The Territory Labor Government has made positive changes to how we support the educational needs of our isolated families.
It is important for government to continue to recognise the education needs of isolated families, to ensure appropriate support mechanisms are established and that we do this with ongoing engagement and partnership with the Isolated Children's Parent Association.
The Student Assistance Schemes provide financial support to geographically isolated families in the Northern Territory whose child or children live away from home to attend school, college or university, access distance education or for daily transport to and from school.
A review of the Student Assistance Schemes commenced in 2022. The review looked at reducing the complexity of the number of allowances and subsidies and the related eligibility criteria, as well as reducing the administrative burden involved with applying for the schemes.
As a result of the review new schemes have been established, including:
Less restrictive boarding and distance education allowances to provide families with the option to decide on how they use the allowance, for example assistance with tuition, boarding, travel expenses, etc.An increase to the Intrastate Boarding Allowance to incentivise boarding within the Northern Territory.An increase to the Distance Education Allowance, supporting more families from pre-school through to the senior years.
The new schemes will be reviewed after 12 months.
Information about the schemes can be found on the NT Government's website.
Quotes attributed to Minister for Education, Eva Lawler:
"The Territory Government is focused on cutting red tape when it comes to isolated families accessing educational support.
"Applications for the Student Assistance Scheme will now be accepted through the NT Government's GrantsNT portal rather than paper-based applications further reducing the administrative burden on families."
Northern Territory Government
