Section 2.10 - Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines (Education) 2010 - STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

2.10 STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS</a>Under paragraph 46-20(2)(c) of the Act, student eligibility requirements may be specified for indirectly-paid CS.(1) Concurrent Scholarships(a) <a id="OLE_LINK47"></a><a id="OLE_LINK16">A student can hold an </a><a id="OLE_LINK33"></a><a id="OLE_LINK32">IAS </a>concurrently with another category of CAS in accordance with paragraph 2.5.5(1) above.(b) A student can hold an IAS concurrently with a Student Start-up scholarship and/or Relocation scholarship.(c) A student may NOT concurrently hold an Indigenous-CECS and an Indigenous Enabling-CECS.(d) A student may NOT concurrently hold an Indigenous-CAS and an Indigenous Enabling-CAS.(e) A student may NOT concurrently hold CS scholarships with different providers even if the CS are of different scholarship types.(f) A student may NOT concurrently hold an Indigenous-CECS or Indigenous Enabling-CECS and a Student Start-up scholarship.(g) A student may NOT concurrently hold an Indigenous-CAS or Indigenous Enabling-CAS and a Relocation scholarship.(2) The maximum duration a student can have access to one or more scholarships described in paragraph 2.1.1 is for a total of eight scholarship periods.(a) <a id="OLE_LINK49"></a><a id="OLE_LINK48">The exception to this provision is where when a student accessing a </a>Indigenous Enabling-CECS or a Indigenous Enabling-CAS scholarship progresses to an undergraduate course. In that case, the student will have access to one or more scholarships described in paragraph 2.5.5 for a total of ten scholarship periods (being two periods of an enabling scholarship and eight periods of another CS type).(3) A scholarship holder who undertakes a program of study:(a) overseas, or(b) with a host provider approved by their provider through a cross institutional arrangement as a Commonwealth supported student,will not be precluded from continuing to access a CS during this period, so long as the program of study is approved by their scholarship provider, and counts toward the requirements for the course of study in which the student is enrolled. All CS student eligibility criteria must be maintained by a recipient during this period with the scholarship provider.<a id="_Toc255297243"></a><a id="_Toc234751619">2.10.1 Basic Eligibility Requirements</a>(1) A student is not eligible for an Indigenous-CECS if they have already received a CECS- Ordinary in previous years for the maximum duration of eight scholarship periods.(2) A student is not eligible for an Indigenous Enabling-CECS if they have already received a scholarship for the same purpose in previous years for the maximum duration of two scholarship periods.(3) A student is not eligible for an Indigenous-CAS if they have already received a CAS-Ordinary in previous years for the maximum duration of eight scholarship periods.(4) A student is not eligible for an Indigenous Enabling-CAS if they have already received a scholarship for the same purpose in previous years for the maximum duration of two scholarship periods.(5) A student is not eligible for an IAS if they have previously received payment, in part or in whole, of an IAS, or part thereof.(6) During the eight scholarship periods, a student may be in receipt of an Indigenous CECS and an Indigenous CAS scholarship concurrently depending upon eligibility for the type of CS.Indigenous-CECS and Indigenous-CAS<a id="OLE_LINK29"></a><a id="OLE_LINK26">(7) To be eligible for an Indigenous-CECS or </a><a id="OLE_LINK35"></a><a id="OLE_LINK34">Indigenous</a>-CAS a student must, by the first census date (as determined in accordance with section 169-25 of the Act) of the scholarship period:(a) be an Australian citizen; and(b) be an Indigenous person:A student’s declaration of their Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander status during the CS application process should normally be accepted as sufficient evidence of their Indigenous status. However, where this status is unclear or uncertainty exists as to the Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander status of the student, the provider’s Indigenous Education Unit (if the provider has one) should be consulted where possible. Evidence may be required to establish that he or she is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. The following documentation is acceptable in confirming a student’s status as an Indigenous person: an affirmation signed by the student, declaring that he/she identifies as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; and a letter signed by the Chairperson of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incorporated organisation in a community in which the student lives or has previously lived; and(c) meet the low socio-economic status requirements specified in paragraph 2.10.5 of these Guidelines; and(d) be enrolled in or undertaking a course of study (for the purposes of cross-institutional studies) with an eligible scholarship provider as a Commonwealth supported student<a id="OLE_LINK3"></a><a id="OLE_LINK9"></a><a id="OLE_LINK10"> in an undergraduate course not limited to areas of National Priority) or a graduate diploma (or equivalent post graduate course of study) in an area of National Priority required for initial registration to practice in the chosen </a>National Priority; and(e) meet the full-time student requirements specified in paragraph 2.10.10 of these Guidelines; and(f) not already have completed the requirements of a course of study (with any provider) regarded by the scholarship provider to be equivalent to or higher than an Australian bachelor’s award, unless each such award is a prerequisite to their current undergraduate course of study (Note: CS are intended primarily for students undertaking an initial qualification); and(g) meet other eligibility requirements as specified in paragraphs 2.10.10 of these Guidelines; and(h) in the case of the Indigenous-CAS, meet the additional eligibility requirements as specified in paragraph 2.10.15 of these Guidelines.<a id="OLE_LINK24"></a><a id="OLE_LINK11">I</a>ndigenous Enabling-CECS and Indigenous Enabling-CAS(8) To be eligible for an Indigenous Enabling-CECS or Indigenous Enabling-CAS, a student must:(a) meet the eligibility requirements stated at 7(a) to (h) above; and(b) be enrolled in or undertaking an eligible enabling course with a provider as a Commonwealth supported student, as defined in the Act; and(c) undertake the course on a full-time or part-time basis, noting that:(i) a student who is in receipt of an Indigenous Enabling-CECS scholarship while studying part-time, and who wishes to progress to another form of CS, must meet the full-time eligibility requirements as outlined in paragraph 2.10.10 of these Guidelines for the new CS; and(ii) a student who undertakes an enabling course on a part-time basis will not be eligible to receive an IAS or a Indigenous Enabling-CAS while enrolled in an enabling course; and(d) in the case of Indigenous Enabling-CAS meet the additional CAS eligibility requirements as specified in paragraph 2.10.15 of these Guidelines.IAS(9) To be eligible for an IAS a student must:(a) meet the eligibility requirements stated at 7(a) to (g) above; and(b) be a commencing student who has:(i) accepted the offer of a place; or(ii) been enrolled; or(iii) is undertaking a course;in an undergraduate course or graduate diploma (or equivalent post graduate course of study) in an area of National Priority required for initial registration to practice in the chosen National Priority field as a Commonwealth supported student; and(c) in exceptional circumstances, if a continuing student is required as part of their course to undertake study in a location distant from their previous place of study, providers may give consideration to these students when awarding an IAS.<a id="_Toc234751620"></a><a id="_Toc255297244"></a><a id="_Toc111969803">2.10.5 Low Socio-Economic Status Requirements</a>(1) A student is not eligible for an Indigenous CS unless the provider is satisfied that the student is able to demonstrate low socio-economic status either:(a) through being in receipt of a means-tested Commonwealth income support payment (such as Austudy, ABSTUDY, Youth Allowance, etc); or<a id="_Toc111969804"></a>(b) on the basis of an assessment conducted by or on behalf of the eligible scholarship provider.Where a student is unable to demonstrate eligibility under (1) (a) above, the provider must give the student the option of undergoing an assessment of low socio-economic status to determine eligibility.(2) In assessing low socio-economic status to determine eligibility for Indigenous-CECS, Indigenous-CAS, Indigenous Enabling-CECS, Indigenous Enabling-CAS and IAS, providers should consider the range of disadvantages which may affect the immediate financial status of Indigenous students accessing higher education. Such factors may include geographical isolation, stability of financial status, as well as family circumstances, such as illness or bereavement, which may affect the level of family financial support. In making this assessment, providers should consult with the provider’s Indigenous Education Unit where one exists.<a id="_Toc234751621"></a><a id="_Toc255297245">2.10.10 Full-time Student Requirements</a>(1) Generally, a student undertaking or intending to undertake less than a full-time student load is not eligible for a CS unless there are exceptional circumstances which prevent the student from studying full-time.(a) The exception to this requirement is for Indigenous students undertaking or intending to undertake an eligible enabling course - refer paragraph (4) below.