t
n
e
t
d
r
u
o
St supp
14 Dece
The purpose of this Note is to provide some brief information for
domestic and international students studying in Australia on some of
12
mber 20
the financial support available such as public transport concessions,
child care, and other government financial assistance schemes. It also
includes a brief summary of the Overseas Student Health Cover.
Public Transport Concessions
NSW
Victoria
Full-time student attending day
classes and not in paid employment
or otherwise receiving an income
Full-time student
Eligibility
Victorian Public Transport
concession card
South
Australia
Full-time student
Australian
Capital Territory
Full-time student
Western
Australia
Full-time student
Student ID card
Student ID card
Tertiary
SmartRider card
Student ID card
(with NSW concession printed
image or foil sticker)
Queensland
Full-time student
Student ID card with
Queensland Rail logo
or the Dept of Transport
and Main Roads public
transport concession
identifier
Northern
Tasmania
Territory
Full-time and part Full-time student
time students
Student ID card
Student ID card
OR
Postgraduate students*
International students*
Interstate students*

 however Premier announced on
30/10/12 that this will change

50%
Approximate concession




Tertiary Transport card











50%

50%

50%

up to 25%

50%

free bus and
concession ferry

50%
Or unlimited travel with Victorian
Student Pass (currently a yearly pass
is approx. $450) or Regional Transit
Student pass for either the Geelong,
Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrnambool,
Portland or Colac areas
(TransPerth,
TransWA and
regional services)
*subject to eligibility requirements
Go8 Note: Student Support
Page 1
Train

South
Australia

Australian
Capital Territory
N/A
Western
Australia





(Westgate Punt)
N/A
N/A

NSW
Victoria

CityRail
• MyTrain single/return
• AirportLink Station Access Fee
• MyTrain 7 and 14 Day, Monthly,
Quarterly and Yearly Rail Passes
• MyMulti (Day Pass and Weekly)

Northern
Territory
N/A




N/A



N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

N/A
N/A

(AirTrain)
N/A
N/A
N/A
Queensland
Tasmania
N/A
CountryLink
• Single/Return
Bus
Ferry
Light Rail
Tram
Great Southern Rail
• Single/Return

• MyBus Single
• MyBus Travel Ten
• MyMulti (day and weekly)

• MyFerry single/return
• MyFerry Travel Ten
• MyMulti (day and weekly)

• MyMulti (Day Pass and Weekly)

