Disregarding previous study for ABSTUDY, ABSTUDY Pensioner Education Supplement, Austudy and Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) 010-02080100

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Example

1

Ling completed a 4 year Bachelor of Business degree (with honours) in 2013. In 2015 Ling started (and later completed) a 3 year Bachelor of Arts but was ineligible for Austudy due to his previous study. In 2022, Ling wants to undertake a 4 year Bachelor of Engineering.

• Ling has previously completed a 4 year degree and a 3 year degree at the same level
• The Bachelor of Arts is disregarded because Ling was not eligible for Austudy for that course due to academic progress rules
• The Bachelor of Business degree must still be counted because (it was completed within the last 10 years) and academic progress rules did not prevent Ling from receiving Austudy for that course
• At the end of the first study period in 2022, Ling will have reached, but not exceeded the allowable time based on the allowable time for a course of study for Austudy
• At the end of the second study period in 2022, Ling will have exceeded the allowable time based on the allowable time for a course of study for Austudy and will no longer be eligible to be paid Austudy for the Bachelor of Engineering course

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Example

1

In 2019, Graham completed a one year VET course at TGD level and completed another one year VET course in 2020 at the same level. Graham has not undertaken any prior study at this level. In 2021, Graham enrolled in another one year VET course and applied for Austudy.

• Because their study at TGD level has only ever been in one year VET courses, previous study has been disregarded. This means Graham has not exceeded Allowable Time at this level

2

In 2019, Amy enrols in a 2 year VET course at TGD level and completes the course in 2021. In 2022, Amy enrols in a one year VET course at the same level which is semester based.

• As Amy's previous course was a 2 year course, this study is not disregarded. Therefore, Amy has exceeded her Allowable Time at this level

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Example

1

Sally completed a Bachelor of Aviation to gain a qualification as a commercial pilot. Sally has now lost the sight in one eye and, as a result, the pilot's licence has been cancelled. Sally has now applied for Austudy as an Arts student.

• Sally's previous study will be disregarded as Sally can longer use the qualification

2

Ravi is suffering from stress and has been advised by a doctor to stop working as a crime reporter. Ravi has applied for Austudy to study a Bachelor of Science and wants the Bachelor of Journalism to be disregarded.

• Ravi's previous study cannot be disregarded. While Ravi is no longer fit for crime reporting there are other opportunities to work in another field of journalism or in a related job such as public relations or advertising

3

Lucy is a lawyer but the firm for which Lucy worked has now closed. Lucy has been unable to find another position so intends to study music.

• Lucy's previous study cannot be disregarded. Lucy can still use the qualification once in another job

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Example

1

Celia contracted glandular fever shortly before the examination period. This affected Celia's ability to study and as a result failed a subject.

• That subject will not be counted for Austudy purposes towards the study Celia has undertaken but the 3 subjects that were passed will be. As Celia has undertaken 3 quarters of a semester's study load, they are still considered to have done a full semester's study load. This may be especially significant when comparing previous study with allowable time. See Assessing satisfactory progress for tertiary students for Austudy and Assessing satisfactory progress and allowable time for tertiary students for Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)

2

Paul is studying dentistry. The second year of this program involves anatomy. Paul found this subject distressing and consequently failed.

• Paul's failure was not due to circumstances beyond Paul's control. Paul was aware that anatomy was a required part of the program and should have prepared for it. No concession could be made by the agency for this failure

3

Yasmin was studying a 2 year Diploma level program in marine studies at the In Deep Waters Institute. Just over a year after Yasmin started the program the Institute was declared bankrupt and closed its doors. Yasmin has now enrolled in a Diploma of Oceanography at a TAFE college but is unable to have any of the previous studies credited towards the new program. Yasmin has applied for Austudy.

Yasmin's earlier study will be disregarded. The financial mismanagement of the first place of study was not something over which Yasmin had any control.

4

Simon has not worked hard in a Bachelor of Architecture degree and, following several failures, Simon has been excluded from it by the university. Simon's appeal against this decision has been unsuccessful. Simon has now enrolled in a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Simon's previous study cannot be disregarded. Although the discontinuation of the first program was forced by the university, it was ultimately the result of Simon's own poor academic performance. Failure by itself is not a circumstance beyond the student's control.

5

Kahn was 4 years into studying a 5 year Bachelor of Criminal Law degree when diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and discontinued studies. After a 2 year break, Kahn enrolled in a 4 year Bachelor of Marine Biology course.

The previous course can be disregarded when calculating allowable time as the customer discontinued their study due to an illness.

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Example

1

In 2014, Remy completed a Master of Professional Psychology, which was not an approved course for Austudy at the time. Remy has now decided to change careers and has enrolled in a Master of Teaching. Remy has applied for Austudy.

Remy's previous study will be disregarded, as it was not an approved course for Austudy at the time it was undertaken.

2

In 2015, Sidney enrolled in a Master of Public Health through Macquarie University. This course was not approved for Austudy at the time. After struggling with the course commitments, Sidney exited the course early, and in doing so received a Graduate Diploma in Public Health. Sidney has now applied for Austudy to complete a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nursing.

Sidney provides proof that the Graduate Diploma in Public Health was undertaken as part of an unapproved master’s course. Sidney's previous study will therefore be disregarded.