A NEW financial scheme will aim to help Federation TAFE students who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Wimmera TAFE students will be able to access up to $300 each week for two weeks if they are experiencing financial hardship due to need to self-isolate; have had their hours of employment reduced as a result of the effect of COVID-19; or are unable to work due to self-isolation and have limited or no provision of personal or annual leave.
Students living in rural areas with limited internet services will also be able to access a one-off payment of up to $100 to boost their internet access or data limit.
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Federation vice-chancellor and president Helen Bartlett said many students needed support.
"We know many of our TAFE students are feeling the financial strain of the COVID-19 pandemic like so many others in the community," she said.
"Now, more than ever, we need to support our students and this package will help them continue their studies during these difficult times."
Students who don't have computers at home now can borrow them from the Wimmera and Ballarat campuses.
Students can also book computer time in the libraries, where study spaces that comply with social distancing and hygiene measures have been opened up.
Federation will also extend fee due dates. Students in fee-paying certificate-level programs now have until June 30, while the census date for Diploma or Advanced Diploma students has been extended to July 1.
The census date is the cut-off date for Diploma and Advanced Diploma TAFE students to withdraw from a program without paying fees. The extension aims to give them more time to decide if online study is right for them.
The financial assistance package for TAFE students follows the launch of a scheme for domestic and international university students in April.
At the time, Federation University announced announced its higher education students would be eligible for up to $300 a week in support for five weeks, if they were experiencing money problems for reasons including needing to self-isolate and having their income reduced.
TAFE students were not eligible for that assistance package.
A university spokesperson said it had already received more than 2,100 requests through the original scheme.
The university expects to provide about $1.3 million in financial assistance to help students continue their studies.
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