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Student Support Advisers

EdStart 2010

To apply for EdStart 2010 please read the information below and then follow the link at bottom of the page.

EdStart 2010 Information Package

1. What is EdStart?

EdStart provides grants for undergraduate domestic students at UOW. An EdStart grant is not a cash award. Students who are awarded EdStart will be given a $500 grant that they can use to purchase goods and services from the University of Wollongong and the UniShop.

Some of the goods and services that can be purchased are:

• readers/course notes
• calculators
• text books
• IT consumables such as printers and cartridges
• computer books
• media storage
• printing
• photocopying
• reference titles
• visual arts subject supplies
• software
• IT hardware
• stationery
• lab coats
• folders
• paper

Students may be able to purchase other items that are course related after providing documentation from their course coordinator e.g. digital cameras, iPods and laptop backpacks. 

EdStart grants are awarded at the beginning of each year. They can be used throughout the whole year. Almost 1,000 EdStart grants were awarded by UOW last year.

2. Who can apply for an EdStart grant?

To be eligible to apply for EdStart you need to:

• Be enrolled at the University of Wollongong in 12 or more credit points in both Autumn and Spring Session 2010 and not be studying abroad in either of those session;

And

• Have a low income or receive / expect to receive Centrelink payments in 2010.

Or

• Live with your family who are receiving Centrelink payments or have a low income.

And

• Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or the holder of an Australian Permanent Humanitarian Visa.

And

• Not be excluded from study in 2010.

And

• Not hold a Bachelor degree or be enrolled in a Postgraduate degree (including a Diploma of Education or Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery).

3. How are EdStart applications assessed?

EdStart applications are assessed on the basis of financial need. First year students, students receiving any Centrelink payments and students on low incomes are strongly encouraged to apply.

4. When should you apply for EdStart?

EdStart applications are assessed in 2 rounds. This allows successful applicants to receive their grants as close to the start of session as possible. The following table gives you information on when you should apply.

Please try and submit your application and documentation as early as possible in your application round. This will ensure that we are able to process your application
in a timely manner and contact you regarding any missing documentation and changes to your financial situation , before the applications close.   

5. Getting prepared to complete the EdStart 2010 ONLINE application.

• You will be asked to answer a number of questions about your: current enrolment; financial situation over the past year; family; living arrangements and your Centrelink benefits.
• Please read all of the questions below and ensure that you have all of your necessary documentation before attempting to complete the ONLINE application.
• You will not be able to save any incomplete online application forms.
• Please answer all of the questions honestly as you will need to provide documentation to support your responses.
• Your application will not be accepted if you apply in the wrong round.
• Late applications will not be accepted.
• You will need to submit an online application form to apply for a 2010 EdStart Grant. Paper applications are not accepted.

Eligibility questions and information you will be asked when completing your ONLINE application.

1. Are you an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or the holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa?
2. Are you currently enrolled in your first degree?
3. Are you currently excluded from study at UOW?
4. How many credit points does your academic transcript show that are you enrolled in for Autumn and Spring 2010?
   (You will be asked to provide a copy of your enrolment record showing that you are enrolled in both Autumn and Spring subjects in 2010. You are able to change these subjects on SOLS if your enrolment needs to change for any reason.)
5. Will you graduate after completion of Autumn Session, 2010?
6. Will you be undertaking a Study Abroad Program in Autumn or Spring session 2010?
7. Will you receive a $4,000 Relocation Scholarship from Centrelink in 2010?
8. Your student number.
9. Your name.
10. Your date of birth.
11. Your gender.
12. Your address.
13. Your home and/or mobile telephone numbers.
14. Your UOW email address : ___________@uow.edu.au
    (No other email addresses will be accepted)
15. What campus/education centre are you attending?
16. When did you begin your studies at UOW?
17. Have you been made a late offer to study at UOW?
18. What is your course code?
    (This is noted on your academic record/transcript.)
19. What Faculty/ies you are enrolled in?
20. Are you enrolled in a double degree?
21. Were you in paid work in the 2008/2009 year?
22. The amount you earned in the 2008/2009 financial year.
    (You will be asked to provide a copy of your group certificate/s to verify this amount. You should have received this from your employer/s).
23. Are you currently in paid work?
24. What is your average current income? (You will be asked to provide a year to date pay slip to verify this amount.)
25. How has your employment changed since the 2008/2009 financial year?
26. Do you receive any Centrelink benefits e.g. Youth Allowance, New Start, Family Benefits, AbStudy, Parenting Payments.
27. What was your average Centrelink payment per fortnight over the last 6 months?
    (You will be asked to provide your Centrelink Reference Number (CRN) and a 6 month payment summary which you can download from the Centrelink website).
28. Do you live with your parents?
    (If so, you will be asked to provide a copy of their 2008/2009 group certificates. If they are receiving Centrelink payment then you should provide a copy of their 6 month payment summary which they can download from the Centrlink website.)
29. Do you live with a partner/spouse?
    (If so, you will be asked to provide a copy of their 2008/2009 group certificates. If they are receiving Centrelink payment then you should provide a copy of their 6 month payment summary which can be downloaded from the Centrlink website.)
30. Do you and/or your partner or spouse have any children who are financially dependent on you?
31. Do you receive any other income that has not previously been noted e.g. scholarships, rental income, trust account, cadetships, maintenance payments, investment returns.
    (If so, you will be asked to provide supporting documentation.)

