Frequently Asked Questions – Reduction of HELP debt for teachers in very remote areas

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Program and eligibility

This program provides two types of assistance for eligible teachers working in very remote areas of Australia:

  1. Reduction of accumulated HELP debt
  2. Waivers of indexation on outstanding HELP debt

You may be eligible for an indexation waiver if you:

  • have completed an initial teacher qualification and
  • are working or have worked as a teacher at a school, pre-school or centre-based day care in a very remote area as defined by the ABS Remoteness Structure and
  • have an outstanding HELP debt when you commenced working in a very remote area.

To be eligible for a HELP debt reduction you must meet the above criteria and have completed 1,400 days of full-time service within a 6-year period. Teachers who do not meet the full-service requirement may still qualify where exceptional circumstances apply.

Eligibility for consideration of HELP debt reductions commenced 1 January 2019.

You can apply for a HELP debt reduction after you have completed the required service period. This is when you become eligible.

For indexation waivers, you can apply:  

  • at the same time you apply for a HELP debt reduction (recommended), or  
  • when you leave the very remote community, or  
  • once a year, on the anniversary of your employment start date in the very remote community.

No matter when you apply for an indexation waiver you will receive the same benefit.

You can estimate your waiver amount by determining eligible days in the indexation year ÷ 365 × indexation amount applied. 

The indexation year is from 1 June to 30 May of the next year.

Yes. You may continue to receive indexation waivers while continuing to work in a very remote area as long as you still have an outstanding HELP debt. This applies even if you have already received a debt reduction or have not yet met the required teaching service period.

If your approval period has ended or your work circumstances change you will need to submit a new application. You can apply when you are ready to apply for your HELP debt reduction, at the end of your service in a very remote location or annually.

If you disagree with the outcome of your application you can email veryremoteHELP@education.gov.au.

Reductions, Repayments, Credits

No. Any HELP debt repaid before you commenced eligible service cannot be refunded.

The reduction is limited to the lesser of:

  • your outstanding HELP debt at the start of your eligible teaching period, or
  • a maximum of 5 years of tuition costs from your initial teacher education qualification.

Yes. You must continue making compulsory repayments while you have an outstanding HELP debt.

If your application for reduction is approved the reduction amount is applied to your outstanding HELP debt in your ATO account.

If this results in a credit balance (for example, because you made compulsory repayments) and you have no other tax or Commonwealth debts the credit may be paid to you.

The credit is first applied to your income tax account. Any remaining amount is paid by the ATO to your nominated bank account.

You can view your updated HELP debt balance and any credit in your ATO account through myGov.

Qualifications and study

No. You can only receive a HELP debt reduction for your initial teacher education qualification that allowed you to register as a teacher.

Additional qualifications completed after initial teacher registration are not eligible.

If you studied a Master of Education, the prerequisite undergraduate degree is considered as part of your initial teacher education qualification.

No. International students are not eligible to receive HELP loans and therefore are not eligible to apply.

No. Eligibility commences from the time you have completed your initial teacher qualification.

Employment

All days of approved employment at an eligible school count, including weekends, public holidays and approved leave.

Some teachers who do not meet the full-service requirement may still qualify where exceptional circumstances have prevented them from teaching.

Exceptional circumstances are considered on a case‑by‑case basis and may include:

  • part‑time work patterns or breaks between contracts over the service period
  • injury, illness or participation in treatment or rehabilitation
  • significant personal or family circumstances
  • being affected by a crime
  • changes to domestic arrangements arising from experiences of gender‑based violence or family and domestic violence
  • participation in religious or cultural practices
  • community or public service commitments, such as jury duty or service with the Australian Defence Force

This is not a complete list. If circumstances outside your control affected your ability to complete the service requirement, you are encouraged to apply so your individual circumstances can be considered.

If you need further assistance you can email veryremoteHELP@education.gov.au.  

Yes. Part time/casual work patterns may be considered an exceptional circumstance when assessing your application.

Yes, paid maternity leave, and other types of paid leave available under contract with your employer are counted as service and will be included. Leave taken at half-pay, provided it is taken as a contractual right, will count as a full day.

Yes. Service across multiple eligible schools, preschools or centre-based day care services may be combined, provided each site is in a very remote area and all other eligibility criteria are met.

You must provide supporting documentation for each employer. 

Yes. Approved paid workers compensation while employed as a teacher at an eligible very remote site counts toward the service requirement.

Your Statement of Service must confirm the relevant period and your employment status. 
These days may also count toward eligibility for the indexation waiver, if all other eligibility criteria are met.