Youth Allowance Forum Are you a student, or parent of a student, who deferred a university place in 2009 to earn the $19,500 required to be eligible for Independent Youth Allowance in 2010? Are you a current student, or their parent, who will have to live away from home in the future to study the course of your choice?

Parental Income Test The good news: The threshold will be lifted from $32,800 to $42,559 from January 1, 2010 The total parental income cut off points have been raised from $79,000 to 140,000 (for 2 children way from home)

Parental Income Test An additional 68,000 students will become eligible for income support 35,000 existing recipients will get a higher payment (Spokesperson for Julia Gillard)

Parental Income Test The bad news: Tapering will mean that the children of middle income earners get decreasing amounts of Youth Allowance Full payment of Youth Allowance is $ a fortnight while the poverty line is $ per fortnight

Student Start-up Scholarship The good news: From 1 January 2010 all university students receiving Youth Allowance will be entitled to a Student Start-up Scholarship of $2,254 for each year of study The scholarship will help cover the high upfront costs of books and equipment It will promote access to higher education to students from lower income levels

Student Start-up Scholarship The bad news: A student has to be receiving Youth Allowance to receive the start-up scholarship

Relocation Scholarship The good news: From January 1, 2010 all university students receiving Youth Allowance and who have to live away from the family home to study will receive $4,000 in their first year and $1,000 in the subsequent three years ($6,000 over three years)

Relocation Scholarship The bad news: The Relocation Scholarship is contingent on receiving Youth Allowance It pays less than the former Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships which provided $4,324 per year for three years ($12,972)

Examples Parental IncomeIncome Support Up to $42,599$ Youth Allowance* $2,254 Start-up $4,000 Relocation Up to $74,419 Child 18 at home $26 Youth Allowance* $2,254 Start-up See more examples on Federal Government Budget Facts sheets * Examples only- Unconfirmed- figures require confirmation by Centrelink

Other Changes The good news: The amount of money a student can earn before the Youth Allowance is affected is being raised from $236 per fortnight in 2010 to $400 a fortnight from $2011 The age of independence is gradually being lowered from 25 to 22 in 2012

Other Changes The bad news: From 1 January 2010 the workforce participation criteria for independence will be limited to having worked full time for at least 30 hours per week for at least 18 months in the last 2 years Can’t qualify for independence by earning $19,500 in 18 months or working 15 hours per week for 2 years

For Further Information Go to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website TransformingAustraliasHESystem.aspx

The Political Perspective Statement from: Senator Sarah Hanson – Young The Greens party, South Australia Hon Christopher Pyne Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training

Regional Disadvantage Vince Callaghan Writer of Can My Wallet Afford It? and the Get Smart Guide

The Human Rights Perspective Mary Pendergast Principal, Warrnambool College

The University Perspective Sue Kilpatrick Pro Vice-Chancellor (Rural and Regional), Warrnambool Campus, Deakin University

Actions for Change Students who deferred in 2009: Contact Senators to get them to pressure the government to change the date for the introduction of the new criteria for independent status Sign the circulated petition Send a recommendation from this forum

Actions for Change Students who are regionally disadvantaged: Contact Senators so that they can push for changes in the Senate Sign the circulated petition Send a recommendation from this forum

South West LLEN - Membership – South West LLEN WEB address Keep in contact Other- keep the ideas for action rolling!!