Fees & Financial Support

Financial support for students

Learn more about finance options.

Financial Support

Support for Box Hill Institute students

As a student at Box Hill Institute, the following financial support is available for you:

  • Payment plans are available to eligible domestic students at all course levels
  • VET Student Loans are available to eligible Australian citizens at the diploma/advanced diploma level/vocational graduate certificate/vocational graduate diploma levels for approved courses (to see if this is available, view your individual course information)
  • FEE-HELP is available to Australian citizens at the bachelor and postgraduate degree level (all higher education levels)
  • A wide range of scholarships are also available

Learn More About Scholarships

If you are experiencing severe financial hardship, you can contact Student Life to make an appointment to discuss your tuition fee options.

Learn more about Scholarships

FAQs

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What is VET Student Loan?

A VET Student Loan is an Australian Government loan scheme enabling you to defer part or all of your tuition fees up to the available course loan cap, and re-pay them via the Australian taxation system once your income reaches a certain threshold ($51,550 in 2023-2024 income/financial year).

A VET student loan gives rise to a VETSL debt that continues to be a debt due to the Commonwealth until it is repaid.

Student Information
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Tuition Fees and Associated Costs

Accessing a VET Student Loan

New students commencing their Diploma / Advanced Diploma / Graduate Certificate (VET) / Graduate Diploma (VET) TAFE level course, will be able to access a VET Student Loan for a tuition fee loan up to the published course loan cap, providing they meet VET Student Loan student eligibility criteria, and providing the course is approved for VET Student Loans for Box Hill Institute by the government.

Is there a fee?

There is no loan fee for government subsidised students.
A 20% loan fee applies to full-fee students and is added onto your VET Student Loan debt.

Student Information
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Tuition Assurance

Learn about VET tuition assurance

Who is eligible for a VET Student Loan?

To be eligible for a VET Student Loan, you must meet citizenship requirements, academic suitability course entry requirements, your course must be listed on the VET Student Loan Eligible Courses List, your total loan for the course must be within the stated course loan cap, and you cannot have exceeded your Combined HELP Loan Lifetime Limit. If you are under 18, you must also have parental consent* to take out this loan. Details as follows:

Citizenship

For citizenship requirements, you must be either:

  • an Australian citizen or
  • a permanent humanitarian visa holder or
  • a qualifying New Zealand Citizen (New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets the long-term residency requirements who first began residing in Australia at least 10 years ago when under 18. Refer to Study Assist for further details)

Please note that permanent residents are not eligible for a VET Student Loan.

Academic Suitability for Course

You must either:

  • Have successfully completed Year 12 or equivalent; or
  • Be at Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) Exit Level 3 for your literacy/numeracy skills assessment, and, Box Hill Institute reasonably believes that you display that competence; or
  • Have completed a Certificate IV or higher level qualification

Course Eligibility
Your course must be approved for a VET Student Loan. See the individual course page to find out if available.


Not Have Exceeded Course VET Student Loan Cap
Your VET Student Loan/s to date for the same course must not have exceeded the stated course loan cap.

Not Have Exceeded Combined HELP Loan Limit

In addition, you must also have a sufficient combined HELP loan balance available. In 2024, students are entitled to $121,844 in VET Student Loan, VET FEE-HELP, FEE-HELP and HECS-HELP* combined. Existing FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loan debts are carried over and count towards your Combined HELP loan limit.

*Only HECS-HELP incurred from 1/1/2020 onwards is included in the Combined HELP Loan Limit


*Parental Consent Obtained if Under 18
If you are under aged 18, you must either:

  • obtain parental/guardian consent by having them complete the Parental Consent-Student Under 18 form; or
  • If you have received youth allowance on the basis that you are independent (within the meaning of Part 2.11 of Social Security Act 1991) you must provide evidence of this.
Student Information
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Tuition Fees and Associated Costs

How do I apply for a VET Student Loan?

At enrolment you need to indicate your intention to apply for a VET Student Loan, by completing Box Hill Institute’s VET Student Loan Intention form.

