Financial Assistance
Tertiary study is not free and you may need to budget to meet the costs of studying. There is financial assistance available to students and it is recommended that you investigate the different options and cost saving measures available to ease the purse strings.
Examples of the financial supports that you may be eligible to receive include:
- Newstart Allowance
- Austudy
- ABSTUDY
- Mobility Allowance
- rent assistance
- student scholarships
- travel concessions
- student card
- taxi transport subsidy scheme
- disability parking permit
- childcare subsidies
- community assistance
To find out about the range of financial assistance available it is important that you undertake research and ask questions. Benefits and assistance programs vary from year to year and from State to State. Contact Centrelink to see if you are eligible for any assistance in addition to your service provider.
Tertiary institutions also have staff who you can speak who will assist you identify financial supports that you may eligible to receive. For example Disability Liaison Officer or Student Services Officer, Welfare Officer and/or Scholarship Officer. Many community organisations such as Rotary and Kiwanis also provide assistance to members of their local community the include study related equipment such as computers, wheelchair adaptations and funds to purchase specialist software.
Max Magain talks about financial
assistance he discovered
while undertaking study as a mature age
student with a disability at TAFE