Provide evidence for SEAS
On this page
Do I need to provide evidence?
Description of circumstances and impact statement
When to apply for SEAS and submit supporting documentation
| Special Entry Access Schemes (SEAS) applications | Open | Close |
|---|---|---|
| SEAS applications and supporting documentation | 5 August 2019 (9am) | 11 October 2019 (5pm) |
Find all VTAC dates on the Dates and fees page.
Do I need to provide evidence?
When completing your SEAS application, you may be required to provide evidence. If you don't your application will not be considered.
Some categories of SEAS require you submit a description of circumstances, an impact statement, a statement of support or financial evidence. Only provide what is specified as quality, not quantity, is the key to providing good and useful evidence.
Organising and submitting your evidence for a SEAS application can take several weeks. VTAC advises applicants to familiarise themselves with what is required early, and to make any appointments required for a statement of support as soon as possible.
You can find a summary of the evidence required for each category on the following pages:
- Category 1: Personal information and location. This category includes age, living or school location, under-representation of a gender in a course or field of study, recognition as an Indigenous Australian, recognition for being from a non-English speaking background and recognition for being the first in your family to attend tertiary study.
- Category 2: Disadvantaged financial background
- Category 3: Disability or medical condition
- Category 4: Difficult circumstances
Description of circumstances and impact statement
You will need to provide a description of circumstances and impact statement if you apply for Category 3: Disability or medical condition or Category 4: Difficult circumstances and if you don't get Centrelink or Family Tax benefits and are applying for Category 2: Disadvantaged financial background.
These appear as text fields in your SEAS application. Make sure you:
- Write in your own words. Don't get someone else to write for you. Institutions simply want to know your story from your point of view (and aren't testing your grammar).
- Keep to the key points and within the character limit.
- Allow time to draft. This is so you are confident you have explained the circumstance and their impact on your education (Categories 3 and 4) or daily life (Category 2).
Description of circumstances
You are given 500 characters to summarise what happened and when. Briefly outline the circumstance and timeline including how long you have experienced the disadvantage.
Impact statement
You are given 1,500 characters to explain the impact the circumstances have had on your education (Categories 3 and 4) or or daily life (Category 2).
Example
Description of circumstances
I had glandular fever and was away from school from 12 May to 13 June 2019.
Impact statement
When I was away from school, sick, I missed out on <insert information> and when I returned to school I was <insert information>. This meant I couldn’t <insert information>.
Statement of support
A statement of support is required for some questions in the SEAS application and must be provided by a 'responsible person'. See the statement of support page for instructions on providing a statement of support.
Financial evidence
Financial disadvantage is most often demonstrated with documentation from Centrelink or the Family Tax benefit, however if you don't get either you can provide other evidence. See Category 2: Disadvantaged financial background for information about submitting financial evidence.