Government Support

At PKUC, we understand that financial support can play a crucial role in helping you access and succeed in higher education. There are a range of Australian Government payments and assistance programs available to support eligible students, particularly those from regional and remote communities, to begin and continue their studies.

On this page, you’ll find information about key support options including the Commonwealth Prac Payment, Tertiary Access Payment, Austudy, and ABSTUDY. These payments are designed to assist with the costs associated with study, such as living expenses, travel, and required placements, helping to reduce financial barriers and make study more achievable.

We encourage you to explore these options to better understand what support you may be eligible for as part of your education journey.

There’s ABSTUDY support available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in high school or higher education. This includes masters and doctorate study. ABSTUDY is a group of payments and support. What you can get depends on your circumstances. For some payments, this may include any of the following:

if you’re dependent or independent for ABSTUDY
if you need to live away from home to study
your income
your parents’ or guardians’ income
your partner’s income, if you have one.

To learn more about the ABSTUDY payments you may get please visit ABSTUDY for high school, university or other higher education students – ABSTUDY – Services Australia

Financial help if you’re 25 or older and studying or an Australian Apprentice.

To get this you must be:

25 or older
a full time student in an approved course or Australian Apprenticeship
under the income test limits.

For up to date information please visit Austudy – Services Australia

The Commonwealth Prac Payment offers financial support while students are undertaking a mandatory placement in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in teaching, nursing, midwifery or social work. The process is administered by your university, please review this document for further information PKUC_Commonwealth_Prac_Payment_Guide

HECS-HELP is a loan from the Australian Government that you can use to pay your student contribution amount, when enrolled in Commonwealth Support Place (CSP). It will be paid directly to your provider by the government. You do not have to repay this loan until your income reaches a certain amount. For current information please the Study Assist HECS-HELP webpage

FEE-HELP is a loan from the Australian Government that you can use to pay your student contribution amount, when enrolled in a full fee-paying place. It will be paid directly to your provider by the government. For current information please the Study Assist FEE-HELP webpage

SA-HELP is a loan from the Australian Government to help you pay your higher education provider’s student services and amenities fee (SSAF). Separate to your tuition fees, your provider may also charge you a SSAF. The SSAF is used by your provider to offer services such as childcare, food services, financial advice, sporting and recreational activities or employment and career advice.

A SA-HELP loan can be used to pay for some or all of the SSAF and is paid directly to your provider by the government. For current information please the Study Assist SA-HELP webpage

Study Assistance Scheme (www.wa.gov.au) As a public sector employee you can receive a 10% discount on course fees from Western Australian tertiary institutions.

The Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) is a non-indexed, means-tested payment to school-leavers from regional or remote areas who need to relocate for full-time, higher-level tertiary education (Certificate IV and above) at an education provider located at least 90 minutes by public transport from their family home. For more information and eligibility please review the relevant government page.

Financial help if you’re 24 or younger and a student or Australian Apprentice.

To get this you must be one of the following:

18 to 24 and studying full time
16 to 17, studying full time and either independent or needing to live away from home to study
16 to 17, studying full time and have completed year 12 or equivalent
16 to 24 and doing a full time Australian Apprenticeship.

For up to date information please visit Youth Allowance for students and Australian Apprentices – Services Australia

Disclaimer:
The information provided on this page is intended as a general guide only. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, information may change over time. For the most current and reliable details, please refer to the relevant government website or official sources

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