Financial help for isolated students

The Distance education allowance aims to provide financial assistance towards the costs of a preschool, primary or secondary student attending a recognised NT distance education school.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you and your child must be NT residents.

Your child must also be:

• enrolled in and attending one of the following NT distance education schools:
  • Alice Springs School of the Air
  • Katherine School of the Air
  • NT School of Distance Education.
• approved for the Distance education allowance under the Australian Government’s Services Australia  Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme

Preschool students must:

• be enrolled with a recognised NT School of the Air
• meet the requirements of the Distance education allowance under the AIC scheme, besides the minimum age for preschool students.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted by 30 June of each year that you are trying to claim.

To apply, complete the student assistance scheme application form on the GrantsNT website.

You must provide the following supporting documents with each application:

• a copy of your child’s current AIC Distance education allowance statement
• evidence of your primary residential address.

Payment information

If approved, the allowance will be paid as a one-off payment at the beginning of semester 2.

To receive the allowance, you must show you continue to be eligible and meet the conditions of the allowance scheme.

Payment will be based on the Distance education allowance zones outlined in table 1 of section 11 of Student assistance schemes – policy, application and claim procedures PDF (699.4 KB).

Internet subsidy

The Internet subsidy aims to assist households living in a remote locality with their monthly internet plan costs for the purpose of accessing distance education.

The internet subsidy is part of the Distance education allowance application process.

Eligibility

To apply, you must be approved for the NT Government’s Distance education allowance.

Your child must be using household internet to access distance education in the NT.

Your name must be the same name shown on the internet tax invoice. This cannot be a business name.

The service line or equivalent must show the primary residential address.

How to apply

Complete the student assistance scheme application form for the Distance education allowance in GrantsNT. During this process, you can choose to also apply for the internet subsidy.

You must provide a copy of the most recent household internet plan tax invoice with each application.

Payment information

If approved, the subsidy will be paid as a one-off payment at the beginning of semester 2.

The payment will match your internet plan tax invoice of up to $195 per month, inclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST), in the calendar year.

To receive the subsidy, you must show you continue to be eligible and meet the conditions of the scheme.

More information and contact