I am a SAHM of 5 years. I am hoping to undertake a part time Cert III course in Childcare or Teachers Aid and am wondering is it possible to get government assistance to help either with the fee cost or some sort of payments. I've looked on the Centrelink website but it's not specific. My partner earns under $80,000 a year.
7 Replies
If you were receiving a payment of your own (as a sole parent/ newstart etc) there is an allowance you can get but it's minimal and really doesn't cover anything.
Some TAFEs etc offer payment plans. That would be your best bet.
Where about are you located? I was able to recently so my cert in children's services for a fraction of the cost as its government funded if you're upskilling.
NSW. And not receiving any payments nor have any health care card etc.
Is didn't have a health care card either, I studied through one world for children but I'm not sure if they're in nsw, probably not. I'll ask on some of my childcare support groups and get back to you!
You can get government assitance (HECS, something like that) if you haven't already studied and received it before
You could try applying for Austudy. Centrelink would advise you. It would depend on your hubbies income and how much study you did to qualify. I think there is something called VET FEE HELP or something like that - its for tafe rather than uni. Just a tip, I would seriously consider going for teachers aide rather than child care. I work in child care and get paid $20/hour. I know teachers aides who earn more than that. That 20/hour is with cert 3.
I was on youth allowance and partnered parenting payment.
My course timeline said 18 months, had me listed as full time and all of a sudden Centrelink stopped payments because of their calculations said I should have finished in 36 weeks!
Just be careful with what you do :)