COVID-19 Education Assistance Package

nbn helping to connect family households with children

Although many schools have now returned to face-to-face teaching, nbn is continuing to help connect Australian families.

Our Education Assistance Package will continue to 15 January 2021, even though the need for home-schooling has changed. 

Although many students have returned to full time, face-to-face schooling, nbn is still here to help phone and internet providers create more affordable offers to support families. Access to fast broadband can assist students complete their homework online, conduct research for school projects and access a wide range of additional online resources to support their continued learning.

To help Australians respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, nbn is providing up to $50 million to assist phone and internet providers to support family households with school-aged children who do not currently have an active nbn™ connection at home.

This funding will help phone and internet providers create more affordable offers to connect eligible families. 

More than 20 phone and internet providers have agreed to participate in this program. View the phone and internet providers that are currently ready to connect customers.

How do I know if I’m eligible?

If internet access has not been financially possible previously and you have children requiring broadband access for school purposes and continuous learning, then you may qualify for this support. This offer is available only for family households that were not connected to the nbn™ network before 1 March 2020. You can contact the participating phone and internet provider of your choice today and they will help determine if you are eligible for assistance. 

I think I qualify, who do I contact?

Visit the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) website to see some of the offers from phone and internet providers participating in the COVID-19 relief and assistance package. 

You can contact the participating phone and internet provider of your choice today. 

Frequently asked questions

The assistance period runs from 1 April 2020 to 15 January 2021. Each phone and internet provider has their own pricing structure and may still charge a fee for monthly access, data costs and account set up fees.
Connection times are taking longer during the COVID-19 pandemic because of high demand. nbn is striving to complete all new connections as quickly as possible.
Your phone and internet provider will help with getting you the equipment you need to get connected to the internet. You will require a modem, which many phone and internet providers supply when you sign up. You will also need your own device, such as a computer or tablet, to use the internet. Your school also may have advice about how to get a device to access the internet.
Yes. Please inform your landlord that you wish to have the nbn™ access network connected. By agreement with your landlord, you are then able to order an nbn™ powered plan from the internet provider of your choice. Make sure the internet provider you choose is offering the education relief assistance.
nbn will begin charging phone and internet providers normal prices for services at the end of the assistance period. Your chosen phone and internet provider will have a transition plan in place once the education relief package ends. Please contact your phone and internet provider to ask what happens at the end of the assistance period and make sure you agree and understand any ongoing costs.
Phone and internet providers can help with financial hardship in some circumstances. Please contact your current phone and internet provider to learn more.