First-year tertiary students who have taken one or more gap years are now eligible to apply for the Tertiary Access Payment.
Recent changes to the eligibility criteria mean that students aged 22 or younger who move from a regional or remote area for study after taking a break following Year 12 (or equivalent) may be able to receive the payment if they meet all requirements.
Previously, students had to start tertiary study in the year immediately after finishing Year 12.
The Tertiary Access Payment is a one-off payment of up to $5,000 that supports students to pay for rent, travel, food or study supplies once they have moved.
The changes are backdated to 1 January 2025, which means students who started full-time tertiary study this year (Certificate IV and above), including those who have already started, can now lodge a claim under the new rules.
The change in eligibility was a key recommendation in the Australian Universities Accord Final Report to help ease cost-of-living pressures for students who move from regional and remote areas for study.
Watch our student testimonials to hear how the Tertiary Access Payment can help.
Applications for this year’s payment close on 31 December 2025. To find out if you are eligible, visit Services Australia.