You must have provided evidence that you meet the citizenship requirements as part of your enrolment application.

You will then receive a VET Student Loan Electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF) submission request from the Government at least 2 days after your enrolment, via email.

You then follow the eCAF submission, which includes completing your details on the government’s site via a unique pass-key code you will have been provided in the notification email. This also includes:

  • the provision of your Tax File number, or, a copy of a ‘Certificate of Application for a Tax File Number’ (obtained from the Australian Taxation Office) as part of the process.
    If you don’t have a Tax file number yet, it is worth applying now – don’t leave it until your enrolment day.
  • the provision of your USI (unique student identifier)

Further information regarding VET Student Loans is available on the Australian Government VET Student Loan Website, and in the VET Student Loan Information for Students booklet.

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What if I am not eligible for a VET Student Loan?

What if I am not eligible for a VET Student Loan, or my course is not eligible for a VET Student Loan, or I am eligible but my tuition fees exceed the VET Student Loan course cap?

If either you or your course are not eligible for a VET Student Loan, or if the cost of your tuition fees exceed the VET Student Loan course cap, you would need to pay any fees/excess fees (gap fees) not covered by the VET Student Loan either upfront, or find alternative financing options to cover your tuition gap fee payment. One of the options may be a Payment Plan via Debit Success. The Debit Success Payment Plan enables you to pay your fees via weekly or fortnightly instalments over the duration of your study in the calendar year. This can be arranged directly with Box Hill Institute Student Administration staff. Go to Payment Plans section below for more information.

Student Information
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Tuition Assurance

Learn about VET tuition assurance

What is FEE-HELP?

FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme enabling you to defer part or all of your tuition fees. Your HELP debt is repaid through the tax system. In the 2023-2024 financial year, you will be required to make a compulsory repayment if your income is $51,550 or above. The debt is indexed each year to maintain its real value.

Box Hill Institute can offer you FEE-HELP if you are an eligible student enrolling in a Higher Education Bachelor degree, Associate Degree, Undergraduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters level course only.
A 20% loan fee applies, and is added onto your FEE-HELP debt.

To be eligible, you must be either:

  • an Australian citizen
  • a permanent humanitarian visa holder
  • New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets residency requirements
  • have sufficient Combined HELP loan balance available. In 2024, students are entitled to $121,844 in FEE-HELP, VET Student Loan, VET FEE-HELP, and HECS-HELP* combined.

Please note:

  • Permanent residents are not eligible for FEE-HELP.
  • *Existing FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loan debts are carried over and count towards your Combined HELP loan limit. Only HECS-HELP incurred from 1/1/2020 onwards is included in the Combined HELP Loan Limit.

How do I apply?

If you are interested in applying for FEE-HELP, you must:

  • read the FEE-HELP Booklet
  • complete the application form
  • bring either your Tax File Number of a ‘Certificate of Application for a Tax File Number’ to enrolment. This is available from the Australian Taxation Office and should be provided either at enrolment or to Student Administration no later than two weeks after your enrolment.
  • Provide your citizenship evidence at enrolment.

Repaying my HELP Loan

Accessing a student loan is a great way to pay for your studies, but is also a big responsibility. This 2 minute video provided by the government will help explain some of the key points you need to be aware of whilst you study.

The HELP Loan Quiz will highlight some of those key points you need to be aware of while you study. Take the HELP Loan Quiz.

Student Information
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Tuition Assurance

Learn about VET tuition assurance

Census dates

What is a census date?

A census date is the date by which enrolment may be cancelled without incurring tuition fees for a unit of study.  Census dates apply for all Diploma level and above qualifications, for both VET and Higher Education courses.

