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Australian Capital Territory support

ACT services complement federal payments, child support and Medicare. Living in Canberra does not determine the jurisdiction of an interstate lease, family-law case or incident. Check each service's residence, responsibility, card and income conditions, and keep national help available alongside local routes.

Federal support and money · Family law and WA differences

Concessions and household costs

The ACT cost-of-living portal groups household, housing, health, transport and education help. Some programs require an accepted card; others assess low income or particular circumstances.

Follow the individual program's application route and check whose name is on the account. A federal payment or a single-parent household does not automatically activate every concession.

Housing and homelessness

FIRST Canberra is the current central homelessness intake. Use the focused ACT homelessness page for its contact arrangements, rather than an older OneLink listing. Intake is not continuously available; the official page sets out hours and other practical help.

Public/community housing uses a separate eligibility and priority assessment. A referral or accepted application does not guarantee a safe place tonight or an allocated home.

Renting, bond and leaving safely

ACT rental-bond help is a conditional interest-free loan. The reviewed rules exclude a bond already paid, so ask before paying. Approval, finding a home and the payment process are separate stages.

The Tenancy Advice Service covers tenancy and occupancy issues but excludes public housing and directs those matters to the appropriate legal service.

The ACT has a direct family-violence termination notice with qualifying evidence, as well as an ACAT protected-person route for ending or recreating an agreement. Do not assume the direct-notice privacy protections apply automatically to tribunal documents.

Legal help, protection and victims assistance

Legal Aid ACT offers information, advice and separate court/representation pathways. The Domestic Violence Crisis Service provides specialist support; its website forms or email should not replace urgent crisis contact.

Family Violence Orders are handled by the ACT Magistrates Court. Victim Support ACT separately assesses financial assistance for qualifying ACT violent crime. Reporting evidence and victim categories matter; applying does not guarantee immediate payment.

School costs

The Future of Education Equity Fund has parental/financial-responsibility and household conditions. Accepted cards, income evidence or exceptional financial stress can be relevant. Covered education settings are broader than just government schools.

Check the current application arrangements and ask your school about everyday-essentials or confidential hardship help. This page does not establish that a grant round is currently open.

Dental, mental health and child health

Adult public dental access requires primary cardholder status for an accepted card and ACT residence. Children's access and fee exemptions have separate residence, school and card pathways.

Access Mental Health provides assessment and referral. Maternal and Child Health supports early development and parent wellbeing; free access requires Medicare or an ACT Services Access Card, unlike some other states' universal service rules.

Interstate specialist travel

ACT travel assistance concerns appropriate interstate treatment unavailable locally, with referral and residence conditions. It is not a general mileage rebate. NSW residents travelling to Canberra should check their home-state scheme. Ask separately about escort approval and expenses.

Sources for this state page

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Wording reviewed 5 October 2026. Numerical rules have separate verification dates on Sources and updates.