Access and Participation programs are available to help Australians who want to attend university, regardless of circumstances, background or location.
Needs-based Funding
Needs-based Funding commenced on 1 January 2026 and has been introduced as a core part of funding for teaching and learning in Australia, changing the way funding is provided to universities to support students from priority cohorts.
Needs-based funding supports initiatives that engage people from underrepresented backgrounds to access and complete higher education.
Learn more about Needs-based Funding
Outreach Funding Program
Outreach Funding is aimed at increasing the number of people from underrepresented backgrounds considering and accessing higher education.
The Outreach Funding program commenced 1 January 2026 and will provide approximately $44 million annually to support initiatives that engage people from underrepresented backgrounds and build aspiration for tertiary education.
Find out more about the Outreach Funding Program
Demand Driven Funding for all First Nations students
From 2021, the Australian Government guaranteed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from regional and remote areas a Commonwealth supported place.
This measure has been extended to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students regardless of location.
Find out more about demand driven funding
University Study Hubs
University Study Hubs help students in regional, remote, and outer suburban areas of Australia access and succeed in tertiary education, closer to home.
There are 56 Regional University Study Hubs and 15 Suburban University Study Hubs located across Australia.
Find out more about the University Study Hubs
National Regional, Rural and Remote Tertiary Education Strategy
On 19 June 2020, a series of measures to provide more opportunities for regional Australia were announced as part of the Job-ready Graduates Package. Worth more than $400 million over 5 years, these regional measures include:
- Increased financial support for higher education study
- Improved travel support.
Read the National Regional, Rural and Remote Tertiary Education Strategy final report
Tertiary Access Payment (TAP)
The Tertiary Access Payment is a non-indexed, means-tested payment of up to $5,000 to school-leavers from regional or remote areas who need to relocate for full-time, higher-level tertiary education (Certificate IV and above) at an education provider located at least 90 minutes by public transport from their family home.
Find out if you’re eligible for the TAP
Regional Education Commissioner
The Regional Education Commissioner aims to halve the difference in tertiary education outcomes between regional and metropolitan students by 2030.
The Commissioner:
- Oversees the implementation of recommendations from the National Regional, Rural and Remote Tertiary Education Strategy - final report
- Champions regional education across all education sectors
- Oversees and coordinate projects that respond to the strategy
- Works with all tiers of government and other stakeholders.
Find out more about the Regional Education Commissioner
Higher Education Disability Support Program (DSP)
The Higher Education Disability Support Program provides funding to eligible higher education providers, to assist with supporting students with disability to access, participate and succeed in higher education.
It also funds the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET) website which provides information, advice and resources to disability practitioners, teachers and students with disability.
Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success (ACSES)
The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success works with the tertiary education sector to understand and implement the best practice approaches to supporting students from underrepresented groups.
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP)
The Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program was discontinued on 1 January 2026 and replaced by the Needs-based Funding (NBF) and Outreach Funding programs.
Further information on these programs is included in the Needs-based Funding Guidance and Outreach Funding Guidance documents.
Regional Partnerships Project Pool Program (RPPPP)
The Regional Partnerships Project Pool Program supports the delivery of multi-year collaborative outreach projects that enable the higher education aspirations of students in regional and remote Australia.
The National Priorities Pool Program (NPPP)
The National Priorities Pool Program provides grants to Table A higher education providers to conduct research projects and trial initiatives.