Special Consideration: Equity schemes (SEAS) 

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If at any step you need assistance in completing your application, please contact VTAC for help. You can call us at (03) 9926 1020 or e-mail us through your VTAC account.

VTAC's equity scheme-Special Entry Access Scheme, or SEAS-offers special consideration to applicants who have experienced disadvantage that has impacted their studies.

Equity schemes (SEAS) help applicants get into courses that they would otherwise be ineligible for, with an upward adjustment to their selection rank.

Refugee or asylum seekers are eligible to apply for Equity schemes (SEAS).

You are eligible to apply if you are, or have previously been, the holder of one of the below humanitarian visas:

  • Global Special Humanitarian (subclass 202) 
  • Refugee visas (subclass 200, 201, 203 and 204)  
  • Humanitarian Stay (subclass 449)  
  • Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785)  
  • Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786)  
  • Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790) 
  • Resolution of Status visa (subclass 851) 
  • Protection visa (subclass 866) 

Those holding a bridging visa listed below can apply for Equity schemes (SEAS), if they are awaiting an application outcome or judicial decision for any of the above visa subclasses: 

  • Bridging visa A – BVA (subclass 010)  
  • Bridging visa E – BVE (subclass 050 and 051) 

Once you create a VTAC account and submit your VTAC application, you can then apply for Equity schemes (SEAS). To receive a Equity schemes (SEAS) adjustment, you must complete the Equity schemes (SEAS) & scholarships application form and supply supporting documents where required.

There are four Equity schemes (SEAS) categories:

  1. Personal information and location (no documents required) 
  2. Disadvantaged financial background 
  3. Disability or medical condition 
  4. Difficult circumstances

To apply for refugee or asylum seeker circumstances, you must submit a Difficult circumstances category application, and answer 'YES' to question 4.4. 

If you are from a non-English speaking background, your will be automatically considered for the Personal information and location  category as well.

It is important to read through all four of the categories to see which apply to you. Follow the instructions below to apply for each of the categories.

1: Personal information and location

You will automatically be considered for this category when you submit a course application. You will be considered for circumstances such as:

  • Non-English speaking background
  • Underrepresented School
  • Living location
  • Age

No documents are required to apply for Personal information and location.

For more information about Personal information and location, click here.

2: Disadvantaged financial background

Disadvantaged financial background applies to applicants who has been affected by financial disadvantage.

Some examples of circumstances are:

  • You are in receipt of Centrelink benefits
  • You are dependent on a parent/guardian that receives Centrelink benefits
  • You have excessive financial obligations
  • Individual or family economic hardship
  • Individual or family poverty

If you receive Centrelink benefits…

VTAC can obtain your financial details directly from Centrelink. You only need to provide your consent in the  Equity schemes (SEAS) & scholarships form, and your CRN.

If your parent or guardian receives a Centrelink benefit…

Upload a copy of your parent or guardian’s Centrelink Statement of Benefit, or Family Tax Benefit statement. The document must show payments made no older than three months.

If you don’t receive any Centrelink benefits…

In the  Equity schemes (SEAS) & scholarships form, write a description of circumstances that briefly details the financial disadvantage, and then write an impact statement that details the impact that the financial disadvantages has on your life.

You will also need to provide a statement of support from a responsible person.

For more information about Disadvantaged financial background, click here.

3: Disability or medical condition

Disability or medical condition applies to applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage due to disability or medical condition.

To apply for this category, you must provide:

  • Description of circumstances (in the Equity schemes (SEAS) & scholarships form)

  • Impact statement (in the Equity schemes (SEAS) & scholarships form)

  • Statement of support (From medical practitioner)

The description of circumstances and impact statement are written by you in the  Equity schemes (SEAS) & scholarships form, and detail the condition or disability and the impact it has had on your education. You can list multiple conditions or disabilities if needed.

The statement of support must be provided from a health practitioner. It must outline the condition, and the educational impact as it relates to your impact statement.

For more information about Disability or medical condition, click here.

4: Difficult circumstances

This category is where you will be considered specifically for your refugee or asylum seeker circumstances.

Difficult circumstances applies to applicants prevented from reaching their educational potential because of family or other life circumstances.

Refugee or asylum seekers are eligible to apply for Difficult circumstances.

You are eligible for this category if you are, or have previously been, the holder of one of the below Australian refugee visas:

  • Global Special Humanitarian (subclass 202)
  • Refugee visas (subclass 200, 201, 203 and 204) 
  • Humanitarian Stay (subclass 449) 
  • Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785) 
  • Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786) 
  • Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790)
  • Resolution of Status visa (subclass 851)
  • Protection visa (subclass 866)

Those holding a bridging visa listed below can apply for  Equity schemes (SEAS), if they are awaiting an application outcome or judicial decision for any of the above visa subclasses:

  • Bridging visa A – BVA (subclass 010) 
  • Bridging visa E – BVE (subclass 050 and 051)

When applying for SEAS, you will be asked in question 4.4 whether your application relates to being a refugee or asylum seeker. Tick “Yes” to be considered for this category. You will then be asked to upload a copy of your visa information showing the relevant subclass and date of entry into Australia. Your visa document is all that is required for this question.

If you do not currently hold one of the eligible visas in the lists above, you will need to provide an impact statement and statement of support to apply for refugee or asylum seeker circumstances. If you have a copy of your previously held visa, you may supply this in addition to the statement of support.

If you are applying for Difficult circumstances for reasons other than refugee or asylum seeker status or other high impact circumstances, you will also need to provide:

  • Description of circumstances (in the Equity schemes (SEAS) & scholarships form)
  • Impact statement (in the Equity schemes (SEAS) & scholarships form)
  • Statement of support (from responsible person)

The description of circumstance and impact statement are written by you in the  Equity schemes (SEAS) & scholarships form, and explains the circumstance and the impact it has had on your education. You can list multiple circumstances if needed.

The statement of support must be provided by a responsible person. It must outline the circumstances, and the educational impact as it relates to your impact statement.

For more information about Difficult circumstances, click here.