(2) The decision that a person cannot study full-time due to exceptional circumstances is to be made by the provider. A provider may take into account factors such as disability, significant family care responsibilities, Indigenous community responsibilities, and course constraints outside a student’s control, in determining a student’s inability to undertake a full-time student load.(3) A student whose course load falls below a full-time student load must have their CS eligibility status reviewed, in accordance with the ongoing eligibility requirements under paragraph 2.25 of these Guidelines, and will be ineligible to retain their CS unless the provider determines that there are exceptional circumstances which prevent the student from continuing to study on a full-time basis.(4) Indigenous students who enrol in an eligible enabling course are eligible to receive an Indigenous Enabling-CECS if they undertake the course on a part-time basis. However, to be eligible for another category of CS upon completion of the enabling course, the students must enrol in the further course of study as a full-time student. Such students are not automatically entitled to the relevant CS on enrolment in full-time course of study as full-time Indigenous Enabling-CECS recipients would be, but are subject to a competitive process as are other eligible commencing students.<a id="_Toc255297246"></a><a id="OLE_LINK43"></a><a id="OLE_LINK44"></a><a id="_Toc234751622">2.10.15 </a><a id="OLE_LINK42"></a><a id="OLE_LINK41">Additional Eligibility Requirements for Indigenous-CAS and Indigenous Enabling</a>-CAS(1) In determining a student’s eligibility for an Indigenous-CAS or an Indigenous Enabling-CAS, the provider must determine whether the student has lived in a regional or remote area consistent with paragraph 2.10.15(2)(a) below.Providers must be guided by the ASGC RA. Providers may use the following link to assist in determining a student’s eligibility: <a href="http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/" style="text-decoration:none"></a>. The Remote Areas (RA) classifications are: RA1 - Major Cities of Australia RA2 - Inner Regional Australia RA3 - Outer Regional Australia RA4 - Remote Australia RA5 - Very Remote AustraliaA provider must deem a student ineligible if they come from a locality belonging to the RA1 classification. The remaining classifications would assist providers in assessing students’ eligibility for an Indigenous-CAS or an Indigenous Enabling-CAS.(2) In addition to the eligibility requirements defined in paragraph 2.10 of these Guidelines, the provider must be satisfied that:(a) within the four years immediately preceding the commencement of the current course of study (including study within another program or at another provider, where the student has transferred):(i) the student has lived in a regional or remote area of Australia for a total of at least three years; or(ii) the student completed the final two years of schooling in a high school or college in a regional or remote area; or(iii) it was necessary for the student to live away from their regional or remote home to complete the whole or the majority of their secondary schooling at a high school or college in a major city; or(iv) the student has lived in a regional or remote area of Australia for a total of at least two years, and the student has relocated from the regional or remote area of Australia to undertake vocational education and training (eg TAFE) for a maximum of two years duration immediately preceding the commencement of their undergraduate course; and(b) it was necessary for the student to move from the regional or remote area in order to undertake a higher education course of study; and(c) as a result of paragraph (b), the student will incur additional accommodation costs; and(d) the student is enrolled as an internal student in units of study that form part of the course of study the student is undertaking unless the student can demonstrate the need to move, in accordance with paragraph 2.10.15(2)(b).(3) For the purpose of determining under paragraph 2.10.15(2)(b) the necessity for the student to move, a student should normally be enrolled as an internal student to be deemed eligible for CAS unless the student can demonstrate that there are exceptional circumstances preventing them from doing so, including, but not limited to the following:(a) the need for the student to attend classes or access other study related facilities on the campus at which the student is enrolled with the eligible scholarship provider or a host provider approved by the eligible scholarship provider through a cross-institutional arrangement;(b) the distance between the student’s home and the relevant campus;(c) the availability and quality of transport infrastructure between the student's home and the relevant campus; and(d) limitations on the student’s mobility due to disability and/or carer responsibilities.<a id="_Toc234751623"></a><a id="_Toc255297247"></a><a id="_Toc111969806">

2.10STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

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