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Home > Student services > Course fees > Financial assistance

Financial assistance

VET FEE HELP
Austudy and Youth Allowance
Abstudy 
Newstart 
Pensioner Education Supplement
Work Skill Vouchers 
Taxation incentives

VET FEE HELP

VET FEE-HELP is an income contingent loan scheme for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector that is part of the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP). It is an extension of the higher education loan scheme FEE-HELP arrangements.

In September 2007, the Federal Government decided to extend FEE-HELP to full-fee paying vocational education and training (VET) students undertaking diplomas and advanced diplomas (with a credit transfer arrangement toward a higher education award), graduate diplomas and graduate certificates.

When will VET FEE-HELP be available?
Commonwealth VET FEE-HELP assistance is being introduced to the VET sector in 2008.

Legislative amendments to the Higher Education Support Act 2003 received Royal Assent on 20 March 2008.  The legislative guidelines for VET FEE-HELP are available through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

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Austudy and Youth allowance

Austudy payment is available to eligible full-time students aged 25 years and over. Full-time students must be formally enrolled in an approved course and studying at least 75 percent of a normal full-time workload over the teaching period for all courses.

Youth Allowance payment is available to eligible full-time students aged 16 to 24; full-time students aged 25 and over who were receiving Youth Allowance before they turned 25 and are still doing the same course; and young people aged up to 21 who are combining part-time job search and part-time study.

Both payments are subject to income and assets tests. A parental means test applies under Youth Allowance if students do not qualify as independent.

Other benefits available to students receiving Youth Allowance or Austudy include Fares Allowance for students travelling between home and the education institution; a Health Care Card to help with medical costs; a Pharmaceutical Allowance to help with the cost of certain prescriptions; a Remote Area Allowance for students living in remote parts of Australia; an interest-free Advance Payment of up to $500.

Students aged 16-24 may also be able to get rent assistance if they have to live away from home to study.

Claim forms and information about Youth Allowance or Austudy payment, including rates of payment, are available from any Centrelink office or by calling 13 2490. Students are able to claim online at Centrelink. Alternatively, completed claim forms can be lodged at Centrelink offices which can be found in the White Pages. Payments are paid fortnightly from the date of lodgment of the claim form or the day the course starts, whichever is the latter.

For further information on Youth Allowance, Austudy and the Pensioner Education Supplement visit the following links:

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Abstudy

Abstudy provides financial assistance for Indigenous Australians who undertake approved full-time and part-time study. Living allowance is a means-tested payment which is made fortnightly. Other allowances are available to assist students with expenses associated with study. An incidental payment for books etc is available to students over 18 years of age. The payment varies according to length of the course. This payment is not means tested.

Tertiary students living on campus or in a hostel can choose to receive a reduced rate of living allowance and have their residential fees paid by Abstudy. Information and claim forms can be obtained from any Centrelink office or by calling the Abstudy enquiries line on 13 2317.

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Newstart

Unemployed people over 21 may be entitled to Newstart Allowance to support their studies.
 
Financial assistance may be available through Centrelink. Detailed information can be found at the Centrelink website. You can also discuss payment options with your local TAFE Queensland institute.
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Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)

Students must be undertaking approved full-time or part-time study. The part-time study must be at least 25 percent of a full-time study load and can be approved if students are a sole parent, carer or you have a substantial disability. The 'Pensioner Education Supplement' is a non-taxable payment and does not have an income or assets test.
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Work Skill Vouchers

If you are over 25 years, an Australian citizen and without a Year 12 or a certificate II or higher qualifications, then you may be eligible to apply for a $3,000 Work Skills Vouchers.

Why apply?

Work Skills Voucher can assist students without formal qualifications to improve their basic skills. Whether you are looking for work or would like to advance in your career, the voucher can help cover costs in completing:

Am I eligible? 

Applicants must meet the following criterions to be eligible:

Applicants must also be in the following group to be eligible:

Approved Courses

The voucher may be used for:

Each institute may offer and / or provide different courses eligible for the Work Skills Voucher. For more information on the available courses, please contact your institute.
 
More information can be found on the Australian Skills Voucher Program website.
 
 
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Taxation incentives

You may be eligible to claim a deduction for the costs associated with TAFE study as a self-education expense through your tax return. Visit the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website to determine your eligibility.
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This page was last updated at 19-June-2008
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