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Our interactive school leavers video will give you key information about Centrelink payments, Medicare, COVID-19 vaccination proof and more.
Help to decide what to do after school
If you aren’t sure what to do next, there’s information to help you decide.
You can:
- call, text or email the School Leavers Information Service to get free tailored careers support and guidance
- use the School Leavers Information Kit on the Your Career website to learn about study, training and work options
- use the Job Outlook website to look for careers and see what you might enjoy
- go to the myfuture website to discover your strengths and make career decisions
- use the myskills website to compare the training at different providers
- get information about government help to pay for tertiary study on the Study Assist website
- connect with a Transition to Work provider to get pre-employment help
- talk to a youth employment expert with free Youth Advisory Sessions.
Help to prepare for your next steps
To help with the transition to life after secondary school, you can:
- get a Tax File Number, if you don’t already have one using the Australian Taxation Office website
- create a myGov account and link to your Centrelink online account
- get your own Medicare card and proof of your COVID-19 vaccinations
- read and download information about student payments from our school leavers resource eKit
- find out how tax and superannuation works from the Australian Taxation Office and what you need to do.
Help for apprentices or trainees
We have payments and services to help if you’re considering an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Read about how we can help apprentices.
Help to continue study
You may want to go on to study in higher education. We have payments and services to support you while you study, depending on what course you choose.
Read about how we can help students in higher education.
Help to get a job
You can get help from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment’s JobSearch website with:
- writing a resume
- looking for work
- starting your own business
- finding work experience through Youth Jobs PaTH
- searching for jobs in seasonal agriculture on the Harvest Trail
- booking a Youth Advisory Session to help you be job ready.
We can also help support you if you decide to work. Even if you already have a job, you may be able to get a payment from us.
Read about how we can help as you look for work.
Help to transition from state care
If you’re in or leaving formal state care you may be able to get the Transition to Independent Living Allowance payment. It’s a payment of up to $1,500 to help you cover some of the costs of leaving care like:
- paying for a bond for accommodation
- education or training courses
- driving lessons or counselling.
The payment is for eligible young people aged 15 to 25.
Formal care is non-parent care where you’ve been placed on a court order, such as foster care, or community care.
Find out more about how to get the Transition to Independent Living Allowance.