Abstract
All of the grants and allowances paid to students by the government (State or Commonwealth) can be classified under one of two categories: expense allowances or living allowances. The article begins by stating the case or need for such direct payments to students. It soon becomes clear that both categories of allowances are provided to equalise opportunity. In the case of expense allowances, the need varies from State to State depending upon the particular State's policies in making free schooling accessible to all students. Living allowances, provided to meet the needs of the socially and economically disadvantaged, constitute part of a government's package of measures designed to reduce the inequalities of private welfare that exist in our society.
The article then focuses briefly on the apparent inequality in living allowance support given to high school students relative to tertiary students. Given the increasing concern for the rate at which students from a disadvantaged home environment drop out of senior schooling, the comparison appears particularly incongruous.
In conclusion, the article argues for the identification of expense allowances with State governments and living allowances with the Commonwealth. This would link the expense outlays of students directly with the States whose particular policy of indirect educational expenditure caused the private expenses incurred. The Commonwealth, on the other hand, would be able to co-ordinate national objectives of welfare redistribution through the living allowance support of students.