Tertiary students
If you’re dependent, you may be eligible if one of the following apply:
- it takes longer than 90 minutes to travel from your parents’ home to your place of study by public transport
- it’s compulsory to live at your education provider while you study
- your parents’ home isn’t a suitable place to study, for example, due to family conflict or illness
- you’re doing part of your Australian approved course at an overseas education provider.
If you’re independent, you’ll get the higher rate if you live away from your parents’ home.
Secondary students
You may be eligible if one of the following apply:
- it takes longer than 90 minutes to travel from your parents’ home to your place of study by public transport
- your parents’ home is in an isolated area, for example, at least 56 km from an appropriate government school
- you can’t get to school because of blocked roads for 20 school days a year
- your parents’ home isn’t a suitable place to study, for example, due to family conflict or illness
- your parents move their principal home frequently
- you have a disability and your parents’ home is away from facilities you need
- you’re in Year 11 or 12 and your parents move out of the area
- you need to live away from your parents’ home as an equivalent course isn’t available nearby.
You may get a higher rate if your local government secondary schools are limited program schools.
Check if there are limited program schools in your state or territory.
If you choose not to go to an appropriate government school in your area you won’t get a higher rate.
When exceptions to attending a local school may apply
If you’ve chosen to not attend your local school, you normally can’t get the higher rate. However, you may get it if any of these exceptional reasons apply:
- your school caters to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students where English is not their first language
- the state or territory education department states the local school is inappropriate for your educational needs
- the state or territory education department supports you not going to the local school.
If any of these reasons apply to you, call us on the Youth and students line to discuss your circumstances. You’ll need to give us evidence to support your exceptional reason.
If you have special abilities and need to live away from home to attend a specific school or program, you may also be eligible for the higher rate. You’ll need to give us evidence that the study will improve your education or employment prospects.
Example of a student with special abilities studying away from home
Eli is a gifted dancer who lives in Newcastle. Eli’s local school offers basic classes but doesn’t offer specific classes in his major focus, dance. Eli is offered a scholarship to go to the Victorian School of Ballet. Eli’s school principal, teachers and members of the arts community provide statements saying attendance at the non-local school will be beneficial for his special talent. Eli is able to demonstrate moving away from home to attend the school will improve his employment and education prospects. He can get the higher rate.
Australian Apprentices
You may get the higher rate if you need to live away from your parents’ home to do your apprenticeship.
More help
If you pay rent and get Youth Allowance as a student or Australian Apprentice, you may get Rent Assistance.
If you’re a full time student living away from home, you may get either: