La Trobe University Postgraduate Association Inc. (LUPA)

News Item

Update on Training and Learning Bonus Payments from CAPA on 29th April 2009

Published 04-05-2009

Dear Postgraduate student,

If you are a postgraduate scholarship holder, you may now be eligible to receive the Federal Government’s $950 Training and Learning Bonus.The Training and Learning Bonus is being made available to postgraduate scholarship recipients via an administrative scheme which is different to that in place for other income support recipients (such as Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY).

To be eligible for the bonus, postgraduates must be:

• undertaking full-time study in a higher education degree by research program in Semester 1 2009, and • living in Australia on the date of claim, and • a citizen, or permanent resident, of Australia, and • not already holding a research doctorate, and • in receipt of, for Semester 1 2009 - an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA), or - an Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry) (APA(I)) or National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) PhD scholarship, or - a qualifying scholarship: (a) the value of which is at least $20 427 in the 2009 calendar year, and (b) that is payable as a stipend.

From the DEEWR Fact Sheet ONE‐OFF $950 TRAINING AND LEARNING BONUS PAYMENT FOR ELIGIBLE POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS(website: www.deewr.gov.au), 28/4/09.

Postgraduates who believe they may be eligible are invited to self-assess their eligibility,complete the claim form (available from Centrelink), and return it with supporting documentation to the address shown on the form. Inquiries about eligibility for the bonus and the claim process can be directed to Centrelink on 13 24 90, or via www.centrelink.gov.au. Up-to-date information, including the most recent Fact Sheet issued by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), is available at: www.capa.edu.au/stimuluspackage. You can always contact us, if you have any questions or concerns, at inquiries@capa.edu.au.