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Education, skills and learning

Payments and financial support schemes

Students and their families can get help with education costs through a variety of schemes provided by Centrelink and other national agencies. Assistance is available for all types of learning and training for those with special needs.

On this page:

Aboriginal families
Centrelink customers
Defence force families
Families with children in child care
International students
Pensioners
Students in remote and isolated areas
Young people at school, studying, training or in an apprenticeship

Aboriginal families

These support schemes are only for Aboriginal people. Aboriginal families may also be eligible for other support.

Abstudy

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders can apply for ABSTUDY. The scheme covers indigenous secondary or tertiary education and full-time Australian apprenticeships.

Indigenous Youth Mobility Program

Aboriginal people aged 16 to 24 who live in remote areas can get support to move into Indigenous Youth Mobility Program accomodation while studying and training away from home. You'll get healthy meals, and 24/7 help from staff to guide you and keep you in touch with your loved ones.

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Centrelink customers

Customers of Centrelink can use the Centrepay bill-paying service. Fees including education fees can be deducted on a regular basis from Centrelink payments. You can contact your school about arranging a payment plan.

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Defence force families

Members of the Australian Defence Force are entitled to various assistance schemes to support their child's education. You may also be eligible for other support schemes.

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Families with children in child care

The Child Care Benefit helps you with the cost of child care, long day care, family day care, occasional care, outside school hours care, vacation care and registered care.

If you have applied for the Child Care Benefit, you may also be eligible for the Child Care Rebate.

The Jobs, Education and Training Child Care Rebate (JET) helps you with the cost of child care fees while you study, participate in training or participate in job search activities to enter or re-enter the workforce if you are on an employment pathway plan through Centrelink.

The Grandparent Child Care Benefit helps you with the cost of childcare if you are the sole or main provider of ongoing daily care for your grandchild.

The Special Child Care benefit can assist with child care fees:

where the child is at risk of serious abuse or neglect
if the family is experiencing a hardship that makes it difficult to access child care
the weekly limit of hours can be increased and the fees covered by this benefit in some circumstances.

For more information see child care fact sheets on the My child website or phone the mychild helpline on 13 36 84.

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International students

Overseas students on an award course in South Australia can enrol their children in a state government school. There are two categories of dependants:

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Pensioners

Pensioners who are receiving payments from Centrelink may be eligible for a Pensioner Education Supplement.

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Students in remote and isolated areas

School-aged students who cannot get to a school or tertiary provider because they live in a remote area, or they have a disability or special health needs can apply for help through Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC).

Aboriginal students may be interested in finding out about the Indigenous Youth Mobility Program.

Eligible students can apply for a travelling allowance.

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Young people at school, training or in an apprenticeship

Austudy

Full-time students aged 25 years or over and those undertaking an Australian apprenticeship can apply for financial help through AUSTUDY. The scheme covers secondary education, graduate and undergraduate courses, and some Masters, diplomas and TAFE courses.

Education Tax Refund

Families may be eligible for refunds on a range of children's education expenses through the Education Tax Refund.

School Card

Full-time students from low income families scheme who are attending government and non-government schools can claim School Card assistance for a range of school expenses, including fees.