Government Assistance for Australian Students

As the Diploma of Satyananda Yoga Teaching is a nationally recognised training course, Australian citizens, or those with permanent resident status, may be eligible for financial assistance from the Government for undertaking this course. Providing you fit the criteria for assistance, this assistance is available for both full residential and distance options.

PLEASE NOTE: New Zealand citizens arriving in Australia after 26 May 2001 are now required to become Australian citizens or obtain permanent resident status and fulfil a two year waiting period to qualify for Centrelink benefits.

Please be aware that the Academy is required to report to Centrelink regarding student participation levels from time to time.  For reporting purposes, each module ends as of the Module Completion Date listed in the Module Dates section.  Students who submit work, or who have yet to complete assessment tasks, beyond the Module Completion Date are not considered to be enrolled for Centrelink reporting purposes.

Our Centrelink reference number is 2P653.  The following benefits may be available:

Austudy

Austudy payment provides assistance for full time students aged 25 years and older who are undertaking an approved course of education.  You are considered independent so there is no Parental Means Test, but you must meet a personal (and partner) income and assets test.

If you are in receipt of Austudy, please note that, unless you are enrolled in the subsequent module, your enrolment and therefore your Austudy payment ceases at the end of the final assessment, not the alternative assessment date.

For further details:            http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/austudy.htm

Youth Allowance

Youth Allowance provides assistance for students under the age of 25 years. Youth Allowance is based on the parents' financial situation unless the student is classified as belonging to one of the Youth Allowance 'independent' categories. If you are considered 'independent' under Youth Allowance, your parents' income does not affect your rate of pay.

Youth Allowance recipients may also be eligible for an advance payment of their benefit to help meet course enrolment costs.

For further details:            http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/youth_allow.htm

Abstudy

Abstudy is available for Indigenous students.  It consists of a fortnightly living allowance as well as additional components to help with the costs associated with attending school.

Payment amounts depend on the nature of the course, your age, whether you need to live away from home, whether Abstudy considers you to be dependent or independent, and how much you and your partner or your parents/guardians earn.

There is an income and assets test for this assistance.  Rent Assistance may also be available.

For further details: http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/abstudy.htm

Pension Education Supplement

Students who are receiving a Disability Support Pension or the Parent Payment are eligible for a Pension Education Supplement.  The supplement is paid fortnightly and the amount of the supplement depends on your study load.

If you were previously receiving Pensioner Education Supplement immediately prior to 1 July 2006, and are continuing the same course and are now receiving Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance, under certain circumstances you may continue to receive the Pensioner Education Supplement.

The Pensioner Education Supplement is a non-taxable payment and does not have an income or assets tests.

For further details http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/pes.htm

Newstart Allowance

If you are unemployed, Newstart Allowance helps you while you are looking for work and allows you to participate in activities designed to increase your chances of finding work.

You may get Newstart Allowance if you are aged 21 or over and under Age Pension age, are unemployed (which may include part time work), are willing to undertake suitable paid employment and are prepared to enter into, comply or vary an existing Activity Agreement to fulfil the activity test.

One of the activities that may be contained in an agreement is vocational education or training.  Students may also be eligible for assistance with course fees.   Rent Assistance may also be available.

For further details:            http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/newstart.htm

Rent Assistance

If you are studying full time and eligible for one of the above benefits (other than Austudy), and resident at an ashram, two thirds of the residential fee payment is considered to be rent and therefore entitles you to a further benefit from the government in the form of rent assistance.

For further details:            http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/rent_assistance.htm