Assessing special courses for ABSTUDY Away from Home rate 010-02060080

To be considered as a special course, the course must be one of the following:

• a full-time secondary course where the student receives a formal specialising qualification on completion
• formal specialising qualification for mature age students
• a secondary course which is a prerequisite for entry to a specific post-secondary course
• a secondary course containing agricultural subjects
• specialist secondary studies in drama, music, art, ballet, sport or technology

ABSTUDY may be approved at a higher rate for Students who need to live away from home to undertake study in a special course.

The Away from Home rate may be approved if:

• government schools within reasonable travelling time are unable to cater for a secondary student's educational needs because of their special course requirements, and
• the student needs to live away from home to attend school

Students may not be approved for the Away from Home rate if an applicable special course is available at a local government school within reasonable travelling time or distance.

Note: dependent secondary students studying a qualifying special course by distance education/correspondence are not eligible for the Away from Home rate under the special course provision.