Youth Allowance

If you currently receive Youth Allowance payments you are eligible to receive these payments whilst you are overseas on an official ECU Student Exchange for a period of up to one year.

After you have been accepted by your host institution ECU will provide you with an official letter stating your exchange student status. You will need to take this document to your nearest Centrelink office and advise them of your intention to study at an overseas institution. If you encounter any problems please contact the ECU Study Abroad & Exchange Office.

Additional information can be obtained on the Youth Allowance website.

http://www.facsia.gov.au/guides_acts/ssg/ssguide-7/ssguide-7.1/ssguide-7.1.5/ssguide-7.1.5.60.html

Youth Allowance payments can be used to show your financial ability to undertake an exchange.

Working

Whilst it is possible to work in certain countries when on exchange this should not be taken into account when determining if you have the finances required to undertaken an exchange as it is not guaranteed that you will find employment.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has updated addresses and information of all countries represented in Australia : www.dfat.gov.au/geo/ . You should check directly with the appropriate governing body about your eligibility to work whilst studying in that country.

Other

Other forms of financial assistance including money obtained from relatives can be used to fund your student exchange. If you are going to use these funds to cover you whilst on exchange then you will need to provide evidence that you have access to those funds. Please note that letters from sponsors must either be accompanied by a copy of the sponsor's bank statement or be stamped by the bank with notation stating that the sponsor has sufficient funds