January 24th, 2026Let’s hit pause on the panic button

2026 has arrived and the festivities have come to an end. Suddenly, it hits you. The next phase of your life is about to begin.

Suddenly, you’re frantically googling. How do I enrol in my classes? When is my first day again? What stationery do I need? Will I need a new bag?

Let’s hit pause on the panic button for a second. If you’re heading into full time study or training this year, we’ve got news you’ll want to hear.

Here’s what you need to know!

Services Australia has a range of student payments to help you financially while you study and now is the time to apply.

Financial support that can help set you up

If you take just one thing away from this, let it be this – you don’t need to wait for your course offer or your course to start before claiming a student payment.

A common myth is you need to wait for a course offer before claiming support. Some people think they need to wait until they start the course itself.

But you don’t. In fact, if you claim over the summer break, you may be able to get student payments now, before their course or training begins.

Now, what payments might be available for you? Keep on reading.

Youth Allowance

Youth Allowance is a payment for young Australians aged 16-24 who are studying, training, or working in full-time apprenticeships or traineeships.

Applicants must be Australian residents and meet income and assets tests, including a parental means test if they’re considered dependent.

Students can receive up to $677.20 per fortnight while living away from home and up to $482.40 per fortnight living at home.

ABSTUDY

If you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student or apprentice, ABSTUDY offers different payments and allowances tailored to your situation.

If you’re thinking about university or TAFE, this can help with living costs, high essential course costs like union fees, library fees, laboratory fees and textbook costs, as well as travel and lodging.

Apprentices can also get support with living costs while they complete their training.

Other support available

There are additional supports available for students who are moving away from home to study or who need extra support with upfront costs.

The Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) is a payment of up to $5000, designed to support students under 23 years of age, moving from regional or remote areas for their first year of tertiary study.

You can look up your address on the Services Australia website to work out if you’re moving from an area eligible for the Tertiary Access Payment.

The Student Start Up Loan, which is a voluntary loan of $1,349, twice per year, which is available for students to help with the costs of textbooks, living expenses or laptops. It’s important to remember that you will need to pay back the amount you borrow plus indexation.

Relocation Scholarship is also available for students moving from a regional or remote area for study. If you are receiving Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY, you could be entitled to an extra $5,707 in the first year of study.

There is also an allowance called Fares Allowance, which is available to students who are living away from home to study and are receiving a student payment. This covers the cost of the least expensive and most available form of public transport in Australia.

Lastly, you may also be entitled to Rent Assistance if you are receiving a student payment and paying rent. Depending on your situation, you could get up to an additional $215.40 a fortnight, if you are single and your rent is more than $152.00 a fortnight.

How to claim these payments

You’ll need to link Centrelink to your myGov account to apply. If you don’t have a myGov account, you’ll need to create one.  There is a step-by-step guide here.

After you’ve created one, you can link services to your account and lodge your claim.

You may need to provide supporting documents, including details about your course, your home location, and your parents’ income.

So go ahead – celebrate your results, breathe and get excited about what’s next to come! No matter your path, Services Australia is here to help you start strong.

You’ve got this!