Keep in mind that the payments below are moving house help from Centrelink only. There are other relocation assistance programs available, especially if you are relocating for work. 

If you are Moving for Work

Your best bet when moving for work is to contact Workforce Australia. You may be eligible if you are requesting support to relocate and you must have accepted a job within Australia that is located more than 90 minutes from your current address.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations also has a Digital Services Contact Centre. Talk to them if you’re self-managing in Workforce Australia Online. They may be able to help cover certain relocation costs.

Read more about support to relocate for a new job on the Workforce Australia website.

Centrelink aside, many employers will have a relocation assistance package in place which can be upwards of $20,000. The Queensland Health system, for example, provides their employees with a very attractive relocation package which varies from $20,000 to $70,000. 

Always check with your employer about what relocation packages they offer. Please see our Work Relocation article for more info on this. 

If you are Moving to Study

Centrelink provides several support avenues if you are leaving your home to study. However, in some instances you will need to live regionally or remotely or be attending school in a regional or remote area. 

The Regional Scholarship is your first port of call. The Relocation Scholarship helps if you move to or from a regional or remote area for higher education. It’s a once a year payment. You must be getting Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY.

You will receive: 

• $5,385 in the first year you need to live away from home to study

• $2,693 per year in the second and third years

• $1,345 per year after that

Other payments: 

Tertiary Access Payment helps with the cost of moving from a regional or remote area for tertiary study. You can only claim this payment in your first year of tertiary study. You can apply for it even if you don’t get other payments from us.

ABSTUDY Fares Allowance helps with travel costs between your permanent home and place of study. You can get it if you get ABSTUDY and need to live away from home to study.

If you are Moving to a Remote Area 

There are plenty of benefits to living in a regional or remote area. Centrelink has several financial assistance options if you fit into this category. While you may not receive any specific relocation benefits, below are some of the payments you may be eligible for if you are moving to a remote area from a city. 

Farm Household Allowance is for farming families in financial hardship. A Farm Household Case Officer will help you manage your payment and find support services.

Assistance for Isolated Children payments are for parents and carers of children who can’t go to a local state school. This could be because of disability, special needs or living in an isolated area.

Remote Area Allowance is an extra payment if you live in a remote area and get income support from us.

Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme reduces the cost of transporting eligible goods by sea between Tasmania and mainland Australia. This includes:

• northbound goods

• southbound goods for manufacturing and mining, or primary production

• intrastate, King Island and the Furneaux Group freight.

Moving to a Remote Area

If you are considering a move to a remote or regional area, then Best Rated Transport’s comparison service can assist you with this. Many transport companies and city removalists do not move regionally but, at Best Rated Transport, we can connect you with companies that can and for a fair price too. 

Start a quote today or give the team at Best Rated Transport a call and we can assist you with comparing remote removalists and moving companies. 1 300 440 339.