There are no specific attendance requirements for students under the Secondary (non-school), Tertiary and Masters & Doctorate Awards, however, to qualify for these Awards, a secondary non-school, tertiary, and Masters and Doctorate level student must undertake the course in which s/he is enrolled.
A student is considered to be undertaking the course where s/he meets the institution’s requirements in relation to attendance and submission of coursework. A student will be considered to be not undertaking the course where the institution advises that the student is not meeting the institution’s requirements in relation to attendance and submission of coursework.
An Australian Apprentice under the tertiary award must be undertaking an apprenticeship, traineeship, trainee apprenticeship on a full-time basis under the Australian Apprenticeship Scheme. A “Training Agreement” or “Contract of Training” will be registered with the relevant State/Territory Training Authority and based on the information contained in the document, DEEWR will determine whether the Australian Apprentice is full-time. For an Australian Apprentice to be considered to be undertaking an apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship, they must also have a current Commonwealth Registration Number.
A secondary non-school, tertiary, and Masters and Doctorate level student will continue to be regarded as a full-time (or concessional study-load) student during an extended period of absence of up to eight weeks provided they:
- remain enrolled by the education institution; and
- provide evidence, such as a medical certificate, that:
o states the nature of the condition leading to absence and confirms that the condition prevents the student from studying full-time; and
o confirms that the condition is of a temporary nature and states the date on which the period of incapacity commenced and the date on which the student is expected to be able to resume full-time study.
Students will be considered to have discontinued study at the end of the period as specified in the medical certificate unless they resume study or receive an additional extension as detailed below.
An additional period of extension of entitlement may be granted if:
- the student continues to remain enrolled in the course; and
- a further medical certificate is provided containing the information indicated under extended period above; and
- a statement is received from the institution's Academic Registrar, or equivalent officer, which states that, at the end of the expected period of incapacity, the student will be allowed to resume full-time study in the course.
Students will be considered to have discontinued study on the last day of the period specified in the second medical certificate if they do not resume full-time study on the following day. No further extension to the period of absence may be approved.
An Australian Apprentice will continue to be regarded as a full-time Australian Apprentice during any periods of absence, as long as they are considered to:
- be undertaking an apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship under the Australian Apprenticeship Scheme; and
- have a current Commonwealth Registration Number but does not include a person whose registration number is suspended.
As absences will normally be advised or negotiated with employers, Australian Apprentices will be considered to have continuing entitlement to ABSTUDY as long as they continue to meet all other relevant criteria. It is the responsibility of the Australian Apprentice to provide the employer with notification and any evidence regarding absences due to a medical condition or other requirements under their employment conditions. These requirements would normally be contained within the Australian Apprentices Training Agreement.