Assessing and processing ABSTUDY Away from Base activities 010-02070010

Items

Scenario

1

Away from Base study not approved due to activity being social and orientation related not academic

Melbourne University are conducting a testing and assessment activity for entry into the Bachelor of Arts course. Melbourne University have lodged an SY034 for assistance for a 4 day testing activity. The testing activities show day one and 2 contain literacy, numeracy and comprehension testing.

Days 3 and 4 involves touring the campus, investigating accommodation colleges and social activities. The university advised days 3 and 4 are justified because entry into tertiary education requires students to feel comfortable with the campus and university life.

The activity would not be approved in its current format. The length of the activity cannot be justified to extend across 4 days. Two of the days do not involve testing the academic potential of the participants for tertiary studies. The extra days involving social or orientation activities cannot be approved for assistance. The length of the activity can only be approved for activities related to assessing academic potential for tertiary study.

Melbourne University submit an amended activity for testing of only 2 days. The activity is approved.

2

Away from Base study approved course provides alternate entry into tertiary course

The University of Western Australia conduct a one year Bridging course students do before acceptance into a tertiary mainstream course. The Bridging course is a secondary non-schooling course. The university handbook advises successful completion of the Bridging course is an alternative entry path to mainstream tertiary courses.

The university contacted Services Australia to ask if assistance is available for fares, meals and accommodation for a one day testing exercise for entrance into the course.

Even though the Bridging course is a secondary level course, the university clearly stated it is an alternative path of entry to a mainstream tertiary course. The activity can be considered for assistance approval if other eligibility criteria are met.

3

Away from Base approved assessment activity is a requirement to assess course entry

Adelaide Dance Academy have requested assistance to conduct an activity for entry into the Diploma of Performing Arts. Auditions and interviews will be held to assess a student's suitability in various performing arts categories like dance and music.

The activity is approved as a student's suitability could not be assessed based on academic ability in previous study.

Item

Description

1

Example 1

Michael lives in Bathurst and has lodged a claim to attend a testing and assessment activity for the Associate Diploma in Indigenous Health at the University of Sydney. The approved activity will be in December for entry into the course the following year. Michael has applied to every provider in Australia offering an Indigenous health course and has attended 2 testing activities this calendar year.

Michael is not eligible for Away from Base assistance to attend the testing and assessment activity at the University of Sydney. Michael has received assistance for 2 testing activities at other providers this calendar year. Students are not approved to attend more than 2 testing activities in a calendar year. Even though the testing activity is for study in the following year, Michael has already attended the allowable number of testing and assessment activities this calendar year.

2

Example 2

Graham is studying the Diploma in Community Management and Development at Curtin University. Graham attends 6 residential blocks during the year. Graham's travel, meals and accommodation costs are funded under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS). Graham has applied to enter the University of Western Australia's (UWA) law program. UWA conduct an approved testing and assessment activity in January for an intake into the law program.

Graham is eligible for assistance to attend the testing activity for the UWA law degree. Even though Graham is studying a tertiary level course, a diploma course does not meet the academic requirements for entry into a Bachelor of Law degree. Graham receives IAS funding for the costs of the diploma course, but IAS do not fund the UWA law testing activity.

3

Example 3

Maudie is enrolled in the Bachelor of Education degree at Deakin University. Maudie lives in Cairns and does her course by residential schools. Other students do the course internally on campus. Maudie's residential school program is 4 blocks of 10 days. Maudie wants to stay an extra 5 days following the fourth residential school to attend a 3 day field trip.

Maudie is not eligible for Away from Base assistance for the field trip due to already accessing 40 days of Away from Base assistance while attending the residential school. The limit is 40 days each calendar year.

4

Example 4

Levi is studying a Bachelor of Nursing degree at Southern Cross University (SCU) and receives ABSTUDY Living Allowance. In the final year of study, nursing students must do several 20 day placement blocks.

Levi has received Away from Base assistance to attend 2 placement blocks this year. Levi has contacted to apply for assistance to attend the third 20 day block.

SCU advised they cannot arrange a placement for Levi in the home state due to the high number of students in the same course. To meet demand, SCU have arranged an interstate placement.

Levi is eligible for interstate Fares Allowance because Levi has only used 2 return trips this year and is unable to do placement in the home state. Levi is not eligible for further Away from Base assistance as 40 days of Away from Base assistance has been used during the previous 2 placements. The limit is 40 days each calendar year.

Item

Description

1

Course commences mid-year and ends in the following year

Shelley commences a one year course in September. The course runs for 50 weeks and Shelly is due to complete it in August the following year (that is, a course of more than 30 weeks, undertaken over consecutive years).

Shelley has to attend 7 Block release activities during the course:

• 3 journeys between September and December for a total of 15 days
• 4 journeys between February and May for a total of 30 days

As the course runs for 50 weeks in total, and the length of the course from August to December is 20 weeks, Shelley is eligible for a maximum of 4 return journeys and 30 days of paid residential costs in the first year.

In the second year, the course is 30 weeks. Shelley is eligible for a maximum of 6 return journeys and 40 days of paid residential costs.

Item

Description

1

Overpayment and later acquittal

Daisy had an annual limit of 40 days of travel assistance for Away from Base activities. They were paid for the full 40 days to attend residential blocks for an approved activity.

Daisy was approved to attend a 5 day Away from Base activity in March 2025, but after the activity, Daisy did not provide their attendance record and travel documentation, so an overpayment was raised. Daisy's available days remained at 40 as the activity was not finalised.

The overpayment was recorded while waiting for Daisy to submit their documentation.

In June 2025, Daisy was approved to attend another 5 day block. This temporarily put Daisy over the annual limit of 40 days, but as the first activity had not yet been acquitted, these extra days were not raised as an overpayment.

In July 2025, Daisy submitted evidence confirming their attendance for the March 2025 block. After reassessment, the activity was confirmed, and the debt was finalised as no debt (FND).

2

Absence Due to Illness - Full Eligibility Under Exceptional Circumstances

Sean was approved to attend a five-day Away from Base activity in May 2025. The institution confirmed that Sean travelled to the activity and participated for the first two days, but he became unwell and was unable to attend the remaining three days.

The institution later confirmed in writing that Sean’s absence was due to illness and that, based on his participation up until that point, Sean is considered to have fully participated in the approved activity.

Because Sean travelled to and commenced the activity, and his non-attendance was due to exceptional circumstances (such as, but not limited to – illness), Sean remains eligible for the full travel and accommodation assistance for the approved period.

Item

Description

1

Institution's testing and assessment activity is greater than 5 days

If a proposed testing and assessment activity is longer than 5 days, the institution must seek approval in writing from DSS National Office at least 8 weeks before the proposed commencement date.

The address is:

• Branch Manager
• Carer, Disability and Student Payments
• Department of Social Services
• GPO Box 9820
• Canberra ACT 2601

or

• by email to DSS ABSTUDY

DSS will only approve an extension to the normal limit of 5 days for a testing and assessment activity when an adequate appraisal cannot be completed within 5 days. The institution must show:

• the rigour of the proposed the testing and assessment activity, and
• an adequate appraisal of the student(s)' academic ability to undertake the course to which cannot be completed within 5 days

Item

Description

1

Lawful Custody

The correctional provider has given permission for the student to attend the activity.

2

Placement

If the location of the placement is different to the study location, the evidence needs to show:

• no local business/organisation or like in the student's field of study
• all available local placements have been filled, or
• the placement is in a specialist field (such as teaching remote students)

3

Field trip

If the field trip location is not at the study location, evidence is required to show the activity is at the closest alternate location to minimise the activity cost.