HELP Debt Reduction for very remote teachers

The HELP Debt Reduction Program for Very Remote Teachers reduces HELP debt for eligible teachers working in very remote areas of Australia.

On this page:

Find out how to apply or apply now via the myHELP Reduction Portal

The program

There are two types of assistance available:

  • Reduction of accumulated HELP debt
  • Waiver of indexation on outstanding HELP debt

Reduction of accumulated HELP debt

You may be eligible for a reduction of accumulated HELP debt if you started teaching in a very remote area on or after 1 January 2019, and you complete 1,400 days of full-time service within a 6-year period.

If you have completed fewer than 1,400 days you may still be eligible where exceptional circumstances apply.

The reduction amount will be the lesser of:

  • the HELP debt incurred for your initial teacher education qualification, or
  • your outstanding HELP debt at the start of your eligible teaching period. 

EXAMPLE

Joe completed a Bachelor of Education and incurred $24,000 in HELP debt.

When he started teaching in a very remote school his HELP debt was $26,302.34. Over 4 years he made $5,700 in compulsory repayments reducing his debt to $20,602.34.

After completing 1,400 days of eligible teaching Joe applied for a HELP debt reduction.

The reduction amount is the lower of:

  • his initial teacher education debt ($24,000) or
  • his HELP debt at the start of eligible teaching ($26,302.34).

Therefore, $24,000 is reduced from his HELP debt at the ATO.

The ATO applies the reduction:

$20,602.34– $24,000 = –$3,397.66

Because Joe doesn’t have any other tax or Commonwealth debts the $3,397.66 credit is paid to him by the ATO.

Joe applied for the indexation waiver and HELP debt reduction at the same time.

Waiver of indexation on outstanding HELP debt

If you have taught in a very remote area since 14 February 2019, you may be eligible to have indexation waived for eligible days worked.

Each year on 1 June, the Australian Taxation Office applies indexation to your HELP debt that has remained unpaid for more than 11 months. This increases the balance of your HELP debt.

The waiver only removes indexation – it does not reduce your HELP debt balance or return any compulsory repayments you have already made.

The waiver is proportional to the number of eligible days in the indexation year. The indexation year is from 1 June to 31 May of the next year.

EXAMPLE:

Lily starts teaching full-time at a very remote primary school on 30 January 2020.

On 1 June 2020, the amount of indexation that is applied to her HELP debt is $222.89.

After completing eligible teaching service Lily applies for the indexation waiver. Her waiver for the 2019-20 indexation year is calculated based on the number of eligible days she worked that indexation year (1 June 2019 to 31 May 2020).

Lily’s eligible days start from 30 January 2020 because this is when she began teaching in a very remote area. 

From 30 January to 31 May 2020, she worked 123 eligible days.

Her waiver for this indexation year is worked out like this:

(123 ÷ 365) × $222.89 = $75.11 waived.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for an indexation waiver, you must:

  • have completed an initial teacher qualification and
  • be 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. See the FAQs for more information.

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

Eligible schools and services

To be eligible the school, preschool or centre based day care at which you teach must be in a very remote area of Australia as defined by the ABS Remoteness Structure.

How to check if your location is very remote using the ABS Maps tool

  1. Go to the ABS Maps tool.
  2. Select ‘Choose a boundary type’.
  3. Under ASGS Edition 3 ABS Structures, select 2021 Remoteness Area (RA) as the boundary type.
  4. In the ‘Find address or place’ search box, type the name of your school or service. If it does not appear for selection, enter the full street address and select the magnifying glass to search.
  5. Click on the marked circle under the search result to confirm whether the location is classified as ‘Very Remote Australia’.

Eligible primary and secondary schools include:

This list is provided as a guide and applicants should use the ABS Remoteness Structure maps to confirm whether a location is classified as very remote.

For further eligibility advice please contact us at veryremoteHELP@education.gov.au.

Application process

  1. Read the information on when you should apply and the documents you will need.
  2. Collate your supporting documents – Statement of Service, ATO HELP Debt Statement and Academic transcript.
  3. Register in the myHELP Reduction Portal, complete and submit your application.
  4. Keep an eye on your email for confirmation your application has been received, requests for additional information and the outcome of your application.

Contact us

More information can be found at Frequently Asked Questions.

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