To boost education opportunities and narrow the digital divide, the Australian Government is providing up to 30,000 qualifying families with school age children a free NBN service. The Initiative has been extended meaning:
- Families can continue to sign up to access the initiative in 2025, until all available 30,000 places have been filled.
- All families, existing and new, will receive free internet until 30 June 2028.
The Government has invested $13.7 million to implement the Initiative in partnership with NBN Co.
How to apply?
To check if you qualify follow these simple steps.
- Contact the National Referral Centre, on 1800 954 610 (Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm AEDT), www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet. Callback, webchat and interpreting services also available.
- The National Referral Centre team will check your residential address and ask you some basic questions to determine if you qualify for the Initiative.
If you qualify, you will be issued a voucher which can be redeemed at any of the participating internet providers. The National Referral Centre will also be available to assist with contacting your chosen internet provider or providing follow-up support.
How to qualify?
To qualify families and carers must:
- Have a school age student at home (full or part time), enrolled in an Australian school (up to year 12 including Prep in Qld/Vic/Tas, Kindergarten in NSW, Reception in SA, Transition in NT/ACT and Pre-Primary in WA).
- Not have an active NBN network internet service at your current residential address now or in the past 14 days (having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility).
- Live in a premise that can access the NBN network through a standard connection.
What other organisations are participating in the initiative to identify and nominate families and carers?
The following organisations have also joined the Initiative and are nominating families and carers that are a part of their respective systems.
National coverage
- Catholic Network Australia
- Mission Australia Housing
- Public Education Foundation
- St Vincent de Paul Society (excludes Victoria and Western Australia)
- The Salvation Army
- The Smith Family
- WorkVentures
ACT
- ACT Education Directorate—ACT Government
- Argyle Housing
- Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
- CHC Australia
- YWCA Canberra
NSW
- Argyle Housing
- Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre
- CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes
- Evolve Housing
- Housing Trust
- Junaya Family Development Services
- Kings Langley Public School
- Mountains Youth Services
- Pacific Link Housing
- Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood House
- South Eastern Community Connect
- Think + Do Tank Foundation
NT
QLD
- Brisbane Catholic Education
- Department of Education—Queensland Government
- Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools
- Jacaranda Housing
- North Burnett Community Services
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
- Alta-1 Independent Schools
- Anglicare WA
- Catholic Education WA
- Department of Education—Government of Western Australia
- Foundation Housing
In addition to the above organisations, Federal Members of Parliament and Senators are able to identify and nominate qualifying families and carers.
What types of NBN services are provided under the Initiative?
The following internet providers are participating in the School Student Broadband Initiative offer:
- Activ8Me (APN—providing Fixed Line, Fixed Wireless and Satellite services)
- Aussie Broadband
- Belong (Telstra)
- Connected Australia (Queensland only)
- Multiwave
- Optus
- SkyMesh (providing Fixed Wireless and Satellite services)
- Superloop
- Vodafone (TPG).
The choice of internet provider will vary depending on where you live. Your voucher will list the internet providers available at your address.
The national Initiative aims to provide NBN's 50/20 wholesale speed tier. This means that during peak usage periods, the download speed should be around 50 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds ranging from 5–20 Mbps. More information is available on NBN Co's website.
When will the free services commence through School Student Broadband Initiative?
If you qualify, you can join the School Student Broadband Initiative now. Your free NBN home internet service will begin as soon as you are connected by your chosen participating internet provider and remain connected until 30 June 2028.
Are devices included in the Initiative?
Devices such as phones, tablets or computers are not included as part of the Initiative. A free Wi-Fi router/modem (that does not have to be returned) will be provided to families by their chosen participating internet provider.
School Student Broadband Initiative and scams
Scammers may try using the Initiative to impersonate a participating entity, such as NBN Co, to get your money. It's important to know that you will never be contacted and asked to provide bank details or to pay money to participate in the Initiative by NBN Co. If you receive a suspicious phone call, report it immediately to the ACCC's Scamwatch website https://scamwatch.gov.au.
Translation support
For people from non-English speaking backgrounds, or people with accessibility challenges, the National Referral Centre can offer translation services through the Translation and Interpreting Service and some of their own bi-lingual staff. The National Referral Centre's website is also equipped with ReciteMe technology https://www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet.