Payments for students and trainees

We provide payments to support people who are studying, training or undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship. Income support payments like ABSTUDY, Austudy and Youth Allowance provide financial support while you study or train. We also provide payments to help the families and carers of students.

Who does this information apply to?

This information applies to:

• full-time students, Australian Apprentices or trainees who need financial support
• full-time students, Australian Apprentices or trainees receiving Centrelink payments such as Newstart Allowance or Disability Support Pension
• families and carers of full-time students, Australian Apprentices or trainees.

Payments to help you while you study

We provide financial support to assist with costs while you finish school, undertake tertiary education, or undertake an Australian Apprenticeship or traineeship.

ABSTUDY provides help with costs for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians who are studying or undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship. The Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme helps parents and carers with the extra costs of educating their children. Austudy provides financial help to full-time students and Australian Apprentices aged 25 or more. Youth Allowance provides financial help for young people who are studying and training full-time, undertaking a full-time Australian Apprenticeship, or looking for work or sick.

These payments usually continue during semester breaks and between courses.

You may also be able to get additional support if you are a student or trainee. The Youth Disability Supplement provides additional financial support to young people with a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability who receive certain income support payments. The Education Entry Payment helps students or trainees who get specific income support payments to assist with the cost of study.

Payments for child care costs

Child Care Benefit helps cover the cost of approved child care, including long day care, family day care, occasional day care, and before- and after-school care. The Child Care Rebate is paid in addition to the Child Care Benefit and covers some out-of-pocket child care expenses for those who are working, training or studying. Jobs, Education and Training (JET) Child Care fee assistance provides extra help with the cost of approved child care for eligible parents who are looking for work, studying, training or undertaking rehabilitation to enter, or re-enter the workforce.

Payments for travel expenses

If you are a student and you live away from home in order to study, Fares Allowance helps you cover the cost of travelling between your permanent home and the place where you are studying. The Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme helps parents and carers who live in rural and remote areas with the extra costs of educating their children.

Other government and community support services

There are a range of government and community organisations that provide support services and useful information you may find helpful.

Australian Apprenticeships provides information and resources about Australian apprenticeships and the support available.

Headspace is the national youth mental health foundation and help young people who are going through a tough time.

MoneySmart offers tips and useful tools to support people make better financial decisions and help manage their money.

My skills aims to connect students and employers with training organisations and provides information about Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in Australia.

Study Assist provides information to current and prospective students about Australian Government assistance for financial tertiary study including information about subsidised fees and government loans.