Australian Government Assistance

Most domestic students who receive some form of government income support are on either Youth Allowance or AUSTUDY. Which one you are eligible for depends on your age and circumstances.

Youth Allowance

You may get Youth Allowance if you are:

• aged 16-24 and studying or undertaking a New Apprenticeship full time (or aged 15 if considered independent), or
• aged 16-20 and looking for work full time (or aged 15 if considered independent), undertaking a combination of approved activities like Work for the Dole or volunteering, or have a temporary exemption from the Activity Test (for example, due to illness), or
• aged 25 and over and studying or undertaking a New Apprenticeship full time, if you were getting Youth Allowance immediately before turning 25 and are still doing the same course or New Apprenticeship. (Other full time students aged 25 and over can apply for Austudy), and
• meet residence requirements.

If you are under 18, and have not completed Year 12, you are usually required to be in full time education, undertaking a New Apprenticeship or training to qualify for Youth Allowance, although some exemptions apply.

If you are not studying or undertaking a full time traineeship and you are getting Youth Allowance, you must show Centrelink you are actively looking for work by meeting the Activity Test.

If you have a disability and are studying, you may not need to study full time to be eligible for Youth Allowance or you may be able to get Disability Support Pension instead. However if you have a short term illness or injury which prevents you from studying full time you still may be able to get Youth Allowance for the period of the illness or injury.

For more information, visit:
Centrelink's website

AUSTUDY

You qualify for Austudy payment if you are:

• over 25 years
• doing an approved full-time course at an approved institution or undertaking a full-time New Apprenticeship, and
• meet residence requirements.

You are considered independent so there is no Parental Means Test, but you must meet a personal (and partner) income and assets tests.

For more information, visit:
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/austudy.htm

ABSTUDY

You qualify for ABSTUDY if:

• you are an Australian Indigenous person and
• you were 14 years or more on 1 January
• and you:
  • are studying at primary school, or
  • are doing secondary school studies
  • are studying full-time or part-time at a TAFE, university or tertiary institution
  • are undertaking a full-time New Apprenticeship
  • are doing a distance education or correspondence course
  • are studying for a Masters or Doctorate
• and you meet the basic eligibility requirements.

How much help you can get from ABSTUDY depends on:

• whether you are studying full-time or part-time
• what course you are studying
• your age
• whether you need to live away from home
• whether you are dependent on your parents/guardians
• how much you and your partner or parents/guardians earn.

For more information, visit:
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/abstudy.htm

Contact

Centrelink

Phone: 132 490 (from within Australia)
Phone: +61 132 490 (from outside Australia)
for advice on all government benefits.
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/

or contact:
 

Office of Admissions

Click on the button below to contact the Admissions Support Team:

Domestic phone enquiries:
Phone: 1800 074 074 toll-free

International phone enquiries:
Phone: +61 7 5595 1024