NZ Mummy wanting to study in QLD

[KandBs Mumma]

Hi all NZers!!! Gee I miss home!

I have been here for only a few months and have 1 DD and a DS on the way, due in Nov.

I am wanting to study the Midwifery/Nursing degree in QLD but am wondering about student loans/financial assistance/payment plans we can receive? Does anyone know anything?

I know I am entitled to study here as a Aus student (not pay international student fees).

Also does anyone know what bridging course they would expect me to do before the degree? I have been out of school for 8years but left early...I was 16. Not sure how that will look to them :(

Thanks for any help!

[BlissedOut]

All I know is that you have to pay your fees in full by a certain date (during the semester), so no student loans etc... you can get a personal loan through your bank to cover costs.

If you can get permanent residency you may be better off.

Sorry, wish I could be more help.

[KandBs Mumma]

Thats the only info I can find anywhere aswell. Its far too expensive to live and study in NZ at the moment unless I was single with no children etc...
Dont really want a personal loan to pay for it, but might have to. Atleast I will be able to get it paid off quickly once Im back at work...

Hope I see another way... maybe the Aus lotto will come my way lol!

[BlissedOut]

Thats the only info I can find anywhere aswell. Its far too expensive to live and study in NZ at the moment unless I was single with no children etc...
Dont really want a personal loan to pay for it, but might have to. Atleast I will be able to get it paid off quickly once Im back at work...

Hope I see another way... maybe the Aus lotto will come my way lol!

Lol, it's a lot bigger than the NZ lotto.

SIL studies here in QLD, but only PT and she works PT to cover her course expenses. She saves up in advance, so no personal loan.

I've looked into it for both DH and myself, his work will cover most of his fees, but I'd need to back to work to cover the cost of me studying, which with 2 babies isn't happening anytime soon.

I wish I'd listened to those people who said do it before you have kids.

[KandBs Mumma]

Yeah, I wish I had listened to those who told me to stay at school... Not that I would admit that to my parents LOL

I think we might just go for the loan idea. We have a loan in NZ that we are still paying so if I got that paid before I started the degree we would that spare $ to pay the loan with. And I worked out lastnight that I can have that paid in 11months, which is great, just in time.

[sweetseven]

NZ citizens automatically have permanent residence in Australia, but the Australian government has put some restrictions on benefits.

Back when I went to uni (nearly 20 years ago) NZ citizens were entitled to everything Aus citizens were, but shortly after I started it, they were changing it to only being entitled to such treatment if you had lived here at least two years first. Then somewhat later, I heard chatter about four years of residence being required.

I don't know what the rules are now, but I suggest you speak to Centrelink and the Universities to find out for certain.

[summastarlet]

Plenty of universities offer bridging courses that can get you up to speed on academic writing, maths, science..whatever you may need depending on what you want to study. A lot of these are free Australian citizens but not sure if you would be entitled to no fee.

I know that CQUniversity offers a range of different prep courses and some of them you can do via distance so you don't have to attend classes on campus. There are plenty of ways to enter university even if you have not studied for a long period of time. With some if you complete the bridging program then you get direct entry into the degree of your choice which means you don't have to apply through QTAC.

Once you are enrolled in a program (degree) you will have to pay your course fees before census date each term (usually around week 4). As you are not an Aussie citizen you would not be entitled to defer these fees using HECS-HELP. Different degrees come under different bands which have different costs. Nursing is around $5000 a term for a full time course load (which is 4 subjects/courses).

As for other financial supports..you will have to look into whether you are eligible for Centrelink payments while studying. You would have to study full time (3-4 courses a term) to get something like austudy. Universities offer different scholarships which you may also be eligible to apply for. These may cover costs of textbooks and other study materials. Every uni offers something different.

Hope this helps. :yes:

[sweetseven]

Another option you might want to consider is returning to high school as an adult student.

I'm looking at options for my daughter going into year 11 next year, and it would be possible for her to complete year 12 with up to four certifications.

Six subjects are required - maths and english take up two.
One can then be used for a TAFE partnership course (for a Cert II, Cert III, Cert IV, or Diploma in a limited range of choices).
The remaining three could then be used for other in-school subjects, including ones that can grant certifications. At my local school, options include Cert III in Aged Care, Cert III in Childrens Services, Cert II in Hospitality, Cert II in Tourism, Cert II in Business, and Cert II in Workplace Practices.

Whilst these are not the nursing or midwifery you are interested in, they may provide a more cost effective alternative.

Edit - applications for TAFE partnership programs have to be in today, so if you want to consider this option, you need to act fast. (I think I remember reading from 26th August until 9th September, so you might find different courses have different cutoffs for their applications.)