For many rural and remote Australian families, boarding is not a lifestyle choice — it is how their children get to secondary school. The Australian Government recognises this through the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme, administered by Services Australia.
This guide explains the scheme in plain English: what it is for, who may be eligible, the four types of payment, and how to approach a claim. It is general information only, based on the official Services Australia pages linked throughout. It is not financial advice, and we deliberately do not quote payment rates or thresholds, because they are indexed and change. Always confirm your family’s situation with Services Australia before making decisions.
What the AIC Scheme is for
The scheme helps families whose children cannot reasonably attend an appropriate school every day — most commonly because of distance, but also for some other approved reasons such as a special education need. It recognises that these families face extra costs to educate their children: boarding fees, maintaining a second home near a school, or running distance education at home.
Who may be eligible
According to Services Australia, your child must live in an approved living arrangement. In practice that means one of:
- boarding away from home for an approved reason — for example, at a boarding school, a hostel or in private board
- living in an approved second home maintained so the child can attend school daily
- studying at home by distance education
On top of the living arrangement, your child must meet all of these requirements:
- the living and study requirements — including full-time study in an approved course at an approved institution
- the age requirements
- the residence rules
And one of the isolation conditions must apply.
The four isolation conditions
Services Australia lists four isolation conditions. Only one needs to apply:
- Geographically isolated. Broadly, this is about the distance from your family home to the nearest appropriate government school, or to transport to it. The exact distance tests are set out by Services Australia, and the definition of an "appropriate" school matters — read the official criteria carefully.
- Special education need. The child has a disability or health condition and the nearest appropriate school cannot provide what they need. A medical statement — Services Australia’s AIC medical statement (SY099) — may be required.
- No reasonable access to a school. There are other reasons a child cannot reasonably access an appropriate school, even if the distance test is not met. Services Australia assesses these individually.
- Continuity condition. In some circumstances, a child who was previously eligible may continue to receive help — for example, to finish a stage of schooling — even after the family’s situation changes. Check the official rules for exactly when this applies.
Because the details matter, we strongly suggest reading the Services Australia pages directly and, if your situation is unusual, speaking to them before you assume you are or are not eligible.
The four payment types
If your child meets the requirements, Services Australia says you will get one of the following (see payment types):
| Payment | Broadly for |
|---|---|
| Boarding Allowance | Children who board away from home to attend school — including boarding schools, hostels and private board |
| Second Home Allowance | Families who maintain a second home so children can attend school daily |
| Distance Education Allowance | Children who study at home through an approved distance education programme |
| Pensioner Education Supplement | Some students who receive certain pensions — check the Services Australia criteria |
Additional Boarding Allowance
For boarding families, there is also an Additional Boarding Allowance. Services Australia states that, under the scheme, only the Additional Boarding Allowance is income tested through the parental means test. If your family’s income is within the limits, you may receive extra help on top of the basic Boarding Allowance. The thresholds and amounts change, so check the current figures.
How AIC fits with school fees
AIC is a contribution towards costs, not a fee waiver. In most cases it will not cover the full cost of boarding. When you speak to schools:
- Ask how they handle AIC. Some schools have established processes for AIC families and can explain how payments are applied to accounts.
- Ask about other help. Many schools offer bursaries or scholarships, and some specifically support rural families. Read boarding scholarships explained.
- Check state assistance. Some state and territory governments offer their own support for isolated or boarding students. Contact your state or territory education department to see what applies to you.
- Get the fee schedule in writing. Our guide to what boarding fees cover explains what to look for.
How to approach a claim
These steps are a general outline. Services Australia’s own instructions always take priority.
- Read the eligibility pages linked above and check that your child meets the living, study, age, residence and isolation requirements.
- Confirm the school or arrangement. Have the name of the school, the boarding arrangement and the start date ready.
- Gather documents. Depending on your situation, you may need evidence of the boarding arrangement or a medical statement for a special education need.
- Lodge the claim with Services Australia. Claims are generally made online through a myGov account linked to Centrelink. If you need help, Services Australia offers phone and in-person support, including services for rural and remote customers.
- Respond to any requests for more information promptly.
- Report changes. If your child changes school, stops boarding, or your family moves, tell Services Australia. Their page on managing your AIC payment explains what to report.
Claim timing matters. Check with Services Australia how early you can claim and whether there are time limits for backdating, so you do not miss out.
Getting help and advocacy
The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia (ICPA) is a long-standing, volunteer-based organisation that advocates for rural and remote families on access to education. Families often find ICPA branches a practical source of peer advice about boarding, distance education and government assistance.
Your prospective school’s boarding or admissions office is another useful contact — staff at schools with many rural boarders are usually familiar with the AIC process.
Common questions from boarding families
Do we still qualify if we choose a non-government boarding school? The isolation tests are generally about access to an appropriate government school, but the Boarding Allowance can be paid for children boarding at approved schools. Check the living and study requirements for how this applies to your choice.
What if we are just under the distance threshold? Read the "no reasonable access" condition and talk to Services Australia. Distance is not the only consideration.
What about weekly boarding? Check the living arrangement rules for how part-week boarding is treated before you assume it qualifies.
Can international students claim? The scheme has residence rules. Overseas students on student visas should look at the international student information and speak to the school.
Where to go next
- Read boarding from regional and remote Australia.
- See how boarding fees work and scholarships.
- Go back to the parent guide to boarding school in Australia.
This guide summarises public information from Services Australia as reviewed on the date shown above. Government rules, rates and processes change. Always confirm with Services Australia before relying on any eligibility or payment information.
Questions parents ask
What is the Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme?
It is an Australian Government scheme, administered by Services Australia, that helps families whose children cannot reasonably attend an appropriate school daily because of geographic isolation, a special education need or other approved reasons. It can help with boarding, a second home or distance education costs.
Who can get Assistance for Isolated Children?
According to Services Australia, the child must live in an approved living arrangement — boarding away from home for an approved reason, living in an approved second home, or studying by distance education — and meet living, study, age and residence requirements plus one of the isolation conditions.
What are the AIC isolation conditions?
Services Australia lists four: the child is geographically isolated, has a special education need, has no reasonable access to a school, or meets a continuity condition. Only one needs to apply, and each has detailed rules on the Services Australia website.
Is the AIC Boarding Allowance means tested?
Services Australia states that under the scheme only the Additional Boarding Allowance is income tested. The basic Boarding Allowance itself is not subject to the parental income test, but eligibility rules still apply.
How much is the AIC Boarding Allowance?
Rates are set by the government and indexed, so we do not quote figures that may be out of date. Check the current rates on the Services Australia website or by contacting them directly.
How do I apply for AIC?
Claims are made through Services Australia, generally online via a myGov account linked to Centrelink. Have your child’s school and boarding details ready, and check whether supporting documents such as a medical statement are needed for your situation.