 VET - Diploma and above courses

The 2024 general census dates for TAFE Diploma, Advanced Diploma and above VET level course units are: 

Teaching period

Semester

Start Date

End Date

Census Date

1Semester 1 (commencing in Term 1)5-19 Feb28 Jun28  Mar
2Semester 2 (commencing in Term 3)15 July6 Dec30 Aug
3Semester 3 (Full Year) (commencing in Term 1)5-19 Feb6 Dec26 Apr
4Summer School8 Jan2 Feb16 Jan
T1Term 1 only5-19 Feb28 Mar8 Mar
T2Term 2 only15 Apr28 Jun10 May
T3Term 3 only15 July20 Sep9 Aug
T4Term 4 only7 Oct6 Dec25 Oct

Please Note: some courses may have alternative specific census dates depending on the course and unit delivery span. The dates above apply where delivery is within standard term and semester periods. Census dates to accommodate rolling intakes or flexible enrolments will be set at no earlier than 20% of the way through a unit of study.

Higher Education – all courses

The 2024 general census dates for Higher Education (Degree) course units are: 

Teaching period

Semester

Start Date

End Date

Census Date

1Semester 1 19 Feb21 Jun28 Mar
2Semester 2 22 July*
(A small number
may start on 15 July)
22 Nov30 Aug
3Semester 3
(Full Year) 
19 Feb22 Nov26 Apr

Please Note

  • This is the standard academic calendar for most Higher Education/degree level courses - Early Childhood degree operates on a slightly different calendar). Refer to the full list of Academic Calendars for these census dates:

Academic Calendars

  • Some courses may have alternative specific census dates depending on the course and unit delivery span. The dates above apply where delivery is within standard term and semester periods. Census dates to accommodate rolling intakes or flexible enrolments will be set at no earlier than 20% of the way through a unit of study.
Student Information
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Tuition Fees and Associated Costs

Withdrawal

VET Certificates I-IV or Senior Secondary

Students withdrawing from a VET Certificate I-IV level course or a senior secondary course (I.e. VCE/VCAL) either before course commencement or within four weeks of the course start date for the course, will be entitled to a refund of tuition and amenity fees paid, less a portion of any of the material fees that may have already been issued and/or used. If classes have not yet started students will receive a full materials fee refund also. (If any materials were issued before course commencement, materials refund is dependent upon their return unused). Students must officially withdraw via completion and submission of a Course Exit or Unit Withdrawal form.

Students withdrawing after 4 weeks after the course start date will not be entitled to a refund of tuition or amenity fees.

VET Diploma/Advanced Diploma

Students withdrawing from a Diploma / Advanced Diploma / Graduate Certificate (VET) and Graduate Diploma (VET) level course or unit/s on or prior to the unit census date will be entitled to a refund of tuition fees paid, and will have any VET Student Loan application cancelled for those units. Students must officially withdraw via submission of a Course Exit or Unit Withdrawal form prior to the unit census date.

Students withdrawing after census date has passed will not be entitled to a refund of tuition fees. Any VET Student Loan will still be incurred by students for those units in which they formally withdraw after the unit census date has passed.

Students withdrawing from their full course prior to the first unit census date will also receive a service and amenity fee refund.

Material fee refunds will be dependent upon the time that has elapsed and the materials issued and/expended since the student has started.

Higher Education Degrees

Students withdrawing from any Higher Education course (Bachelor Degree, Associate Degree, Graduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree, Undergraduate Certificate, Higher Education Diploma) course or unit/s on or prior to the unit census date will be entitled to a refund of tuition fees paid, and will have any HELP Loan application cancelled for those units. Students must officially withdraw via submission of a Course Exit or Unit Withdrawal form prior to the unit census date.

A HELP debt will still be incurred by students for those units in which they formally withdraw after the unit census date has passed.

Students withdrawing from their full course prior to the first unit census date will also receive a service and amenity fee refund.

Material fee refunds will be dependent upon the time that has elapsed and the materials issued and/expended since the student has started.

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Withdrawals and Refunds

Find out more about your options

Special Circumstances

Students who have experienced severe and extenuating circumstances affecting their study and decision to withdraw may apply for extra consideration for a refund of tuition fees and/or cancellation of their HELP Loan outside of the usual refund timeframes.

Special Circumstances - Senior Secondary & Certificate I-IV Level Courses:

Students not eligible for a refund of tuition fees paid who have experienced severe extenuating circumstances affecting their study and decision to withdraw, may apply to the Registrar in writing prior to 1 December in the calendar year of study, for extra consideration regarding their course exit/withdrawal, and a partial or full refund of fees. Students must provide details of the extenuating circumstances experienced and its impact on their study, along with documentary evidence to support this. Refunds are not guaranteed.

Special Circumstances - VET Diploma and higher level VET courses:

Students withdrawing from a VET Diploma or Higher level VET course or unit after census date and who have experienced severe extenuating circumstances affecting their study and ability to complete unit/s, may apply for a refund of tuition fees in affected units and/or HELP debt reversal in affected units. Special circumstances are those that are:

  • beyond the student’s control; and
  • do not make their full impact on the student until on or after the census day for a course, or the part of a course (unit); and
  • make it impracticable for the student to complete the requirements for the course, or the part of the course (unit), during the student’s enrolment in the course, or the part of the course (unit).
  • The test is cumulative and all three of these above criteria must be met per unit for which a refund under special circumstances is being applied, along with providing adequate documentary evidence to support the application.

Applications for refunds under special circumstances must be made within 12 months after the census day for the course, or the part of the course (unit), concerned, or within that period as extended by Box Hill Institute, via completion and submission of the Application for Refund of Paid Tuition Fees and/or Re-Credit of /VET Student Loan Balance in Extenuating Circumstances form along with documentary evidence.

Students with HELP Loans should refer to the Institute’s Commonwealth Entitlements Review of Decisions Policy and Re-crediting of HELP Balance and Review of Decisions Procedure.

Refunds and/or HELP Loan cancellations are not available for passed units.

Special Circumstances - Higher Education courses:

Students withdrawing from a Higher Education unit of study (unit) after census date and who have experienced severe extenuating circumstances affecting their study and ability to complete unit/s, may apply for a refund of tuition fees in affected units and/or HELP debt reversal in affected units. Special circumstances are those that are:

  • beyond the student’s control; and
  • do not make their full impact on the student until on or after the census date for the unit of study; and
  • make it impracticable for the student to complete the requirements for the unit during the period during which the student undertook, or was to undertake, the unit.
  • The test is cumulative and all three of these above criteria must be met per unit for which a refund under special circumstances is being applied, along with providing adequate documentary evidence to support the application.

Applications for refunds under special circumstances must be made within 12 months of the date the unit withdrawal took effect, or, 12 months after the end of the period during which the student undertook, or was to undertake, the unit. Applications must be made via completion and submission of the Application for Refund of Paid Tuition Fees and/or Re-Credit of FEE-HELP Balance in Special Circumstances (Degree Courses Only) form along with documentary evidence.

Students with HELP Loans should refer to the Institute’s Re-crediting of HELP Balance and Review of Decisions Procedure.

Refunds and/or HELP Loan cancellations are not available for passed units.

Other Circumstances

Under Section 70 of the VET Student Loans Act 2016, the Secretary of the department administering VET Student Loans within the Commonwealth Department of Education, Skills and Employment, may re-credit a student’s HELP balance in accordance with this Division if Box Hill Institute, is unable to act under this Division or is being wound up or has been dissolved, or, Box Hill Institute has failed to act under this Division and the Secretary is satisfied that the failure is unreasonable.

Under Section 71 of the VET Student Loans Act 2016, students with a VET Student Loan may apply directly to the Secretary of the department administering VET Student Loans within the Commonwealth Department of Education, Skills and Employment,  for a re-credit of their HELP balance where they believe that Box Hill Institute, or a person acting on Box Hill Institute’s behalf, engaged in unacceptable conduct in relation to the student’s application for the VET student loan, or, they believe that Box Hill Institute has failed to comply with the VET Student Loans Act 2016, or an instrument under the VET Student Loans Act 2016 and the failure has adversely affected the student. Students should refer to Box Hill Institute’s Commonwealth Entitlements review of Decisions Policy and Re-crediting of HELP Balance and Review of Decisions Procedure. Applications must be made within 5 years after the unit census date.

