Employment assistance for students moving from secondary to tertiary studies 001-02300010

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Student circumstances

Secondary School leavers who intend to continue their studies at the beginning of an academic year are considered to continue being full-time students for income support purposes under subsection 541B (1)(a)(iii) of the Social Security Act 1991.

If the secondary school leaver is on Youth Allowance and they intend to resume study at the beginning of the next academic year, they are still regarded as a full-time student, therefore, cannot be registered for Employment Provider Services over the break between the end of one academic year and the commencement of the next academic year (e.g. November/December 2013 to January/February 2014).

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations have advised that secondary school leavers who are in receipt of Youth Allowance and have completed year 12 and are going on to higher education at the beginning of the next academic year are eligible for Employment Assistance. These school leavers can directly register for services as a Volunteer with their preferred Employment Services Provider.

If the school leaver is not accepted in to their chosen course, they may then be considered eligible for Youth Allowance (YA) as a job seeker, or JobSeeker Payment if they are 22 years or older, and register with Services Australia for referral to an Employment Services Provider.

Secondary school leavers who do not intend resuming study at the commencement of the next academic year may be registered immediately with Services Australia for registration and referral to an Employment Services Provider and have their eligibility to income support assessed.