That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the relevant ministers to change the criteria for the Relocation Scholarship to include all students from remote areas relocating who do not qualify for Youth Allowance.
There are instances where students take a gap year after year 12 with the aim of earning enough to qualify for Independent Youth Allowance before moving away from home to commence their university degree.
Despite their best efforts and often due to circumstances beyond their control (such as drought, no harvest, economic downturn, or pandemics) their capacity to earn money may be limited. As a result, earnings fall short of the requirements to meet the Independent Youth Allowance criteria.
They struggle to meet living costs, let alone save to relocate hundreds of kilometres to university. These students are moving from remote or very remote areas like Walgett to the city or possibly interstate, which is a substantial burden on their family's financial circumstances.
The Relocation allowance would give them the opportunity and time to move, settle and commence studies before seeking employment to subsidise their living costs away from home.