Replacement Courses & Credit Transfers

Credit Transfers 

If you enrolling to study units in a course or replacement course, where you have completed the same or fully equivalent under your original course with either Box Hill Institute or another provider, students will be granted Credit Transfers for those units into the replacement course. 

Credit Transfer enables you to receive credits for the same or fully equivalent units you have successfully completed into your currently enrolled course as part of mutual recognition under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). 

Tuition fees do not apply for units for which a Credit Transfer is granted. 

You must complete an Application for RPL/RCC/TR Form (VET courses) or Degree Advanced Standing Application Form (Higher Education courses) and submit it together with either your Statement of Attainment, Transcript of Results or other Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) certifying document issued in accordance with the AQF, or an authenticated VET Transcript prepared by the Registrar of the USI Registry (under the Student Identifiers Act 2014), and in line with Box Hill Institute’s Recognition of Prior Learning, Current Competence and Credit Transfer Policy and Procedure.  

For further information on Credit Transfers, CLICK HERE 

 

Replacement Course and/or Units where Original Course was Cancelled by Box Hill Institute due to accreditation expiry. 

Box Hill Institute will cancel a student’s enrolment in a course and all enrolled units where a course’s accreditation period has ended.  

Where the course has been superseded by a new course version (replacement course), to continue your study in the course you are required to enrol in the replacement course.  

You will receive Credit Transfers for all successfully completed fully equivalent units completed under the original course, as evidenced by your statement of attainment, course as detailed above. 

However, for units that were commenced and only partially studied at point of course expiry in the original course, the following applies:  

  • For units that were commenced and only partially studied at point of course expiry, where the course is a Diploma or higher VET qualification or any Higher Education qualification, and where the unit census date has passed at point of course expiry, enrolment in the replacement unit/s under the replacement course (new course version) will be at no charge to you, where you paid tuition fees for the affected units under the original course and these were not reversed/refunded. If you had a HELP Loan under the original course, where there is no charge for the replacement unit, no HELP Loan will be incurred for replacement units under the replacement course. 
  • For units that were commenced and only partially studied at point of course expiry, where the course is a Certificate I-IV or Senior Secondary level qualification, and where the unit cancellation was after four weeks after course commencement, enrolment in the replacement unit/s under the replacement course (new course version) will be at no charge to you where tuition fees were paid for the affected units under the original course and not reversed/refunded.  
  • For all non-commenced units, you will be required to enrol in the replacement course (new course version) and will incur standard fees under the new course version. This is unless you incurred fees for these same units under the old course version that were not reversed/refunded. 
  • For HELP Loans, students will be required to submit a new eCAF for the replacement course (new course version) as part of their enrolment in the new course version. 
  • For VET students utilising a government-subsidised place as part of the VET Funding Contract under the old course version, in line with the Department of Education and Training’s Guidelines About Determining Student Eligibility and Supporting Evidence, certain eligibility criteria are waived, if you are transitioning from a superseded program to the current version of the same program, and accessing a government-subsidised place. 

What is a payment plan?

Box Hill Institute has a new Payment Plan available to students wanting to spread their fee costs over the year.

If you are a domestic student and not eligible for any other type of FEE-HELP or VET Student Loans, then this may be a great payment option for you.

The Payment Plan is with Debit Success, the largest direct debit provider in Australasia. It enables you to make weekly or fortnightly re-payments from your nominated bank account via direct debit to repay your fees. Final instalment is due by 4 weeks prior to your course finish date for the calendar year.

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Am I eligible for a payment plan?

Students studying at all course levels from Year 11/12 and Certificate I right through to Bachelor Degrees (excluding international and short courses), where you are a domestic government-subsidised or domestic full-fee student, and not eligible for any other available loan or deferment agreement– i.e.

