Students in regional and rural communities including Dubbo will be able to get independent youth allowance “one year after leaving high school” under new rules introduced by the federal government, reports Member for Parkes Mark Coulton.
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The 18-month wait to qualify for independent status has been reduced to 14 months, making it possible for students to get to university faster.
But they have four months less to earn the required $24,836 to access independent payments.
The new rules also apply to ABSTUDY living allowance.
Mr Coulton is promoting the change that immediately affects 3700 regional and rural students across Australia.
The new rules address the previous one-and-a-half to two-year wait to start tertiary studies, a potential deterrent to further education.
“This change means regional and remote students can be considered independent for student payments sooner,” Mr Coulton said.
“During their gap year, local businesses can take advantage of the opportunity to hire motivated young staff and, because it’s only one year and not up to two years break from study, students are far more likely to continue on to university.”
Mr Coulton said young people would gain life skills and work experience during their gap year which made them much more employable and self-sufficient when they moved away from home to study.
“Down the track, our regions will benefit when these young people return, uni degree in hand, to help build prosperous communities,” he said.
Minister for Human Services Michael Keenan said the government recognised the “importance of helping regional students transition to further studies”.
“Under the new rules, students who take a gap year after Year 12 can then use that time to become independent for student payments and start university sooner,” he said. For more information about student payments and independence rules, visit humanservices.gov.au/students.