Natalia

Did the Centrelink staff explain the income bank to you? When you are studying full time you can earn a certain amount of money each week before your benefit is decreased. It was orginially set up so people could get jobs over the long Christmas break without their benefits being affected but you can earn that money at any time during the year.

In the end if you want to be a counsellor or psychologist or whatever then you have to decide if you are willing to make the sacrifices that you have to to get where you want to. You can live off a centrelink benefit. They are specifically designed so that you can survive on them but there isn't much left over. You just have to put in some coping mechanisms.

Here is what got my through uni the first time:
* You don't need most text books as they can be borrowed from libraries.
* All the stationery you need is a spiral bound book a couple of pens, a ream of A4 printing paper and a flash drive. Unis provide computer facilities so you can use them to type of your notes and do all your essays etc. Often at their orientation days they give away stationery so stock up then (who cares if it has logos on it if it is for free)
* Make sure that you have all the right student cards etc so that transport is cheaper and visit the student union office to find out what other places offer discounts to student card holders.
* Many lectures are taped so if you only have one on one day you can listen to the tape on another day and save on a whole day of transport costs.
*Put in a vegetable garden and grow some of your own foods, prepare your own foods rather than buying prepackaged.
*If you are going to be at uni for lunch take it with you. A sandwich costs next to nothing to make at home but buying it will generally cost you $5 or more. And carry a water bottle with you so you aren't tempted to buy drinks.
* Join clubs at uni that provide free social activities or entertainment.
*Find out what day things are cheaper at the markets (for me it was Sunday afternoon) as you can buy heaps of fresh food for much cheaper as it is easier for the stall holders to sell it than pack it back up.
* Seeings as you know your landlord negotiate doing extra around the house for a drop in rent or them covering utilities.
* Ask at the student union about financial assistance. Often there are scholarships and financial assistance packages funded by the uni/government/charities that aren't advertised and so people don't know unless they ask.

Can I suggest that you sign up with lifeline? They provide full training for you to become a telephone counsellor and then you may be able to decide if this is really what you want to be doing. It costs money to do the course but if you are in receipt of benefits yourself you get it cheaper and it is a good way to see what counselling is really about and would be a valuable tool for your studies.

Please see this as an opportunity for personal growth and grasp the opportunities that are presented to you.