  • Not eligible for VET Student Loan (Diploma/ Advanced Diploma) (if wanting to defer the tuition component of your fees – you may still defer material and amenity fee components via a Payment Plan, even if you use VET Student Loans for the tuition fee component)
  • Not eligible for FEE-HELP (Undergraduate/ Post Graduate) and you are unable to pay the full tuition component of your fees upfront at enrolment.

If you are under 18 years old, you must also have an extra guarantor form signed by your parent/guardian. Your parent/guardian will also need to attend your enrolment session to do so.

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Tuition Fees and Associated Costs

Payment terms

Weekly or fortnightly repayments are required, with final instalment due no later than one month prior to your course finish date in the calendar year.

Part Payment Plan is subject to the following administrative fees (both are added to the debt):

  • $15 initial fee; plus
  • a 4.8% billing fee (based on value of payment plan)

Where early withdrawal occurs, full balance must be settled no later than 2 weeks after date of withdrawal. You are still liable for all fees and charges even if you withdraw, subject to Box Hill Institute’s Enrolment Policy & Procedure.

If you withdraw within the refund period stipulated in the Enrolment Policy and Procedure, the payment plan will be adjusted as required.

Student Information
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Tuition Assurance

Learn about VET tuition assurance

How do I apply?

You can either apply in person or remotely/online. 

In person

You must present with your Australian bank account or Australian credit card account details to the Student Administration cashier on-campus at either Box Hill-Elgar, Lilydale or City campuses, along with your enrolment form, and complete a Debit Success Payment Plan Agreement with Student Administration staff.

If you intend to use a bank or credit card account other than your own for the payment plan, you must also present with the account holder to have the agreement co-signed by the account holder.

Remotely/Online

You can indicate as part of your offer acceptance that you wish to access a payment plan, by ticking the payment plan box. Once you have accepted your offer, Student Administration will set-up a payment plan specific to your enrolment, and email a link for you to finalise it online.

If you intend to use a bank or credit card account other than your own for the payment plan, the agreement must be co-signed by the account holder.

If you are under 18, you must also have authority from your parent/guardian. This will enable direct debit of weekly or fortnightly payments from your nominated bank account to commence within 14 days.

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Tuition Fees and Associated Costs

What is a Tertiary Access Payment?

The Tertiary Access Payment helps eligible students with the costs of moving from regional or remote areas for tertiary study. Students who move from inner regional areas get a one-off lump sum of $3,000. Students who move from outer regional and remote areas get up to $5,000 in 2 instalments.

Moving away from home can be expensive, so the TAP aims to help ease those costs.

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Who is eligible for a Tertiary Access Payment?

TAP is for eligible students studying a full-time course that is Certificate IV or higher with a minimum length of at least one academic year, and with their study being at any point in the 12 months immediately after finishing Year 12 or equivalent.

To be eligible for the TAP, you will need to meet some further eligibility criteria. Read the full list and find the program guidelines at https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/tertiary-access-payment

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How do I apply for a Tertiary Access Payment?

To apply for a Tertiary Access Payment, visit Services Australia.

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Scholarships

We offer a number of scholarships to study at Box Hill Institute. Our scholarships recognise academic achievement and help people who need financial assistance to pursue their studies.

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Scholarships

Contact Us

VET Student Loans

For further information regarding VET Student Loans, please contact Box Hill Institute VET Student Loans administrator on (03) 9286 9518.

FEE-HELP

For further information regarding FEE-HELP, visit the Study Assist website. You can also contact the Higher Education Administrator in Student Administration by telephoning (03) 9286 9002.

Payment Plan

Any queries in relation to payment plans should be directed to Student Administration on 1300 220 192 or Debit Success on 1800 148 848.

If you are experiencing severe financial hardship which is impacting your Student Payment Plan commitments, you can contact Student Life to make an appointment to discuss your circumstances.

Contact
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No question is too big or small.
Give us a call on 1300 269 445