Distance education allowances
You can apply for any of the following allowances if your child accesses distance learning:
- correspondence site allowance
- correspondence site allowance - preschool
- school of the air functions allowance
- correspondence materials delivery assistance scheme.
Correspondence site allowance
The correspondence site allowance scheme assists students approved for distance education allowances under the Australian Government AIC scheme or Youth Allowance by providing a one off payment toward the costs associated with education through a school of the air or other distance learning arrangement.
Conditions of the scheme
You could access up to $454 per year for each eligible primary, middle and senior correspondence child in 2015 (subject to CPI adjustment each year).
Who can apply
To apply you must comply with all of the following:
- live in the Northern Territory (NT) and your child must be studying in a NT school recognised as a correspondence school which includes all of the following:
- Alice Springs School of the Air
- Katherine School of the Air
- Northern Territory Open Education Centre (NTOEC)
- your child must be approved for distance education allowance under the AIC scheme.
If your child is a senior student enrolled in correspondence lessons you may be eligible for this allowance.
If you are a NT resident but your child is enrolled in an interstate correspondence school you may make a special application for benefits either by:
- emailing studentassistance.det@nt.gov.au
- calling 1800 019 157 or (08) 8901 4965.
You are not eligible for this allowance If you are in receipt of ABSTUDY grants.
How to apply
Complete the application form.
Student assistance application form (158.1 kb)
Student assistance application form (78.5 kb)
A new application form must be submitted each year.
Applications must be submitted to the Department of Education by 30 September.
Submit the application form either by email, fax or post using the following details.
Student Assistance Officer
Financial Services Division
Department of Education
GPO Box 4821
Darwin NT 0801
studentassistance.det@nt.gov.au
Fax: (08) 8901 4976
How to claim
You do not need to claim, you will automatically receive a one off payment on confirmation that your child has been enrolled.
Correspondence site allowance - preschool
The correspondence site allowance scheme assists four year old children that are enrolled in preschool with the Alice Springs or Katherine School of the Air.
Conditions of the scheme
You can access up to $227 per year for each preschool child in 2015 (subject to CPI adjustment each year).
Who can apply
To be eligible you must comply with all of the following:
- you must provide proof of enrolment of a your preschool age child in a school of the air
- you must provide proof of age of your child
- your child must be approved for distance education allowance under the AIC scheme.
How to apply
You do not need to apply or claim, you will automatically receive a one off payment on confirmation that your child has been enrolled.
Schools of the air student functions allowance
The schools of the air student functions allowance scheme assists your child to attend up to two approved school of the air functions per year.
Conditions of the scheme
The allowance is based on calculations for a family that has children attending approved school of the air functions, not on a per student basis.
The allowance will be paid for attendance at a maximum of two approved school of the air functions each year from your child's main residence to the function.
Reimbursements will be made at student discount rates for the most direct and economical service and only after submission of an application and claim form accompanied by used tickets or the electronic ticket receipt and boarding pass.
The amount payable will be at the rate for the conveyance subsidy scheme allowance where travel is by vehicle.
Who can apply
To apply your child must be approved to receive a correspondence site allowance.
If you are in receipt of ABSTUDY grants you are not eligible for this allowance.
How to apply
Complete the application form.
Student assistance application form (158.1 kb)
Student assistance application form (78.5 kb)
A new application form must be submitted each year.
Applications must be submitted to the Department of Education by 30 September.
Submit the application form either by email, fax or post using the following details.
Student Assistance Officer
Financial Services Division
Department of Education
GPO Box 4821
Darwin NT 0801
studentassistance.det@nt.gov.au
Fax: (08) 8901 4976
How to claim
Complete the claim form.
NT Schools of the Air Functions Allowance claim form (46.7 kb)
NT Schools of the Air Functions Allowance claim form (78.9 kb)
Attach used tickets or the electronic ticket receipt and boarding pass if applicable.
Attach a statement of distance travelled and a sketch map of the journey If travel is by private vehicle.
Claims are to be submitted through your child's school principal who will certify attendance.
Claims must be submitted to the Department of Education by 31 March for the previous year's claims.
Submit the claim form either by email, fax or post using the following details.
Student Assistance Officer
Financial Services Division
Department of Education
GPO Box 4821
Darwin NT 0801
studentassistance.det@nt.gov.au
Fax: (08) 8901 4976
Travel costs will only be reimbursed after approval of an application form by the Department of Education and on submission of a claim form.
Correspondence materials delivery assistance scheme
You may be able to access assistance towards the costs associated with the delivery of materials required for your child's distance education through the correspondence materials delivery assistance scheme.
Conditions of the scheme
If a private vehicle travels more than 5km for the sole purpose of picking up or delivering school materials, a per km allowance will be payable to eligible families.
The amount payable will be at the rate for the conveyance subsidy scheme allowance.
The maximum reimbursement is 200km per week.
The scheme is designed to help meet the costs of correspondence materials delivery, not to pay for the full cost of regular delivery of mail.
Who can apply
To be eligible your child must comply with all of the following:
- be resident in the Northern Territory and be enrolled in a Northern Territory school of the air or the Northern Territory Open Education Centre
- be approved for the Distance Education Allowance under the AIC scheme.
If your child receives an ABSTUDY grant they are not eligible for this allowance.
How to apply
Complete the application form below and include a copy of the current AIC approval letter.
Student assistance application form (158.1 kb)
Student assistance application form (78.5 kb)
A new application form must be submitted each year.
Applications must be submitted to the Department of Education by 30 September of each year for which claims are to be made.
Submit the application form either by either email, fax or post using the following details.
Student Assistance Officer
Financial Services Division
Department of Education
GPO Box 4821
Darwin NT 0801
studentassistance.det@nt.gov.au
Fax: (08) 8901 4976
How to claim
Complete the claim form.
Correspondence materials delivery assistance scheme part 1 (43.5 kb)
Correspondence materials delivery assistance scheme part 1 (69.9 kb)
Correspondence materials delivery assistance scheme part 2 (45.0 kb)
Correspondence materials delivery assistance scheme part 2 (42.4 kb)
Claims must be submitted at the end of each month, supported by certification from the principal of the school.
Submit the claim form either by email, fax or post using the following details.
Student Assistance Officer
Financial Services Division
Department of Education
GPO Box 4821
Darwin NT 0801
studentassistance.det@nt.gov.au
Fax: (08) 8901 4976