Independent students

To get a Relocation Scholarship as an independent student you must have a special reason.

Who’s independent

The independence rules for Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY aren’t special reasons.

Special reasons on Youth Allowance

There are special reasons we look at when assessing your independence for Relocation Scholarship. If you get Youth Allowance, the main reason why you’re independent must be one of these:

  • you’re unable to live at home due to extreme circumstances
  • you’re an orphan
  • your parents can’t look after you
  • you have or had a child
  • you’re a refugee
  • you’re in state care
  • you’re specially disadvantaged.

Special reasons on ABSTUDY

There are special reasons we look at when assessing your independence for Relocation Scholarship.

If you get ABSTUDY, the main reason why you’re independent must be one of these:

  • you’re unable to live at home due to extreme circumstances
  • you’re an orphan
  • your parents can’t look after you
  • you have or had a child
  • you’re caring for someone else’s child
  • you have adult status in a traditional community
  • you’ve been in prison for 6 months or more
  • you’ve returned to live in an Indigenous community after being adopted or fostered by a non-Indigenous family for more than 2 years.
Page last updated: 3 March 2022.
QC 38886