A secondary school student may be approved for Away from Home entitlements on the basis of being offered a scholarship by an independent boarding school in the following circumstances:
- the school is an approved secondary school offering an approved course of secondary studies; and
- the school has an SES funding score for Commonwealth General Recurrent Grants of 100 or greater (Schools Assistance (Learning Together - Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Bill 2004); and
- the scholarship being offered by the school contributes a minimum of 15% of the total tuition and boarding fees; and
- in establishing the scholarship, the local Indigenous Education Consultative Body (IECB), or their nominee, will provide advice on the scholarship's establishment and ongoing guidance, as required. In the absence of an IECB's ability to fulfil this role, an independent representative from the local Indigenous community with an education background should be involved; however,
- where an IECB is unable to fulfil this role the ABSTUDY Policy Team, DEEWR must be advised in writing of the reason for this. DEEWR will forward this advice to Centrelink.
A secondary student may be approved for Away from Home entitlements on the basis of being offered a scholarship in the following circumstances:
- the school is an approved secondary school offering an approved course of secondary studies; and
- the scholarship is supported by the Australian Government as approved by the Minister for Education:
- Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP); or
- Cape York Institute’s Higher Expectations Program (HEP); or
- Higher Expectations Program (Northern Territory); or
- Rosemary Bishop Indigenous Education Scholarship (RBS); or
- Sporting Chance Program.
Further scholarships may be added, as approved by the Minister for Education, from time to time.
35.3.1 Qualification for Mobility
Secondary school students may be approved for the ABSTUDY Away from Home provisions to enable the student to live away from the community and attend a school at another location. To be eligible for this provision, the student must permanently reside in one of four designated Cape York trial sites. These sites are Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale, and Mossman Gorge. Students must also meet all other ABSTUDY eligibility criteria.
35.3.2 Change in Location of Permanent Home
Approval of Away from Home entitlements on the basis of Mobility Provisions, ceases if;
- the student’s permanent home changes to a location that is outside of a designated trial site; and
- the student returns from the boarding school to live on a permanent basis in the permanent home; unless
- continuity of study provisions, as set out at Chapter 32, apply.