Purpose

The Students Accommodation Allowance provides financial assistance to students in Years 11 or 12 who must live away from their usual Tasmanian home in order to study at a Tasmanian Senior Secondary college, Tasmanian Polytechnic or Tasmanian Academy.  The allowance is limited to a maximum of two years unless special circumstances exist.  The allowance is not means tested.  A new Application Form is required each year.

Eligibility

An accommodation allowance is payable to students enrolled on a full-time (i.e. enrolled at least 600 contact hours) or part-time (i.e. enrolled at least 300 contact hours) basis,who, because of the distance between their normal residence in Tasmania and the closest senior secondary establishment in Tasmania (special provisions apply for students from Bass Strait Islands) offering their chosen course of study, are required to utilise closer alternative accommodation. The distance used in determining eligibility is 40 kilometres. Students who are living at or near their normal home are not eligible for the allowance. This allowance is only payable to students whose parents/guardians are permanent residents of Tasmania. Other conditions apply and these are included in the Guidelines for the scheme which are attached to the application form.

A short stay accommodation allowance [Word 52KB] is also payable to students who meet the Eligibility Conditions and who are undertaking courses that are linked to their usual course of study. The minimum payment is $40.00 for five (5) nights, whether they are consecutive or accumulated nights over a period of time within the school year. Each additional night will be paid at the rate of $8.00 per night.

Recipient(s)

1. Parents or legal guardians of students under 18 years of age.
2. Students 18 years of age or over may apply in writing to receive the allowance in their own name.

Benefits

An allowance of $1,400 a year is payable to students who study for the full year. Pro-rata grants apply for students who do not study for the full year.

Means Test

Not applicable.

Payment Frequency

Four times a year - 26 March, 7 May, 6 August and 1 October.

Further Information

Please see the application form [PDF 158KB] for the Accommodation Allowance (SAA) Scheme which includes the ‘Eligibility Conditions’ for the scheme.

Please note, that a separate short stay request form [Word 52KB] will be required for each additional short stay accommodation requirement.

Application forms are available from all senior secondary schools and colleges, the Department of Education, Service Tasmania shops and Centrelink Offices within Tasmania.

Enquiries

For further information contact:

BSS Service Centre
Department of Education
GPO Box 169
HOBART 7001

Telephone: 1800 816 057
Facsimile: (03) 6233 6520
Email: ServiceCentre@education.tas.gov.au

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