Non-student beneficiaries for ABSTUDY Away from Base assistance 010-02070090

Curtin University in Perth conducts a testing and assessment activity every December to assess students' academic capability for entry into the Associate Diploma in Aboriginal Health Sciences (Tropical Medicine) in the following academic year. In recent years significant interest from potential students in Cairns has developed. Curtin University approaches Services Australia in September to request approval for a testing and assessment activity in December. They request that an education provider representative be approved for funding for travel to conduct the testing and assessment exercise in Cairns. They provide details of 19 students from the Cairns area who have confirmed interest in undertaking the testing for entry to the course.

Funding for assistance for fares and meals and accommodation for two representatives from Curtin University is approved to undertake a two day activity in Cairns. It is more cost effective to pay the fares and meals and accommodation costs for two education provider representatives to travel to Cairns than it is for 19 students to travel to Perth and have meals and accommodation provided.

In the following year, Curtin University approaches Services Australia for continued funding for two representatives to travel to Cairns to test a new batch of students for entry into the Associate Diploma of Aboriginal Health Sciences (Tropical Medicine). Curtin University cannot provide confirmed names of students who will be undertaking the testing.

Curtin University is not approved for funding for education provider representatives to travel to Cairns to deliver the testing activity because it cannot be established that it is a cost effective exercise without confirmed student numbers.

Curtin University provides an attachment to the original submission listing four confirmed students in the Cairns area seeking to undertake testing.

Funding for education institution travel is approved for a two day testing program but only for one representative. It is deemed that it is not necessary for two representatives to undertake a testing activity for only four students. Whilst it may still be cost effective to send two representatives, it is not necessary.