SA-HELP

SA-HELP

Find out if you're eligible for an SA-HELP loan to cover your Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

SA-HELP is a loan from the Australian Government that you can use to pay your student services and amenities fee (SSAF). SA-HELP is only available for eligible students enrolled in Higher education programs. Find out if you're eligible and how to apply. 

Are you eligible for SA-HELP?

Find out if you're eligible on the Australian Government’s Study Assist website.

New Zealand students on a Special Category Visa (or former SCV holders) 

If you’re an Australian Permanent Resident (Non-Humanitarian Visa holder) and/or New Zealand citizen, go to the Non-Australian citizens information on the Study Assist website for information about eligibility.

To assess your eligibility, RMIT requires a copy of your International Movement Record. You can request a copy of this document by visiting the Department of Home Affairs website. We recommend applying for this document immediately after enrolment to allow the department time to process the request, and RMIT to assess your eligibility before your first census date.

Please submit your documents via Student Connect at least 5 business days before your first census date for assessment of your eligibility and resubmission of your updated eCAF if deemed eligible.

Not eligible?

If you’re not eligible, or don't apply before your census date, you must pay your Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) by the due date via the options to pay your fees.

How to apply

Follow the steps below to apply for SA-HELP and keep track of your loan. You must submit your SA-HELP application before the census date for the classes you want the loan to cover.

1. Let us know if you intend to apply for SA-HELP

If eligible, you’ll be prompted to indicate if you intend to access a SA-HELP loan when you enrol in Enrolment Online. A notification email will be sent to your RMIT student email address confirming your response.

If you did not apply for a SA-HELP loan during enrolment, but would now like to access one, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to Enrolment Online with your RMIT email address and password. Forgotten your password? Reset it
  2. Select Finances
  3. Select Commonwealth Support
  4. Select Commonwealth Loans
  5. Next to SA-HELP, select Request and follow the prompts.

2. Log in to the government portal

Once you have requested an eCAF, an email will be sent to your RMIT student email address from the Department of Education. The email contains a unique passkey that, together with your date of birth, is required to log in to the government's eCAF portal.

Read the email and follow the instructions to log in to the government’s eCAF portal and begin your application.

If you can’t find your email, make sure to check your spam folder and search for messages from ecafsystem@education.gov.au.

3. Enter your Tax File Number (TFN)

If you're using a Certificate of Application for a TFN, make sure you upload supporting evidence in your eCAF. If you have already received your TFN, enter it directly in the TFN field. Your TFN will be validated as part of your eCAF application with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). If it does not validate, you'll receive a message advising that the validation was unsuccessful.

If your TFN does not successfully validate with the Australian Taxation Office, your SA-HELP loan will not be approved, and your Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) will need to be paid in full to RMIT by the due date. 

Can’t validate your TFN? 

If you get an email advising of problems with your Tax File Number, immediately follow the instructions to validate your TFN.

4. Submit your application via the government's eCAF portal

Remember to submit your application before your first census date.

There are no provisions to backdate your loan application if you submit after your census date.

How to check your SA-HELP loan is approved

Your loan is not approved unless you have been issued with an SA-HELP loan approval letter.

Once you submit your eCAF, with a validated Tax File Number, it will be approved and a loan approval letter will be issued to you the next day.

Follow these steps to access your loan approval letter:

  1. Log in to Enrolment Online with your RMIT email address and password. Forgotten your password? Reset it
  2. Select Finances
  3. Select Commonwealth support
  4. Select Loan approval Letter.

Starting a new program?

If you change your program and/or enrol in a new program, you’ll need to re-apply for SA-HELP for your new program following the steps above.

Know and track your loan

Your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN)

Your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) outlines the HELP debt you've incurred and any upfront payments you've made towards your fees.

RMIT will issue you with a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) within 28 days of each class census date. A notification email will be sent to your RMIT student email account and your nominated personal email when your CAN is available.

If there are any discrepancies between your HELP debt and the amount you were expecting to pay, you have 14 days from the CAN issue date to submit a written request for a correction.

To view or print your Commonwealth Assistance Notice:

  1. Log in to Enrolment Online with your RMIT email address and password. Forgotten your password? Reset it
  2. Select Finances
  3. Select Commonwealth support
  4. Select Assistance notices (CANs).

Remember to pay your tuition fees and other charges

SA-HELP only covers your Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). You still need to pay your tuition fees and any other charges by the due dates. 

If you’ve taken out FEE-HELP or HECS-HELP, these loans don't cover your SSAF – you need to apply for SA-HELP to cover SSAF.

Need help?

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