Families struggling with the rising cost of living pressures can save thousands on home NBN thanks to the government’s School Student Broadband Initiative.
Launched last year, the federal government has extended their program helping school kids access NBN in the home to the end of 2025, delivering an extra $4.3 million to support households doing it tough.
According to NBN, families who meet the criteria to access the program will pocket an extra $2000 a year in savings.
Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said the program is already helping to change the lives of over 5000 families across the country.
“Australian school students should have access to reliable, fast broadband to fully participate in online learning at school and at home,” she said.
” The flow on benefits for participants are immense, with many families able to access essential services like telehealth from home for the first time.
“This funding certainty will mean more Australians can take advantage of the transformational benefits of broadband, and yet another example of our Government’s work to address cost of living pressures and narrow the digital divide.”
This relief comes after the announcement of price hikes for NBN access late last year, with some homes coughing up as much as an extra $120 a year.
Families can self-nominate for the initiative through the recently launched National Referral Centre or be referred by approved nominating organisations that work with vulnerable communities.
The Government also said they are considering options to support participating families beyond the end of the initiative in 2025, including asking the NBN Low-Income and Digital Inclusion Forum to examine discounted products.
With the update allowing for an extra 25,000 homes to apply by December 31st 2024, acting NBN Co CEO Phillip Knox encouraged households struggling with the cost of living to check their eligibility.
“NBN is proud to continue to support the delivery of the Australian Government’s School Student Broadband Initiative,” he said.
“We know that access to a fast home broadband connection is important in supporting education and building digital skills for the world’s growing reliance on digital technology.
“It’s a great example of how we’re working to achieve our purpose to lift the digital capability of Australia.”
To be eligible, a family must:
- Have a child living at home and enrolled in an Australian school
- Be referred by a nominating organisation or self-nominate through the National Referral Centre
- Have no active home broadband service over the NBN network
- Live in a premises that can access a standard NBN service.
Families can contact the National Referral Centre here.