Child care
All Go8 universities have one or more child care centres based on or near the university campus. Enrolment priority is usually given to staff and students of the
university. Some universities also offer a means-tested rebate to their students to help with the costs of child care.
The Australian Government provides support to help with the costs of child care. The Child Care Benefit may be available if approved or registered care is used,
the child is immunised, and the income and residency requirements are met. The Child Care Benefit is only available to Australian residents so this will usually
exclude students on a temporary visa. However international students who are sponsored by the Australian Government to undertake a course of study in
Australia, such as through an AusAID scholarship, may qualify for the Child Care Benefit.
Go8 Note: Student Support
Page 2
Child Care Benefit per child per week*
Additional Requirement
24 hours
Meet test for approved care
24-50 hours
Meet test for approved care and;
Both spouses have work-related commitments for at least 30 hours per fortnight
*For the current hourly rates see www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/centrelink/child-care-benefit/payment-rates
The Child Care Rebate is a tax rebate available for 50 per cent of out-of-pocket expenses (up to a maximum amount per child per year) for parents who are
working, training or studying. Any Child Care Benefit received will be deducted from the total child care fees when calculating the rebate. The Rebate can
either be received weekly, fortnightly, quarterly or annually. To be eligible for the Child Care Rebate, the parent must be eligible for the Child Care Benefit
(even if found eligible with zero benefit) and must spend 15 hours per week (or 30 hours per fortnight) in work-related commitments which can include
a combination of the following: paid work or self employment; setting up a business; looking for work; voluntary work to improve work skills. For more
information on the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate visit www.humanservices.gov.au
Health insurance – international students
The Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is the system of health cover in Australia for international students. Student must purchase this insurance prior to
leaving their home country. The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship requires that students maintain this insurance for the entire duration of
their Australian student visa.
Each university will usually have a preferred OSHC provider, but students are free to choose any OSHC Australian provider. There are currently five providers in Australia:
• Australian Health Management OSHC
• BUPA Australia
• Medibank Private
• OSHC Worldcare
• NIB OSHC
Go8 Note: Student Support
Go8 university
Preferred provider
The Australian National University
OSHC Worldcare
The University of New South Wales
Medibank Private
The University of Adelaide
OSHC Worldcare
Monash University
OSHC Worldcare
The University of Queensland
OSHC Worldcare
The University of Western Australia
OSHC Worldcare
The University of Melbourne
OSHC Worldcare
The University of Sydney
OSHC Worldcare
Page 3
The OSHC insurance covers most medical or hospital care in Australia, a portion of most prescription medicines, and the cost of an ambulance in an
emergency. At a minimum, each OSHC product must include cover for:
• the benefit amount listed in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee for out-of-hospital medical services (for example, a general practitioner)
• 100 per cent of the MBS fee for in-patient medical services (for example, surgery)
• public hospital shared ward accommodation
• private hospital shared ward accommodation (only for hospitals that have contractual arrangements with the overseas student’s health insurer)
• day surgery accommodation
• some prosthetic devices
• pharmaceutical benefits up to $50 per pharmaceutical item to a maximum of $300 a year for a single membership ($600 for a family membership).
Overseas students may face significant out-of-pocket costs if they do not have appropriate coverage for treatment with pharmaceuticals, particularly
oncology (cancer) treatment.
• ambulance services.1
OSHC does not cover dental, optical or physiotherapy. These treatments can be covered through additional private health insurance, such as extra OSHC
provided by some OSHC providers, international travel insurance or general treatment cover with any Australian private health insurer.
Other Government assistance – domestic students
The Australian Government provides a number of other financial assistance programs to support domestic tertiary students. Below is a brief summary. More
information can be found on the Department of Human Services website.
What is it?
ABSTUDY
Austudy
1
Eligibility
• an Australia citizen
• an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian
Financial assistance to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australians, who are studying at a TAFE or university
or completing a full-time Australian apprenticeship, to help meet education, accommodation, travel and
• enrolled in an approve course
medicinal costs
• not receiving any other government assistance to study or complete apprenticeship
• normally living in Australia
• Australian resident
• aged 25 and over
Financial assistance to full-time students and Australian apprentices aged 25 and over
• studying full-time in an approved course at an approved educational institution or undertaking
a full time Australian apprenticeship
Department of Health and Ageing, www.health.gov.au/internet/main/Publishing.nsf/Content/Overseas+Student+Health+Cover+FAQ-1#oshccover
Go8 Note: Student Support
Page 4
What is it?
Youth Allowance
Financial assistance to young people who are studying full time, undertaking a full-time Australian
apprenticeship, training, looking for work or sick
Fares Allowance
Helps students who are living away from home because of study to meet the cost of travelling between their
permanent home and place of study
Rent Assistance
Financial assistance to help people pay rent and receive a Centrelink payment
Eligibility
• Australian resident
• Meet the parental means test
• 16 to 21 years old, with Year 12 certificate or equivalent, and looking for full-time work or
undertaking approved activities
• 18 to 24 years old and studying full-time
• 16 to 24 years old and undertaking a full-time Australian apprenticeship
• living away from permanent home to study
• receiving either ABSTUDY, Austudy, a pensioner education supplement or Youth Allowance (as a
full-time student)
• paying rent (can include lodging, boarding, site fees)
• are eligible to receive a different Centrelink payment
This Note is based on information valid at the date of publication.
Go8 Note: Student Support
Page 5