That ICPA (Aust) lobby relevant Ministers to review the Dependent Youth Allowance so that rural and remote students have a higher parental threshold.
Rural and remote students face unique and significant challenges when pursuing tertiary education compared to their metropolitan peers. One of the key barriers is financial. Unlike students living in cities, rural students are often required to relocate far from home to attend university, incurring high costs for accommodation, transport, and living expenses. These additional burdens make access to higher education significantly more expensive for rural families.
The current combined parental income threshold for the Dependent Youth Allowance is $62 634 per annum while in contrast the Independent Youth Allowance has a combined parental income of $160 000 per annum plus an additional $10 000 added for each dependent child. To qualify for independent Youth Allowance a student must work for a 14 month period after leaving school. This break from studies often leads to students not returning to their tertiary study.
Raising the parental income threshold for rural and remote students would acknowledge these inequities and better support families who are already at a disadvantage due to geography. It would also encourage higher education participation among rural youth, promote regional equity, and contribute to breaking cycles of educational disadvantage.
