13.2.6 Effect of other assistance on eligibility
See paragraph 2.11 of the Instruments
A student is not to be paid benefits under the Schemes if they receive a financial benefit in the nature of educational assistance or income support, from any other Commonwealth Department or agency.
A student who is eligible to receive benefits under the Education Schemes but is instead receiving another mutually exclusive Commonwealth payment may still be eligible for the Schemes other benefits such as guidance, counselling and additional tuition.
A student who receives a financial benefit from the Commonwealth may be paid a benefit under the Scheme only if the educational assistance or income support:
(a) is provided (whether directly or indirectly) by the Department* or the Commission; or
(b) is provided under a scholarship from the Commonwealth known as the Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship; or
(c) is provided under a scholarship from the Commonwealth known as the Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship.
A student may choose to transfer to VCES or MRCAETS from another Commonwealth benefits scheme or vice versa.
*The Student Start-up and Relocation Scholarships introduced in 2010 do not affect a student’s payments, as they are paid directly by the Department.
Australian Defence Force Academy Students
Students studying through the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) receive a fully-funded tertiary education plus salary and other financial benefits in return for a minimum period of military service.
According to legal advice received October 2023, the full subsidisation of an ADFA student’s tertiary course, and payment of salary in respect of their full time employment, should be taken to constitute ‘educational assistance’ and ‘income support’ respectively, provided by the Commonwealth. As such, in accordance with paragraph 2.11 of the Instruments, ADFA students are ineligible for benefits under the Schemes as they are receiving a financial benefit from the Department of Defence. Students studying at ADFA are a unique cohort, and cases where similar questions may be raised as to what constitutes educational assistance and income support should be considered on a case-by-case basis.