You get a scholarship

You may get a higher rate of ABSTUDY Living Allowance if you live away from home because you’re offered a scholarship.

Scholarship to a boarding school

You may get a higher rate if you live away from home because you’re offered a scholarship to a boarding school. For you to get the higher rate all of the following need to apply:

  • it’s an approved school and course of secondary studies
  • boarding is a necessary part of the school
  • the scholarship covers at least $7,096 or 25% of your total board and tuition, whichever is greater.

Scholarship to a Highly Effective or High Expectations School

You may get a higher rate if you live away from home because you’re offered a scholarship and it’s both:

  • for an approved school and course of secondary studies
  • an Australian Government supported scholarship.

An Australian Government supported scholarship paid under the Australian Government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy. This includes scholarships such as:

  • Indigenous Youth Leadership Program
  • Madalah SOAR Scholarship
  • MADEC Indigenous Young People’s Program
  • Presbyterian Ladies’ College Indigenous Scholarship Program - Peppermint Grove Western Australia
  • Sporting Chance Program or similar projects paid under the Australian Government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy, including at former Sporting Chance Academies
  • Yalari Education Pathways Program.

Other Australian Government supported scholarships include:

  • Aboriginal Advancement League’s First Nations Scholarship - Lady Gladys Nicholls Hostel
  • Australian Indigenous Education Foundation Scholarship Program
  • Cape York Institute’s Academic Leaders - Secondary
  • Commonwealth Regional Scholarship Program
  • Higher Expectations Program - Northern Territory
  • Kajji Foundation Scholarship
  • Kimberley Education Excellence Program
  • Moriarty Foundation’s John Moriarty Football Scholarship
  • Ngurra Jirama Foundation Scholarship
  • Northern Territory Government Indigenous Education Excellence Scholarship
  • Rosemary Bishop Indigenous Education Scholarship
  • Woomera Educational Scholarship Trust.

If you’re not sure, call us on the ABSTUDY line and we can tell you if your scholarship is approved.

Transition School Scholarship

You may get a higher rate if you live away from home because you’re offered a scholarship to either:

  • the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) to help you get a scholarship at a high performing school
  • a MITS partner school after completing the MITS program.

Contact numbers available on this page.

Centrelink ABSTUDY line

Use this line if you get or are claiming ABSTUDY – help for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and apprentices.

Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm

If your payment has stopped, it may be because we need your parents’ or guardians’ income information. Read more about how they can update their income details online.

If you need help with another student payment call the Youth and Students line.

There are other ways you may want to contact us.

Page last updated: 3 December 2024.
QC 53795