sign a guarantor form, which will be provided at the time of enrolment.

Your responsibilities

You need to have sufficient funds available in the nominated account to meet weekly or fortnightly payments. A $10 penalty fee will be charged by Debitsuccess if there are insufficient funds.

• You need to bring either your credit card or a copy of your bank statement to the Customer Service Centre at the time of enrolment.
• You must advise customerservice@debitsuccess.com if the nominated account is closed and give us your new account details.

Termination of payment plan

You may terminate the payment plan at any time by paying the balance owing in full to Debitsuccess. If you think a payment is wrong contact customerservice@debitsuccess.com or call 1800 148 848.

Course results and certificates will not be available until the final payment has been made.

For more information about the Bendigo TAFE payment plan, please contact info@bendigotafe.edu.au or call 13 TAFE (13 8233).

To access any of these services or to make an appointment, please call the Student Support Service on 13 TAFE (13 8233).

 

2. Fee Concession/Exemptions

Fee concession/exemptions may be granted to students experiencing severe financial hardship. You should talk to a student support person before enrolment. Email info@bendigotafe.edu.au or call 13 TAFE (13 8233) for more details.

 

3. Welfare Services

Assistance can be provided to students to help with budgeting, money management and referrals to external agencies.

You can make an appointment for:

• information on fees and fee concessions
• Centrelink assistance
• financial budgeting and saving skills information and assistance regarding scholarships available through Bendigo TAFE.

The Student Welfare Officers are available across all campuses, online and via telephone. To make an appointment call 13 TAFE (13 8233) or email studentsupportservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

 

4. Scholarships

Bendigo TAFE offers a number of scholarships each year, which contribute towards course fees and materials fees across a range of study areas. You can find out more about scholarships and how to apply by clicking here.

Further Assistance: Centrelink Allowances for Students

• Youth Allowance/Austudy/Abstudy
• The main income support schemes for students are Youth Allowance, Austudy and Abstudy. Application forms are available from any Centrelink office or phone 132 490.
• Pensioner Education Supplement
• If you receive a Parenting Payment Single (PPS) or the Disability Support Pension (DPS), you may also be eligible for extra assistance while you are studying. Application forms are available from Centrelink or telephone 132 316.

Zero Tuition Fee Training - Skills First Youth Access Initiative

The Youth Access Initiative is part of the Skills First Funding which includes supports for disadvantaged learners to engage with and succeed in their education and training. The Youth Access Initiative contributes to this priority by further reducing the costs of subsidised training by providing a waiver on student tuition fees for eligible young people.

To be eligible for the Youth Access Initiative, you must:

• be eligible for Skills First government-subsidised training which includes being an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen. 
• be aged 24 years or under, and
• have been or are currently on a Child Protection Order or a Youth Justice Order (but are not currently in custody), or
• a young person who has participated or is participating in the Children's Court Youth Diversion Service, or
• be a young person who is a part of the Unaccompanied Minor Humanitarian program, or
• be a resident of an Education First Youth Foyer

Find out more here

Fee Refunds

The following fee refund procedures apply to government subsidised and full fee paying students (excluding students on a study visa):

•  If Bendigo TAFE cancels your course, you are entitled to a 100% refund.

Short courses:

• If you provide formal notification of withdrawal five business days or more prior to the scheduled start date of your short course, you are entitled to a refund of your enrolment fees (less an administrative fee of $40).
• You are not entitled to any refund if you withdraw less than five business days prior to the scheduled start date of your short course.

Non-VET Student Loans courses (Certificates I, II, III and IV):

• If you provide formal notification of withdrawal prior the commencement of your course or within 28 days (inclusive) of your non-VET Student Loans course commencing, you are entitled to a refund of your tuition fees (less an administrative fee of $80). You will not be refunded for units where a final result (either pass or fail) has been recorded.
• You are not entitled to any refund if you withdraw later than 28 days after the commencement of your non-VET Student Loans course. This also applies to fees that have been deferred to a Part Payment Plan.
• Materials will be refunded at the discretion of the Teaching area and will be determined by the units of competency commenced and the condition of the materials. Consumable fees will not be refunded.

VET Student Loans courses (approved diplomas and above):

• If you withdraw from a VET Student Loans unit of study on or before the published census date for that unit, you will not incur the VET Student Loan debt, or if you have paid the tuition fee up front you will be eligible for a refund.
• You are not entitled to any refund or debt reversal of tuition fees if you withdraw after the census date for that unit of study. This also applies to fees that have been deferred to a Part Payment Plan.
• Materials will be refunded at the discretion of the Teaching area and will be determined by the units of competency commenced and the condition of the materials. Consumable fees will not be refunded.