Austudy Payment

This article is about payment to those aged 25 and over from 1 July 1998 onwards. For combined scheme from 1987 to 30 June 1998, see AUSTUDY Scheme.

Austudy Payment is a Commonwealth Government of Australia income support payment for students above the age of 25 years of age, paid under the Social Security Act 1991. It commenced operation on the 1 July 1998. Students below the age of 25 years are paid Youth Allowance. Austudy is adjusted on January 1 in line with 12-month changes in inflation.[1]

In general, to qualify, one must be an Australian resident, over 25, and studying full-time at an approved education institution. However, students who were receiving Youth Allowance prior to turning 25 and are still pursuing the same course of study continue to receive Youth Allowance until they finish (or otherwise terminate) their course. Unlike Youth Allowance, Austudy Payment customers are considered independent from their parent/s and are not subject to the Parental Income Test, Family Assets Test and the Family Actual Means Test.[2]

From 1 July 1998 to 31 December 2007, Austudy Payment recipients were not entitled to Rent Assistance. As a result of the 8 May 2007 Federal Budget Announcement, the Australian Government legislated to provide Rent Assistance as a supplementary payment to eligible recipients from 1 January 2008

Like most Australian Government Department of Human Services (Australia) payments, administered under the Centrelink master program, Austudy Payment is subject to a personal and/or partner income and assets test.

From 1 April 2010, eligible higher education Austudy Payment recipients, became eligible for a Student Start-Up Scholarship for each semester of higher education study, at an approved higher education institution in Australia. This scholarship has not been made available to students studying Vocational Education or Secondary School level courses.

Austudy recipients

The number of Austudy payment recipients has varied since the introduction of the payment in 1998. Overall, the total number of Austudy payment recipients halved between the introduction of the payment in 1999 and the most recent reported figures in 2024.[3][4]

Reported number of Austudy payment recipients[3][4]

*Number of Austudy payment recipients reported annually at the end of the June quarter.

Year*	Austudy recipients (N)	% change from previous year	% change from 1999
1999	47,170
2000	42,838	9%	9%
2001	41,992	2%	11%
2002	41,187	2%	13%
2003	38,779	6%	18%
2004	35,026	10%	26%
2005	31,174	11%	34%
2006	27,728	11%	41%
2007	27,869	1%	41%
2008	28,776	3%	39%
2009	34,175	19%	28%
2010	37,342	9%	21%
2011	39,213	5%	17%
2012	41,042	5%	13%
2013	46,039	12%	2%
2014	48,197	5%	2%
2015	47,569	1%	1%
2016	48,910	3%	4%
2017	42,642	13%	10%
2018	36,772	14%	22%
2019	34,832	5%	26%
2020	41,391	19%	12%
2021	43,896	6%	7%
2022	35,564	19%	25%
2023	28,115	21%	40%
2024	22,950	18%	51%

See also

• ABSTUDY, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and apprentices
• Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
• List of universities in Australia
• Youth Allowance (for below 25 years old)

References

1. Clun, Rachel (5 December 2022). "Youth Allowance, Austudy payments to get biggest lift in decades". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
2. Australian master financial planning guide 2010/11. Mendel, Jonathan (Editor-in-Chief), Macquarie Bank., CCH Australia Limited. (13th ed.). North Ryde [N.S.W.]: CCH Australia. 2010. ISBN 978-1-921593-85-7. OCLC 660256311.
3. corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House, Canberra. "Student income support: a chronology". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
4. "DSS Benefit and Payment Recipient Demographics - quarterly data". DSS Benefit and Payment Recipient Demographics - quarterly data. Commonwealth of Australia Department of Social Services. 30 August 2024 [02 July 2014; updated quarterly since initial publication]. Retrieved 18 September 2024.

External links

• Austudy, Centrelink