Support once you are in Australia

Medicare is Australia’s universal health care system. Medicare covers some of the cost of seeing a general practitioner (GP) and your hospital costs if you are a public patient in a public hospital. 

Find out more about enrolling in Medicare on the Services Australia website. You can also find information in your language on the Services Australia website.

Under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, or PBS, the Australian Government subsidises the cost of medicine for most medical conditions. The PBS is a scheme that is available to all Australian residents who hold a current Medicare card. When you visit the pharmacist, you will need to provide your Medicare card.

Find out more about the Scheme on the PBS website.

Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is a payment from the Australian Government to help with the costs of raising children. You may be eligible for FTB if you have your children with you in Australia. Only families earning below a certain income are eligible for FTB.

There are two parts to Family Tax Benefit: 

• FTB Part A is paid per child 
• FTB Part B is extra help to single parents or families with one main income. 

If you are eligible, how much you will get depends on your family’s circumstances, for example how much your family earns, whether your children are up to date with their immunisations and how old your children are.

If you receive Family Tax Benefit, you may also be eligible for Rent Assistance, Multiple Birth Allowance and the Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement.

Find out more about Family Tax Benefit including the full eligibility criteria on the Services Australia website. You can also find information in your language on the Services Australia website.

Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is an Australian Government payment to help families with the cost of childcare.

If you are eligible, CCS is paid directly to approved childcare centres or preschools your children may attend. This reduces the amount you have to pay. CCS does not cover the total cost of childcare. You will usually need to pay a portion of the fees. 

You may also get CCS if your children attend before or after school care. 

The amount of CCS you receive depends on a number of things, such as how much your family earns, what type of childcare you use, how old your children are and whether your children are up to date with their immunisations.  

Find out more about Child Care Subsidy, including the full eligibility criteria, on the Services Australia website. You can also find information in your language on the Services Australia website.

The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) has 4 different loan schemes that provide financial support to tertiary level students. 

• Student contributions (HECS-HELP)
• Tuition fees (FEE-HELP) 
• Student service and amenities fees (SA-HELP)
• Overseas study expenses (OS-HELP).

Find out more about HELP loans on the Department of Education website.

The VET Student Loan (VSL) program helps eligible students pay tuition fees for approved vocational education and training (VET) courses. You must be studying for a diploma or higher qualification. Find out more about VET student loans on the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations website.

You must repay the loan once your income reaches a certain level via deductions from your pay.

More information about repaying study and training support loans is available on the Australian Taxation Office website 

Youth Allowance is a payment from the Australian Government available to young people who are students or apprentices. 

Find out more about Youth Allowance for Students and Australian Apprentices, including the full eligibility criteria, on the Services Australia website.

Austudy provides financial support for people aged 25 or older studying an approved course or doing an Australian Apprenticeship. You must meet income test requirements, and how much you get is determined by your earnings.

Find out more about Austudy, including the full eligibility criteria, on the Services Australia website.