Technology helps UQ students link to Centrelink

A web-based initiative aimed at increasing the accuracy and immediacy of Centrelink payments to students is being tested at The University of Queensland.

The Academic Reassessment Transformation (ART) allows students who get study support from Centrelink to have their study workload information, which affects their rate of payment, electronically sent to Centrelink in `real time`.

UQ Secretary and Registrar Douglas Porter hosted a visit today (June 8) by Federal Minister for Human Services Joe Hockey, who saw the ART in use in the Student Centre and listened to presentations by Centrelink and University staff in the Senate Room.

UQ, Curtin University and Swan TAFE are the three Australian tertiary institutions testing the ART initiative.

Mr Hockey said the system was designed to ensure accurate payments were made to students, while boosting study retention and minimising demands on their time, through real-time study load updates.

“It makes sense for Centrelink to look at ways of reducing the need for students to visit offices, and this technology has the added advantage of enabling students to advise their university of changes in study arrangements at the same time,” he said.

“Students can also access Centrelink using either the phone or the Internet, and a trial of SMS technology is also proving very popular.”

Mr Porter said UQ had incorporated specific Centrelink pages into its online enrolment facility (mySI-net) to capture student consent to participate in the pilot.

“Working closely with local Centrelink staff and those involved with the pilot, the University was able to provide accurate and immediate data to Centrelink,” Mr Porter said.

“By providing study workload data on a weekly basis Centrelink can more quickly identify those students at risk of losing study support due to changes in their studies. "

Information: Brad Turner on 07 3365 2659; Scott Anderson, Centrelink Media, on 0411 670 958 or Nadia Levin, Minister`s Office on 0437 978 028.