6. General consent, disclosure and privacy of your information. 

The University of Wollongong is committed to protecting your privacy. The information collected in your EdStart 2010 application will only be used for the purpose of determining your eligibility for an EdStart grant. If you have any privacy concerns or questions please contact the University’s Privacy Officer. You may view the University’s Privacy Policy at www.uow.edu.au/about/privacy 

If you agree to give us YOUR Centrelink CRN it will be used to confirm your stated Centrelink payments. You will be asked to give your consent for this to occur. This consent will be used for the sole purpose of authorising Centrelink to provide information to the University of Wollongong to assess your eligibility in relation to your EdStart 2010 application. A brochure is available from Centrelink that provides more details about the Centrelink confirmation services and further information is available on Centrelink’s website at: http://www.centrelink.gov.au/ 

Your consent will authorise Centrelink to electronically provide a statement to the University of Wollongong to assist in the assessment of your entitlement to “EdStart 2010”. The information provided by Centrelink may include, where relevant, current or historical details of payments received, dependants, Centrelink deductions, income, assets and confirmation of your current address. 

This authority, once given, is effective only for that period when your EdStart application is being assessed at the University of Wollongong. The authority can be revoked at any time by giving notice to the University of Wollongong.

7. Choosing an EdStart Option. 

When you are completing your EdStart ONLINE application, you will be asked which of the following options you would like to receive if you are successful in obtaining a grant.

8. What happens after you complete the ONLINE application? 

When you complete your ONLINE application you will see a page listing the documents that you need to provide us with in support of your application. 

Write your name, student number and the name of your Student Support Adviser (which will be given to you) on each page of your supporting documentation and then deliver or send it all to: 

EDSTART 
(Name of your Student Support Adviser) 
Student Central 
Building 17 
University of Wollongong 
Wollongong NSW 2522 

Your applications will not be processed until all of the necessary supporting documentation has been received. All of the supporting documentation will be date stamped at Student Central when it is received. All of your documentation must be received by the closing date for the round you applied in. 

An email will be sent to your UOW student email account when your supporting documents are received. You will also receive an email about the outcome of you application via your UOW email account. Successful applicants will receive instructions about activating and using their EdStart account with this email. 

If you wish to appeal an unfavourable decision you should follow the appeals procedure which will be outlined in the email that you receive.

9. Need help to complete your EdStart application?

If you need help to complete your EdStart application, please contact the Student Support and Peer Learning Administrative Assistant on (02) 42 215526.

10. Link to the EdStart 2010 ONLINE application form. 

If you have read all of the information above and can answer all of the necessary questions, you can now complete your application online. Please click on the box below to be taken to the ONLINE application form. Good luck with your application. 

Apply for EdStart 2010 

(Please DO NOT apply for ROUND 1 after Friday the 5th of February 2010. Your application for 'Round 1' can not be accepted after the 5th of February.)