There are 2 types of assistance available to teachers teaching in very remote areas of Australia to reduce their Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debts.
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Assistance available to very remote teachers
There are two types of assistance offered to very remote teachers:
- waivers of indexation on accumulated HELP debt, and
- reduction of accumulated HELP debt.
Both types of assistance are available to teachers who are or were teaching in a very remote area of Australia at either a centre-based day care service, a preschool, or a school providing primary or secondary education.
Additional Information
A very remote area of Australia is based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Remoteness Structure.
If you commenced teaching at a centre-based day care service, a preschool, or a school providing primary or secondary education in a very remote area on or after 14 of February 2019, you may be eligible to apply.
Indexation is waived while you are teaching in a very remote area. Once you are no longer teaching in a very remote area, indexation on any remaining HELP debt will recommence.
Once you have been engaged as a teacher at a centre-based day care service, a preschool, or a school providing primary or secondary education for 4 years in a very remote area, you may be able to have your outstanding HELP debt reduced.
To be eligible, teachers must complete 4 years full time in a 6-year period, or the pro-rated part-time equivalent, commencing on or after the start of the 2019 school year.
The value of the HELP debt reduction is the cost of obtaining your initial teaching qualification. It is limited to the HELP debt outstanding at the commencement of your placement, and to a maximum of 5 years of education qualification related tuition costs. The Department of Education will work with you and the Australian Taxation Office to calculate this amount.
How to apply
Use the Application Form for the Very Remote Teachers Initiative to apply for these initiatives.
Useful links and resources
More information about reducing very remote teachers HELP debts is available on the Department of Education website or by emailing veryremotehelp@education.gov.au.