To be eligible for any ABSTUDY assistance, a student or Australian Apprentice must meet the primary eligibility criteria for ABSTUDY. The primary ABSTUDY eligibility criteria are:
- enrolled in an approved course; or
- undertaking an approved Testing and Assessment activity to determine their suitability to undertake an approved course; or
- undertaking a Testing and Assessment activity to determine their suitability for the Indigenous Youth Mobility Programme (IYMP); and
- the Australian Apprentice has a current Commonwealth Registration Number in relation to a full-time apprenticeship or traineeship or trainee apprenticeship under the Australian Apprenticeships Scheme;
- the student or Australian Apprentice is not receiving or will not receive any other government assistance to study or complete their apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship; and
- the student or Australian Apprentice normally lives in Australia.
A student or Australian Apprentice is considered to normally live in Australia if they maintain a permanent home here, even if they are temporarily living or travelling overseas. A student or Australian Apprentice should be regarded as not normally living in Australia if they maintain a permanent home outside of Australia and its external territories.
ABSTUDY remains payable where a student or Australian Apprentice temporarily lives or travels overseas in the following circumstances:
- the student or Australian Apprentice continues to meet the primary eligibility criteria; and
- the student travels or lives overseas for no longer then 13 weeks; or
- the student meets the requirements for Overseas Studies set out in Chapter 55.
If a student or Australian Apprentice returns to Australia for a period of 13 weeks or less, the return is taken not to affect the continuity of the period of absence. This means that a new period cannot start unless the person has returned for greater than 13 weeks.
Where a student or Australian Apprentice is unable to return to Australia due to circumstances beyond their control, such as illness, ABSTUDY can be extended at the delegate’s discretion. Evidence supporting the extended stay will need to be provided by the student or New Apprentice.
In such cases the Australian Apprentice would still need to meet the eligibility criteria. That is, they must continue to meet the eligibility criteria set out in 9.1.
ABSTUDY is not payable where a student departs Australia and commences to reside in a permanent home outside Australia and its external territories
Eligibility for ABSTUDY will cease on the date of departure.
Fares Allowance is not payable for travel to or from an overseas destination.