Support for students
Find out what support you can get to help with costs when you’re studying and living out of home.
Education costs
One-off payment for apprentices and trainees
Apprentices and trainees will receive a one-off $250 payment to help with the cost of living.
Find out when you'll receive your payment.
Fee-free TAFE to train, retrain or upskill
You can enrol in fee-free TAFE courses at Canberra Institute of Technology to train, retrain or upskill.
Find out what courses are available and if you can enrol.
Transport costs
Discounted bus and light rail travel for students
Students can get concession fares on public buses and light rail with MyWay+.
Find out how to get a concession fare on buses and light rail.
Energy bills
Get $800 off your energy bills
If you have an eligible concession card, you can apply for the Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate to get $800 off your energy bill.
Check if you can apply for the Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate.
Renting
Get an Interest-free loan to pay your rental bond
If you need help to pay for a rental bond, you could get an interest-free loan from Housing ACT’s Rental bond help.
Check if you can apply for a loan to pay your rental bond.
Get a free check of your rental home's energy use
If you’re renting your home, you can get a free home energy assessment from the Renters’ Home Energy Program. It can help make your home more comfortable and save on energy bills.
Book a free home energy assessment.
Health costs
Get free health care at a Walk-in Centre, from 7:30 am to 10:00 pm
Anyone over one year of age can get free nurse-led health care for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses.
Find a Walk-in Centre and check the current wait times.
Public health services and clinics
Use the health service finder to find health services you can get in the community, at our hospitals and from your home.
Use the health service finder to check the health care you can get.
Free public health care and discounted medicines
Public health care in Canberra is free:
- Medicare pays for some or all the costs of your necessary health care.
- You can use your Medicare card to get more affordable medicines.
Learn more about the free public health care you can get.
Australian Government support
You can get support to help with the costs of further study, including university and TAFE.
Find out more about Australian Government support for students in higher education.
Other cost-of-living support
Cost-of-living support for: