COMMUNITY NOTICES

School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI)

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). Callback, webchat and interpreting services also available.
SSBI
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.

Studiosity

Studiosity is an initiative by James Cook University (JCU), designed to help students with their studies.

The following information is taken from the JCU website:

At James Cook University (JCU) we believe every student has the potential to succeed with nurture and support. Empowering students to grow and build on their community and learning ecosystem as they transition through school and beyond. JCU will offer free access to Studiosity with limited places available.

What is Studiosity

Studiosity is personal study help, anytime, anywhere. Proven to grow student success metrics in schools and universities. Working together with our higher education partners around the world to grow student success for learning, including academic feedback and study help, and delivering powerful peer connection at scale. Accessible 24/7 to ensure students receive timely support when they need it.

Get involved

JCU has teamed up with Studiosity to offer a tailored program to assist North and Far North Queensland high school students the opportunity to gain to this service. Students in the program will receive:

Student Connect - Students will gain access to Student Connect, an online student-to-student service facilitating personal mentoring provided by dedicated JCU Students. Through this platform, students can seek assistance with their current course content and assessments, while also engaging with current students to gain valuable insights into university life.
Connect Live - Students will have the flexibility to engage with a subject advisor via text or voice chat, for discussion. With Connect Live, assistance is available across a range of subjects, including mathematics, chemistry, physics, business studies, and more.
Writing Feedback - For students seeking support for an essay, assignment, or any written piece of work and want constructive feedback, simply upload a draft at any time. Within less than 24 hours, Studiosity will return it to the student feedback, outlining specific areas for improvement in their writing.

Registration

Please complete the Studiosity Registration web form via this link (https://www.jcu.edu.au/future-students/schools/studiosity)

Students will need their report card to sign up.

If there are any queries about this, or any of Senior Schooling matter, please make contact with the Guidance Officers or Head of Senior Schooling via e-mail GuidanceOfficer@heatleysc.eq.edu.au