Presently, the Australian welfare system (centrelink) has two payment types available for all Australian students. Youth allowance, for fulltime students under 25's, and higher paid Austudy, for those.

While this seem's very cut and dry, there is a technicality that can prohibit those over 25 from receiving Austudy, and that is if they were already on youth allowance. Regardless of when their course ends or how old they are, if they apply even a day before their 25th birthday for study payment, they will be blocked from $200 additional benefits a fortnight for no reason other than this.

This is a painfully illogical and insensible system that is putting those who commence study in their early to mid twenties at a disadvantage for no proper reason. A higher rate is awarded to those 25 and over because they have higher rates of expense, and this is being blocked on a ridiculous technicality.

Sign to petition for a change in criteria to allow those 25 and over to transition to Austudy.