Young Kiwis given access to student loans
30 November 2015
Student loans were supposed to be available to Kiwis from the beginning of the 2015 academic year. The LNP Government failed to deliver, dashing the hopes of many students who wished to further their studies at university.
Earlier this month Senator Kim Carr (ALP, VIC) tabled an amendment in the Senate that would allow some New Zealanders living in Australia to access student loans for tertiary study.
Details of the amendment
The Higher Education Support Amendment (New Zealand Citizens) Bill 2015 amends the residency requirements for HELP loans to allow New Zealand citizens who hold a Special Category Visa, providing they :
- first entered Australia at least 10 years ago as a dependent child aged under 18 years of age;
- been ordinarily resident in Australia for the previous 10 years (that is, you have been physically present in Australia for at least eight out of the past 10 years) and 18 months out of the last two years at the time of application for the loan; and
- are otherwise eligible for the loan.
Students who meet these criteria on or after 1 January 2016 will be eligible for HELP.
Related
Study Assist information about HELP loans for New Zealanders