Eligibility and application

How to apply

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• Criteria 1 - Income support payment arrow_forward_ios

  ISP paid by Centrelink – you'll need to submit a copy of your Centrelink Payment Details or Income Statement, which you can obtain using the Centrelink Online Services ‘request a document’ function.  

  ISP paid by DVA – you'll need to submit a copy of your DVA Payment Summary or General Statement of Pension.  

• Criteria 2 – Need to work and income test arrow_forward_ios

  • Evidence that you’ve worked more than 60 hours over a continuous 4-week period during the most recent study period prior to your application. Acceptable documents include payroll prints, time and wages sheets or payslips, a letter from your employer or, for self-employed students, client invoicing and billing information and/or sole trader timesheets.
  • Evidence that your gross (pre-tax) income does not exceed $1,500 per week on average.
  • Evidence of any other income, including scholarships/bursaries, wages/wage subsidies and any other university or Commonwealth and State/Territory government supports which are paid directly to you. This includes payments that you receive outside the 4-week period (e.g. annual/lump sum payments or payments you expect to receive while on placement). Forms of indirect/in-kind support won't be counted. 

• Exceptional circumstances arrow_forward_ios

  Some students may have exceptional circumstances preventing them from meeting the CPP eligibility criteria related to placement hours or the Need to Work Test or Income Test, but still require support to participate in their placements alongside other students.

  What counts as exceptional circumstances?

  Exceptional circumstances are situations that significantly affect your ability to be eligible for the CPP. These may include: 

  • If you need reasonable adjustments for work or study (as evidenced by your education/learning adjustments plan or medical documentation) and consequently, cannot participate in mandatory placements for more than 30 hours per week and/or meet the ‘Need to Work’ test.
  • If you're unable to meet the ‘Need to Work’ test because of circumstances beyond your control. This includes if illness, disability or caring responsibilities mean you're unable to work more than 15 hours per week on average during your regular study period, despite usually relying on paid employment (of less than $1,500 per week (before tax) during the same period.
  • If you've received a Commonwealth income support payment or worked more than 15 hours per week but cannot provide documentation due to circumstances beyond your control (such as a natural disaster).

  You're not eligible to apply for CPP under exceptional circumstances if: 

  • You’re usually able to meet work or placement requirements.
  • You’re unable to demonstrate that exceptional circumstances apply through relevant supporting documentation. 

  How do I demonstrate exceptional circumstances?

  To apply under exceptional circumstances, you must meet the initial CPP eligibility criteria, but you don’t need to meet the financial criteria. Instead, you need to show us that you meet one of the above exceptional circumstances and supply supporting documentation to UTS that clearly shows:  

  • The nature of your circumstances  
  • How they impact your ability to meet CPP criteria  
  • The duration of the circumstances (start and end dates)  
  • A physical signature and contact details of a relevant professional (e.g. doctor, caseworker)  
  • The date the document was issued.  

  How do I submit my application? 

  • Complete the CPP application form – note: in your application you must indicate which of the eligibility criteria(s) you’re unable to meet
  • Attach all required supporting documents  
  • Submit your application by the relevant deadline 

  Important: Applications without documentation or sufficient evidence will be declined.

  Please allow at least 4 weeks prior to your placement start date to ensure your application can be processed in time.

  UTS will assess your application and if we’re satisfied that exceptional circumstances apply, we’ll share it with the Department of Education to be approved. The Department should notify UTS about the outcome of the application within 5 working days. We’ll let you know the outcome.