Calculating the commencement date of away from home rate for ABSTUDY 010-02060010

Sally completes a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at Melbourne University while receiving ABSTUDY. She is accepted into the University of New South Wales in Sydney to undertake a Masters Degree in Indigenous Studies for the following year.

Sally qualifies for the Away from Home rate to move away from a permanent home in Melbourne to undertake the course.

Sally moves to Sydney 4 weeks before the first day of the course to start looking for accommodation to rent for the study year. Sally stays with friends. It takes Sally 4 weeks to find an affordable place and sign the lease agreement. Sally moves in 3 days later.

The Away from Home rate is approved from the date Sally moved to Sydney, 4 weeks before the course commencement, so she can look for accommodation. It is reasonable that it would take 4 weeks to find affordable accommodation accessible to the university, apply for the accommodation, sign a lease and move into the accommodation.

Michael completes a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at Adelaide University while receiving ABSTUDY. Michael is accepted into the University of New South Wales in Sydney to undertake a Masters Degree in Indigenous Studies in the following year.

Michael qualifies for the Away from Home rate to move away from a permanent home in Adelaide to undertake the course.

Michael has a brother in Sydney and arranges to board at his house for the year. Michael moves to Sydney on January 2 of the new year to watch the last few days of the test cricket and then buy books for the course. Michael spends the next few months hanging out at Bondi beach.

Michael would be eligible for the Away from Home rate from the first date of the course as the reasons for moving to Sydney early were not reasonable.

Leroy enrols in a Certificate in Dance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Leroy has not studied for 3 years and the first day of eligibility for ABSTUDY Living Allowance is the first day of the course.

Leroy intends to move from home in Geraldton to rent a room at the Academy residential hostel. On the day before the move, Leroy breaks a leg surfing. Leroy spends 7 days in hospital and another 3 days at home convalescing. Leroy moves to Perth 2 weeks late to commence the course. As Leroy had reserved a room at the hostel, it was charged to him from the first day of the course.

Leroy is entitled to the Away from Home rate from the first day of the course because of circumstances beyond Leroy's control. These circumstances prevented Leroy from commencing to live away from home earlier, and the accommodation costs were accrued from the first day of the course.

Samantha's home is at Oombulgurri in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia. Samantha is accepted to board and study Year 10 at St John's College in Darwin. Samantha starts on the first day of Term 1 for the study year.

As a secondary school student, Samantha is entitled to the Away from Home rate from the first date of the term entitlement period in Term 1. This is January 1 of the year.

Lateisha's home is at Bamaga in the remote Cape York region. Lateisha is accepted to board at Wangetti College to undertake Year 8. Lateisha is only accepted at the college half way through term 1 in the year. She moves away from home and commences study in the fifth week of term. As Lateisha has not commenced by the third Friday of the term, she is entitled to the Away from Home rate from the date she started living away from home to study.

Matthew lives with parents at Wilcannia and finds a job working in the mines at Muswellbrook. He is an Australian Apprentice large diesel motor mechanic. Matthew moves to Muswellbrook 2 weeks before being due to start work, to find a flat to lease and purchase the necessary tools, overalls and safety boots before starting work. It is reasonable that it would take 2 weeks to find suitable accommodation and purchase equipment.