General Description of the Scheme

• Purpose
• Eligibility
• Recipient(s)
• Benefits
• Income test
• Enquiries and applications

Purpose

The scheme provides assistance for low-income families towards the cost of school levies and is available to students enrolled from Kindergarten through to Senior Secondary level attending a Government or registered Non-Government school or college.

A similar scheme, "TAFE Tasmania Student Grant" , is available for TAFE students, but the benefits and conditions vary from those of the Student Assistance Scheme. Contact your local TAFE institute for further information.

Eligibility

The scheme provides assistance to:

• Full-time students from kindergarten to senior secondary level in Government and registered non-Government schools whose parents/guardians meet the income test and have care of the student for a minimum of 50% of the time (as assessed by Centrelink)
• Students who are in "Out of Home Care" through the Department of Health and Human Services, Child and Family Services Section
• Grandparents raising grandchildren
• Some visa holders may be eligible. For further information contact International Services on (03) 6233 7016

Independent Students

• If you live at home with your parents, even if you are over 18 years old and receiving Youth Allowance, you are NOT considered to be an independent student for the purpose of receiving STAS.  Your parent(s) will need to apply for STAS naming you as a dependent
• If you are under the age of 18 but for legal or other reasons are considered by Centrelink to be an Independent Student, this must be verified by Centrelink.  If this applies to you, please complete the Independent Student details on page 4
• If you live independently of your parents and have your own income and can provide proof of that income for the purpose of being assessed under the Student Assistance Scheme means test then apply in the usual way by submitting a STAS Application Form
• For further questions or enquiries please contact FAU on 1800 816 057

Not Eligible

• Part-time senior secondary students. (Less than 600 contact hours)
• Students who are in regular paid employment which is directly associated with their course, (e.g. Cadetships, Apprenticeships and Traineeships) are not eligible to receive assistance from the Scheme.
• Non residents of Tasmania other than some visa holders (as above)

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

The Minister for Education has expanded the student assistance scheme to provide access for grandparents raising grandchildren. The 2008-09 Taxable Income Table does not apply to grandparents.  To receive STAS, grandparents will simply need to complete a form and provide proof that their grandchildren are now legally in their care.  To provide proof, grandparents receiving Centrelink benefits (and Centrelink recognise them as the prime carer of the children) are able to complete the Centrelink Reference Number section on a STAS form and attach a copy of their health care card/pension card.  If they do not receive a Centrelink Benefit they will need to complete and sign a statutory declaration and attach this to their completed application.

Statutory Declarations are available from Australia Post Offices.

The extension of STAS to cover the needs of grandparents recognises the important role that many grandparents play in caring for our students. As a result of this announcement grandparents will also have access to the Spectacles Assistance Scheme.

Recipient(s)

The school or college will receive funding on behalf of eligible students.

Benefits

Financial assistance is provided towards the cost of school levies.

Income Test

Income assessment is applied to parents/guardians of dependent students applying for assistance under the scheme. Independent students are required to meet the income test and also provide proof of their independent status. The income test used for the scheme is included on the application form each year.

The income test table used for the STAS 2010 scheme is shown below:

Maximum Total Taxable Parental Income 2008-09

*For more than 8 children, add $109 per week or $5,677 per annum for each additional dependent.

Enquiries and Applications

Application forms are available from all schools and colleges within Tasmania, the Department of Education and Service Tasmania Shops.

For general enquiries or assistance in completing the application form contact the relevant school or college.

For specific information on; assistance in completing the application form or the application procedures, contact the:

BSS Service Centre
Department of Education
GPO Box 169
HOBART 7001

Telephone: 1800 816 057
Facsimile: (03) 6233 6520

STAS Application Form 2010 [PDF 251KB]