Kia Ora

Just to update you on this bill for New Zealanders living in Australia who want to access HECS (the Australian version of Student Loans).

There is slight movement on access to HECS for New Zealand Citizens….but it looks to be a drawn out process.

Fingers crossed something comes of this for New Zealanders. We are tax payers afterall!

For New Zealand Special Category Visa holders :

Schedule 10 of the Bill expands access to higher education by allowing certain New Zealand citizens, who hold a Special Category Visa, to access 11 the Australian Government’s HELP loans scheme from 1 January 2015. Residency requirements for this measure will ensure that only New Zealand citizens with a demonstrated commitment to living in Australia and contributing to the workforce and economy will be eligible for a HELP loan.

This measure is designed to allow access to the HELP scheme to New Zealand citizens, who are long-term residents of Australia who are not able to access traditional routes to Australian citizenship that are available to citizens of other countries. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Some links of interest:

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5325

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Chamber_documents/Live_Minutes

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/the-pulse-live/politics-live-august-28-2014-20140828-3efyk.html