Key information

  • The Learning Incentive Allowance is available to young people at the completion of Year 12 or equivalent.
  • Carers of a young person attending Year 11 or Year 12 are also eligible for financial support under the program.

What is the Learning Incentive Allowance

The Learning Incentive Allowance provides financial support for young people living in Out of Home Care and on a Care and Protection Order under the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1997to continue with their education and learning.

Payment of $2500 is available for both the young person and the carer.

The Learning Incentive Allowance of $2500 is available to young people at the completion of Year 12 or equivalent.

For carers of a young person attending Year 11 or Year 12, the $2500 can be applied for as a one off payment at the end of Year 12 or equivalent or as staged carer payments at the start of both school years.

Eligibility and payment of the Learning Incentive Allowance

Young people and their carers are eligible for the Learning Incentive Allowance if they meet the following criteria:

Young people

The young person must have:

  • been in foster or kinship care, residential care or other forms of individual care during the year and were on a Care and Protection Order under the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1997; and
  • completed Year 12 or equivalent through:
    • senior secondary study for Year 12; or
    • VET through a registered training organisation (RTO), Trade Training Centre, an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Payment to young people

Payment will be made upon provision of documentation to show you have completed Year 12 study or vocational education and training. Vocational education and training may include Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC) or Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Carers

The carer must have:

  • provided family-based care during the year for a young person on a Care and Protection Order under the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1997 (including foster care, kinship care and care provided under transfer of guardianship arrangements) for a young person during the year; and
  • the young person in your care commenced Year 11 or Year 12 or equivalent through either:
    • senior secondary study for Year 11 or 12; or
    • VET through a registered training organisation (RTO), Trade Training Centre, an apprenticeship or traineeship. OR
  • the young person in your care completed Year 12 or equivalent and you are applying for a one-off payment of $2500.

If you are caring for a young person attending Year 11 or Year 12 (or equivalent), you can apply for:

  • A payment of $1250 at the beginning of the Year 11 school year; and
  • A payment of $1250 at the beginning of the Year 12 school year (if the young person goes on to attend Year 12)

OR

  • A one-off payment of $2500 when the young person in your care completes Year 12 or equivalent.

Payment to Carers

Payment will be made upon provision of documentation to show the young person in your care is attending Year 11 or Year 12.

If you apply for a one-off payment of $2500 you must provide appropriate documentation to confirm the young person has completed Year 12 or equivalent.

Note: A maximum payment of $2500 each is available for the young person and their carer

How to apply for the Learning Incentive Allowance

To apply for the Learning Incentive Allowance, applicants (young people and eligible carers) must complete a Learning Incentive Allowance application form and provide the relevant documentation.

The application form is available from the After Care Support team on:

Email:   aftercaresupport@decyp.tas.gov.au

Phone: (03) 6166 0422

Carers and young people can complete and return their parts of the form on separate forms or on the same form.

Return forms to the postal address or email address stated at the bottom of the application form.

Documentation required

Payments will be made upon receipt of completed Learning Incentive Allowance application forms and verification of the accompanying documentation for the relevant Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC) or Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Contact the After Care Support Team for more information

For further information about the Learning Incentive Allowance, please contact:

After Care Support

Email:   aftercaresupport@decyp.tas.gov.au

Phone: (03) 6166 0422